Annual reports

In 2025, the University’s financial position continued to strengthen, reflecting resilience in the face of inflationary pressures and policy changes.

For the consolidated Group, income increased to $1,954.8 million in 2025 (2024: $1,800.9 million). Expenditure also increased, to $1,857.4 million (2024: $1,759.8 million), resulting in an operating surplus of $89.0 million after income tax (2024: $32.3 million). This includes a number of positive one-off items that contributed to this strong result.

The Group achieved its budget objectives for the year, supported by strong growth in domestic student enrolments across Australia and continued strength in international student demand.

While offshore student numbers in Vietnam declined, the business nevertheless delivered a strong operating result, reflecting the overall resilience and diversification of the Group’s revenue base.

Globally, in 2025, RMIT had more than 104,000 students, 13,000 staff, and 560,000 alumni.

We are proud of our diverse community, and we celebrate our multicultural and multifaith environments, knowing that many voices and views are part of the learning experience. The respectful expression of different perspectives is fundamental to our inclusive outlook.

With escalating conflicts in the world creating division across our community, RMIT’s deep commitment to protecting the safety and experience of every member of our community is more important than ever. 

At RMIT, we are genuine in our commitment to creating a supportive and inclusive environment for both staff and students, celebrating and valuing the rich diversity within our community to foster belonging, respect, and collaboration.

This was reflected in a third SAGE Cygnet Award for RMIT’s work to create a safer, more inclusive environment for LGBTQIA+ staff and students. The award acknowledged structural and cultural reforms across the University that address systemic barriers and boost representation, and centre the lived experiences of LGBTQIA+ people.

RMIT Vietnam was again recognised as one of the Best Companies to Work for in Asia, reaffirming its commitment to creating a workplace that values people, fosters innovation, and drives impact. This marked another milestone in RMIT Vietnam’s journey as a leading employer in the region.

The Treaty legislation, which the Victorian Parliament passed into law in late 2025, will create the necessary mechanisms for a binding agreement between the Victorian Government and Victorian First Peoples. It will establish a new representative body “Gellung Warl” and include mechanisms for truth-telling, accountability, and future treaty-making.

At RMIT, through Responsible Practice, we strengthen the relationships between our University and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, to the benefit of all Australians and our global community. We support the commission’s recommendations on education, which aim to address persistent racism, lack of cultural safety, inadequate curriculum materials, and workforce gaps.

Sustainability remained a focus across our community and RMIT’s leadership was once again recognised in the 2025 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, placing us third among Australian universities and fifth globally for Reducing Inequalities (SDG 10).

Our wide range of sustainability capabilities were also recognised at the Australasian Green Gown Awards, where RMIT won the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion category for Art for Social Change: Metropolis a co-created student artwork; along with a Highly Commended recognition in the Staff Champion and Leading the Circular Economy categories, highlighting the leadership and innovation of the School of Fashion and Textiles.

In 2025, we saw continued strong performance in the major global university ranking schemes, with RMIT ranked 125 in the 2026 QS World University Rankings, and appearing in the 251-300 band of 2026 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings.

We also ranked 400 globally in the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) and 5 globally in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings (for Reduced Inequalities) designed to showcase how institutions are working towards addressing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

RMIT is committed to applied research that extends beyond academia, tackling pressing social, economic and environmental challenges. In 2025, our efforts focused on deepening our research impact culture and capabilities, fostering partnerships, scaling up transdisciplinary research, growing research training and accelerating research translation and commercialisation.

We deepened our strategic collaborations with government and industry, in Australia, across the region and the world – unlocking new opportunities to amplify research success and deliver meaningful impact. Through existing and new partnerships, we continue to improve lives in the communities we exist to serve and contribute to planetary repair and regeneration.

In 2025, RMIT marked 25 years of transnational education in Vietnam with a range of celebrations, including a sculpture, #RMIT25years Vision Board, events in Paris and Melbourne, a GUINNESS WORLD RECORD™ title to raise funds for KOTO’s Dream School, and distinguished visitors.

Since its inception as Vietnam’s first international university at the invitation of the Prime Minister of Vietnam, RMIT Vietnam has grown to be a regional cornerstone of education and innovation. The anniversary recognised the crucial role RMIT plays in Australia-Vietnam relations including fostering ties between government, industry and dispersed communities.

We continue to face a complex and uncertain environment, geopolitically, socially and economically. Ongoing conflicts, the fuel crisis and inflationary pressures, impact our interconnected communities regardless of geography. It is incumbent on us, as an institution of service, to bring our expertise to bear wherever we can provide support.

Building on our 2025 results, we are forecasting an ongoing underlying operating surplus in 2026, which means we move forward from a position of stability and confidence. This strong foundation will enable us to harness our distinct capabilities and continue to expand the scale and impact of our contributions.