Tasmania is aiming to double its intake of international students, creating an economic boost of around $400 million the Premier, Lara Giddings, said today.

Ms Giddings said increasing Tasmania's share of the overseas education market will be a key focus of the State Government's Asia trade mission next month.

"Tasmania's international education exports have been growing steadily over the past decade and roughly doubled in size.  However at some $125 million in 2011, or less than 1per cent of the value Australia's $15.7 billion market, there is still potential for us to do so much more," Ms Giddings said.

"Currently the University of Tasmania has close to 3500 international students.  They believe that by 2018 they could more than double this to some 8000 students, with Asia identified as the key growth market.

"This would provide an annual economic injection of more than $400 million a year to the State economy and propel international education to become one of Tasmania's top export earners.

"It is another example of my Government's vision for Tasmania to tap into the biggest jobs engine in the world."

Ms Giddings said Tasmania has many competitive advantages as an education destination, including safe and welcoming environment and excellent courses in a wide range of fields. 

"UTAS is an institution with an international reputation for providing first class learning and research - in fact just last week the latest Academic Ranking of World Universities revealed that UTAS is on the cusp of cementing itself as one of Australia's top ten universities, moving up to 10th place in 2012."

Ms Giddings said the State Government was also working to increase the intake of international pre-tertiary students into state schools.

"Through the Study Tasmania initiative we also see great potential to expand the number of international pre-tertiary and trade students coming to Tasmania. 

"It was under this banner earlier in the year that the Education Minister and I welcomed the latest intake of the some 300 full fee paying international students in our government schools."