This takes total export earnings from education in the six months to June to $21.8 billion – up from $19.4 billion in the first six months of 2019 when it contributed $40.1 billion to exports in the year.

“Education is surging back, adding billions of dollars to the economy and paying for the essential services all Australians rely on,” Universities Australia Chief Executive Catriona Jackson said.

“Australia is an export nation and education is our largest services export and the biggest one we don’t dig out of the ground. When education exports are strong, Australia is strong.

“The March and June quarterly results are the highest quarterly results of all time, indicating we are on track to achieve a new high-water mark in 2023.

“The fact that students have returned en masse to our universities is testament to the world-class education they receive here and our enviable lifestyle.

“These students also make us stronger socially and culturally, enriching the communities they join and further strengthening our great multicultural nation.”