Daily Brief — Australian Education
Wednesday, 12 August 2026 · 05:11 AEST
RMIT University secures Vietnamese government approval for a new Hanoi campus and Foreign Branch Campus licence for its existing Saigon South facility. US international enrolments are projected to fall by 9.5% this fall, with significant economic losses and job risks.
Top of the brief
RMIT University has secured Vietnamese government approval for a new Hanoi campus and — for the first time under Vietnam's higher education reforms — a Foreign Branch Campus licence for its existing Saigon South facility, as PM Albanese's diplomatic mission to Vietnam simultaneously produced a new VET memorandum of understanding supporting Australian providers in-country (11 August). RMIT has operated in Vietnam for more than 25 years and serves 28,500 alumni; the Hanoi campus will eventually triple RMIT's capacity in the capital. Vice-chancellor Alec Cameron: "Receiving this approval is a landmark moment for RMIT and for our continued investment in Vietnam, recognising our significant commitment to the country, spanning more than 25 years." PM Albanese: "More flights, more trade and stronger education links are good for Australian jobs, Australian businesses and our economy." (Clare, 11 August; The PIE, 11 August)
International education
NAFSA and JB International project a 9.5% fall in US international enrolments this fall — 110,000 fewer students, $3.4 billion in economic losses, and 39,000–40,000 US jobs at risk — with doctoral applications down 21% and PhD admissions down 17% (11 August). Contributing factors include Trump-era travel bans covering 39 nations, DHS's end of Duration of Status (effective 15 September 2026), OPT threats, and federal research funding uncertainty. NAFSA CEO Fanta Aw: "All Americans lose when international students and scholars are driven to more welcoming countries." International students represent 31% of Australia's total student body against 6% in the US; Australia's ability to absorb diverted demand remains constrained by the 295,000 NPL, a $2,500 student visa fee, and a 42% India refusal rate. (The PIE, 11 August)
Sector data
Standing figures: 2026 NPL 295,000 (+25,000 on 2025); visa refusal rates 69% Nepal, 42% India (early 2026); domestic commencements 413,133 (+4.3% YoY); $50m over-enrolment fund; $50m Structural Adjustment Fund.
Diary
17–18 November 2026 — TEQSA 2026 Conference, fully virtual.
19 May 2027 — ASQA 12-month VET/ELICOS registration pause expires.