Every June, a specific type of paperwork pile appears in Chinese homes immediately following the release of the Gaokao results. Translated and stamped transcripts. The ears are visible in the passport photo. An IELTS printout that occasionally has a stubborn band score that is lower than the others. A foundation program or a first-year diploma are no longer the goals of that pile for an increasing number of these families. With the gaokao score attached, it’s going straight into an undergraduate application for an Australian university.
This change is now quantifiable. In 2023, slightly less than 62% of Chinese mainland students applied directly to Australian undergraduate programs using their gaokao results. A recent report from EIC Education states that by 2025, that percentage had increased to almost 74%. With the exception of the University of Melbourne, seven of the eight universities in Australia’s esteemed Group of Eight now fully accept gaokao scores. It’s worth taking a moment to consider that an exam created for China’s domestic university system has, almost unintentionally, turned into a ticket to some of the most prestigious universities in the Southern Hemisphere.
Once students are inside, their choices also convey something. With almost 20% of applicants, general business continues to be the most popular undergraduate major, followed by computer science with less than 9%. Neither is unexpected. The number of students who leave after enrolling is more intriguing. More than 72% of applicants say they plan to change their major at some point, and their motivations are primarily pragmatic rather than sentimental: 85.7% mention improved employment opportunities, while “an easier path” and sincere interest rank lower. Australian universities appear to be almost designed for this kind of mid-course correction because of their adaptable major-minor structures.
Naturally, a lot of these choices are influenced by money. While less prestigious universities charge significantly less, Group of Eight undergraduate tuition ranges from 200,000 to 290,000 yuan annually, or roughly $29,000 to $43,000. Humanities programs are typically at the bottom of that spectrum, while business and engineering programs are typically at the top. That difference is significant for a Chinese family considering their options in comparison to the US or the UK, which is one of the reasons Australia consistently appears as a viable option rather than a backup plan.
Additionally, the nation is not afraid to pursue these students. Australia increased its 2026 international enrollment cap to 295,000 spots, up 25,000 from the previous year, with almost 200,000 of those spots set aside for postsecondary education. With 195,535 enrolled in 2025, or roughly 23% of all international students, and higher education programs alone accounting for 74% of that total, Chinese mainland students continue to be the largest group occupying them. Instead of just putting up with this demand, Australian institutions seem to have recalibrated around it.
Additionally, postgraduate admissions have loosened in ways that seem intentional. For example, the Australian National University lowered its average score requirement from 85 to 80 for non-“211” university graduates applying to the majority of coursework master’s programs. Even though competition for spots elsewhere has tightened, the overall barrier to entry has subtly decreased when combined with more recent flexibility regarding English testing, such as the IELTS One Skill Retake, which allows students to retake a single weak section rather than the entire exam.
An easy path is not guaranteed by any of this. Australia’s visa policy now favors applicants who can demonstrate sincere study intentions and a well-thought-out career plan, so the amount of paperwork isn’t decreasing; rather, the requirements are changing. The report’s recommendations strongly encourage students to pursue careers in fields with greater local labor demand, such as health, education, engineering, and social work. It remains to be seen if many people are persuaded by that advice. Particularly when a six-figure tuition bill is involved, job security usually speaks louder than passion.
