Higher education choices in volatile policy contexts: A case study of international students at Adelaide University

About the project 

Explore the future of international student enrolments 

If you are ready to launch your career in education and keen to explore the future profile of international student in Australia, the University of South Australia – Australia’s University of Enterprise – is offering a hands-on project-based PhD within the Centre for Research in Educational and Social Inclusion (CRESI), in partnership with Adelaide University and Study Adelaide. 

The policy landscape of traditional overseas study destinations in the West has changed dramatically. Australia, Canada, and the UK are recalibrating the education–migration nexus by tightening visa policies and capping international student numbers. The aim is to attract the “best and brightest” to certain regions, institutions, and disciplines.  

Research is yet to catch up with this fast-moving policy landscape. We don’t yet know in what ways and to what extent international students would follow these policy directives. This matters because the reform agenda risks failing without understanding the aspirations and strategies of international students.  

Against this backdrop, our project will explore why international students choose Australia, South Australia, and Adelaide University, in the context of policy shifts. Our project is the first of its kind to revisit international students’ higher education choices within new policy contexts, updating and/or challenging existing models of international student mobility developed over the last three decades.  

Our goal is to inform Adelaide University’s international strategy and tailor international student services at Study Adelaide and Study Australia. We anticipate that our methodology will be scalable and adaptable for future research on international student choices during times of rapid change. 

You will be based in CRESI. Our researchers undertake multidisciplinary research that translates into societal impact. You will benefit from access to worldclass mentorship and outstanding resources and facilities.  

You will also engage closely with the international education divisions at the new university and our key partner – Study Adelaide. You will also interact with the International Student Wellbeing Network that the two supervisors convene and lead, and the Higher Education Research Network at UniSA. 

This dynamic combination of working with academia and local agencies will equip with you with knowledge, experience and skills that will give you a competitive edge in the job market.  

What you’ll do 

In this project-based research degree, you will apply Bourdieu’s sociology to underpin the project, using his theoretical—methodological triad. This means that you will construct international student higher education choices as the research object, instead of taking it as a given based on “old” models. 

Next, you’ll undertake field analysis of students’ “imagined geographies” of the country, state, and university in relation to the “desired biographies” that these entities have of international students.  

You will then collect data from global, national, state, and institutional statistics of international students and undertake interviews with international students in the several disciplines at Adelaide University.  

We will support you to submit to peer-reviewed, high impact journals, but also important media outlets (e.g., The Conversation and Times Higher Education).  

There will also be opportunities to attend and/or present your work at influential conferences and pitch a book proposal to the Routledge Book Series Bourdieu and Education of Asia Pacific.  

Where you’ll be based 

You will be based in CRESI. We are one of the largest education research centres in the world that is focused on contributing to new knowledge about issues related to educational and social inclusion. 

Like many countries, Australia is experiencing widening economic and educational inequality which is undermining the social cohesion, national productivity, and the wellbeing of the population. In fact, Australia is now one of the least equitable educational systems in the OECD. 

CRESI researchers have a range of interdisciplinary expertise to undertake a broad scope of research that contribute to and mitigate educational and social inequalities. 

Our mission is to generate research-based knowledge to inform inclusive educational and social policy and practices across the lifespan. We conduct interdisciplinary research to generate knowledge of systemic forms of exclusion? policy analysis and critique focusing on policies' effects? theory building to understand complex phenomena? and case studies of hopeful sites of educational and social inclusion. Our research contributes to greater education equity to enhance social cohesion and wellbeing  Financial Support  

This project is funded for reasonable research expenses. Additionally, a living allowance scholarship of $35,200 per annum is available to eligible applicants. Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants will be eligible to receive an increased stipend rate of $52,352 per annum (2025 rate). A fee-offset or waiver for the standard term of the program is also included. For full terms and benefits of the scholarship please refer to our scholarship information for domestic students or international students.

Eligibility and Selection 

This project is open to application from both Domestic and International applicants.

Applicants must meet the eligibility criteria for entrance into a PhD. 

Additionally applicants must meet the project selection criteria: 

•  Speaking two languages is required

All applications that meet the eligibility and selection criteria will be considered for this project. A merit selection process will be used to determine the successful candidate.

The successful applicant is expected to study full-time and to be based at our Mawson Lakes Campus in the north of Adelaide. Note that international students on a student visa will need to study full-time.

Essential Dates 

Applicants are expected to start in a timely fashion upon receipt of an offer. Extended deferral periods are not available. Applications close on Friday, 22 November.