Cambodian Student Enrolment in Australia Rises 64% Since 2019 As Education Ties Deepen

PHNOM PENH, July 14, 2026 (KPT) – The number of Cambodian students studying in Australia has surged by 64 percent since 2019, underscoring the growing education partnership between the two countries, Australian officials said.

H.E.Derek Yip, Australian Ambassador to Cambodia.

Ambassador Derek Yip told KPT English last week that education remains “one of the strongest pillars” of bilateral ties, with Australia now a leading destination for Cambodians seeking higher education abroad. He said Australia hosts between 4,000 and 5,000 Cambodian students annually, noting that while scholarships continue to support many, a rising number are self‑funding their studies.

Since 1990, about 35,000 Cambodians have studied in Australia, including 1,100 who received Australia Awards scholarships. Yip said alumni have made significant contributions after returning home, citing success stories in government, business, NGOs and the media. “They put their learning into practice, and we’ve seen some really great success stories,” he said.

Australia is also broadening pathways for Cambodian students. More schools in Cambodia now offer Australian senior secondary qualifications, giving direct access to universities. Foundation Year providers are partnering with local institutions to deliver preparatory programmes, while joint and double‑degree initiatives between Cambodian and Australian universities are expanding opportunities.

“These initiatives provide more affordable options for Cambodian students to obtain a world‑class Australian education,” Yip said.

He also highlighted cultural exchange as central to bilateral relations, pointing to exhibitions, professional exchanges, diaspora engagement and tourism as ways to foster mutual understanding. He cited exhibitions such as Avatar: Forms of Vishnu at the Art Gallery of New South Wales as examples of initiatives that strengthen trust between the two countries.

Yip said education and people‑to‑people connections remain at the heart of Australia’s long‑term engagement with Cambodia, helping to develop future leaders and strengthen professional skills. Australia has long been one of Cambodia’s key development partners, with education a cornerstone of cooperation alongside trade, development assistance and cultural ties.