Australians are not buying what half their universities are selling.
Data analyst Frank Larkins (Uni Melbourne) reports that 21 of 40 universities enrolled fewer domestic coursework students (UG and PG) in 2024 than they had in 2015.
Across the system, numbers were up just 3,300, (0.4 %) but internationals lined up to buy; their numbers grew by 157,000 (57 %).
“The fact that 21 of 40 universities … enrolled fewer domestic students in 2024 compared with 2015 has serious consequences for the upskilling of the community,” he warns in a new paper.
Professor Larkins reported coursework numbers for Group of Eight universities in a previous paper, which are now incorporated in his system-wide stats.
Some universities grew enrolments of both local and in-Australia international students, but not all the notable performers went for growth across the board:
- UNSW increased overseas coursework students by 184 % and increased domestic numbers by 12.9 %.
- Western Sydney U was up 177 % for internationals and down 12 % on locals.
- Southern Cross U increased overseas students by 171 %, with a 6 % increase in domestic students.
- Uni Sydney increased overseas students by 160.6%, and dropped local enrolments by 7%.
- Edith Cowan had 119 % more internationals and 4 % fewer locals.
- UWA doubled overseas students, whole local numbers were stable, 2 % lower while decreasing domestic student by 2.4%.
- Victoria University increased overseas students by 100 % while increasing domestic students by 9 %.
But at the other end, universities held steady on local enrolments, at best, or dropped numbers across the board:
- Charles Sturt U had an 8 % decline in local enrolments 2015-24 and 53 % fall in those from overseas.
- Uni Southern Queensland was down 23 % for domestic enrolments and 56 % for internationals.
- Uni Tasmania was down 18 % on locals and just under for 4 % of internationals.
- In contrast, Federation U was up close to 4 % for domestic students but international numbers were down 43 %.
Professor Larkins warns that universities that dropped total coursework enrolments 2015-24, “are undoubtedly being most financially challenged, as evidenced by staff and infrastructure rationalisations.”
“Overseas student income has been vital for most universities to maintain financial viability. There are further difficult times ahead for the sector. The search for solutions is not being assisted by negative political comments.”