A 13% increase in the number of international pupils studying at some Otago secondary schools is a silver lining in the growing cloud of the world economic crisis, principals say.
Kaikorai Valley College deputy principal and director of international pupils Garry Chronican said the school enrolled 68 international pupils last year.
It was expecting a 13% increase this year.
The school actively markets itself overseas to prospective international pupils but he believes the growth is mainly due to the falling New Zealand dollar.
"I visited Hong Kong and China in July last year, and met several families who were considering study at Kaikorai Valley College this year. When I returned in October, four students who were undecided . . . paid straight away because of the 30% decrease in the New Zealand dollar which effectively cut the cost of studying in New Zealand."
In places like Hong Kong and China, parents had to pay for their children's education and, because it was more affordable to study in New Zealand, cities like Dunedin would always be a serious consideration for them, he said.
"Long may it continue. It will mean a 30% increase in our profits this year."
Otago Girls High School principal Jan Anderson also predicted a 13% increase in international pupils enrolling at her school this year.
She said Dunedin's popularity as a study destination for Japanese, Hong Kong and German pupils was growing and believed it would provide a good safety net from the economic crisis.
"It gives us some financial protection this year from rising costs, particularly in support staff wages and falling interest rates on the school's investments."
Columba College principal Elizabeth Wilson said the average price tag for an international pupil to study and board at the school was $25,292 a year.
For a day girl, the figure was $14,656 a year.
"It's still a lot of money, in anyone's terms, to come to New Zealand to study. But the exchange rate is working in favour of international parents, and it is more affordable . . ."
Wakatipu High School International Student director Joan Potts predicted a 17% increase in the school's international roll, from 47 last year to 55 this year.
"There has definitely been more inquiries than normal for this time of year - 10% more have inquired about study here."
However, Mrs Potts remained cautious.
"I'm pleased to see the numbers, but things are so economically unstable overseas that we wonder how it will really affect international rolls."
Nationwide, Immigration New Zealand issued 67,530 student visas in the year to February 1 - 4200 more than last year - and some education providers have reported roll growth of up to 36%.
