Australia's international education sector remains strong, with new figures revealing it added more than $18 billion of export income to the economy in 2010.
An Australian Education International research snapshot released on Thursday found the $18.3 billion worth of earnings was steady on 2009 calendar year data but was down 2.2 per cent on the 2009/10 financial year information.
China continued to spend more on Australian education than any other foreign country, followed by India, although its contribution fell by 15 per cent between 2009 and 2010.
A number of Indian students were violently attacked while studying in Australia two years ago.
Fees, goods and services paid for by onshore students generated most of the sector's export income, while half a billion dollars came from offshore and other educational activities.
Higher education accounted for $10.4 billion, while $4.8 billion came from vocational education and training.
NSW generated the most international education export income of all the states, at around $6.5 billion, followed by Victoria with $5.5 billion and Queensland's $2.8 billion.
Tertiary Education Minister Chris Evans said the new data was comforting given the sector had faced a number of recent challenges, including a stronger Australian dollar, the global financial crisis, more competition and tougher student visa arrangements.
He said the sector was going through a period of readjustment after several years of "unprecedented and unsustainable growth".
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