The University of Melbourne recorded its fourth straight operating loss in 2025, losing $124m on revenues of $3.307bn. The headline result, before one-offs were stripped out, as per the preferred convention common among universities, was a $22m surplus, down from $27m in 2024.
UoM attributes last year’s result to “structural changes in its funding and workforce models.” But while the Commonwealth’s new international student allocation model had an impact, it was only to cut numbers by 1.6 % (433 EFTS). “Fees and charges” which generally refers to international student income, was $1.482bn up $80m on 2024 and 40% of total earnings.
Overall operating income was up 4.5%, largely due to fee increases and indexation, but it lagged outlays which increased by 5.1%. Enterprise Agreement payrises contributed to staff costs reaching 59% of total expenditure.
In contrast, Monash U was too pleased with its results to wait for tabling in Parliament yesterday, releasing the best bits to staff last month (FC April 14). The 2025 underlying operating result for the Monash U Group was $309m; more than six times $48m in 2024. What was not released in April was Group turnover for 2025. The report tabled yesterday states it was $4293.4bn, up 10% plus on 2024.
RMIT Group income was $1.955bn, up 8% on ’24, ahead of expenditure which increased by 5%, to $1.857bn for an after income tax profit of $32m. “Revenue growth across international and domestic student cohorts has improved operating performance, enhancing long-term financial sustainability” is the message.” However RMIT acknowledged, “a number of positive one-off items that contributed to this strong result.”
Deakin U’s consolidated account showed a $56.5m net result on $1.573bn revenue and income, (up nearly 10 %). Earnings from on-shore internationals was up very close to 14%, to $353m. Costs increased nearly 3%, with staff outlays up 5% to $932m accounting for 60% or so. DU attributes the rise to enterprise agreement increases and more employees “to support teaching and research.” DU “also anticipates” a deficit this year.
Swinburne U’s consolidated operating revenue and income was $942m last year, down $18m on 2024. However, expenses from continuing operations were up $26m to $914m. There was a $35m drop in income from on-shore overseas students, which fell from $276m in 2024 to $241m last year. Staff costs on the consolidated account were up $44m, to $471m.
Victoria U reports an underlying operating result of $35m, which it attributes to “record student numbers.” There were 39,500 total students (heads not EFTS) last year, compared to just under 31,000 in 2022. Enrolment growth drove a 13% hike in VU Group revenue to $699m.
Federation U continues to recover from its COVID crunch. Revenue from continuing operations bottomed-out at $266m in 2022 (down from $325m in ’21). Last year it was $359m, but expenses were also up, $19m on 2024 for a net loss of $32m.