RMIT welcomes largest cohort of BITS-RMIT Higher Education Academy students to Melbourne

RMIT welcomes largest cohort of BITS-RMIT Higher Education Academy students to Melbourne

BITS Pilani students visited RMIT for a taste of Melbourne, before returning for their final study phase in 2027.

BITS-RMIT Higher Education Academy students attending industry networking event at The Capitol.BITS-RMIT Higher Education Academy students attending industry networking event at The Capitol.

RMIT University recently welcomed 115 students from BITS Pilani to Melbourne for a 10-day immersion visit - the third group to do so since the BITS-RMIT Higher Education Academy launched in 2023. 

This year’s cohort is currently studying Bachelor of Engineering programs across civil and infrastructure, electrical, electronic and computer systems, mechanical, and software engineering at BITS Pilani campuses in Pilani, Goa and Hyderabad.

The transnational partnership has recently expanded to offer an undergraduate software engineering program.

As the first dual-degree program of its kind between India and Australia, the immersion visits have been a successful way to give students their first experience of life at RMIT in Australia before completing their third and fourth years in Melbourne. 

The third cohort joins a growing community of BITS-RMIT Higher Education Academy students, with 110 undergraduate students currently in their first two years of study at BITS and 89 students currently studying at RMIT, due to graduate in 2027.

28 May 2026

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Immersion visit industry networking event. L-R: Dheeren Velu, Layton Pike, Catherine Itsiopoulos, Sudhir Kumar Barai, Tej Krishan.L-R: Dheeren Velu (Chair of the AI Industry Advisory Board, RMIT), Layton Pike (Vice President, International, RMIT), Professor Catherine Itsiopoulos (Deputy Vice-Chancellor STEM College and Vice-President, RMIT), Caroline Hartnett (Director, International Education and Study Melbourne), Professor Sudhirkumar Barai (Director, BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus) and Tej Krishan (Head of Chancery, Consulate General of India, Melbourne).

A taste of Melbourne 

The 10-day program, designed to give students a genuine feel for life in Melbourne, balances academic and professional sessions with cultural experiences. 

While in Melbourne, students toured RMIT's City campus, attended career and industry sessions, participated in design thinking workshops, and visited the MCG for an AFL match.

BITS-RMIT students tour RMIT’s Bundoora campus labs.BITS-RMIT students tour RMIT’s Bundoora campus labs.

The students also had the opportunity to connect with BITS-RMIT students currently undertaking their final years of study at RMIT. For many in the immersion program, it was their first time visiting Melbourne – so the opportunity to ask questions, make friends, and hear first-hand from current students was a highlight of the visit’s itinerary and will help in their transition to RMIT next year.

At the opening ceremony, RMIT Associate Deputy Vice-Chancellor (India Engagement) and Director of Industry Research at BITS Pilani, Professor Mohan Krishnamoorthy, reflected on how far the partnership has come since the Academy's launch.

"Since we launched in 2023, this partnership has grown rapidly - not just in terms of numbers, but in terms of brand recognition and the popularity of the program in India and Australia," he said.

BITS-RMIT students tour RMIT’s Bundoora campus labs.Layton Pike (RMIT Vice President, International) with BITS-RMIT students and BITS alum.

The students also took part in an industry engagement and networking event at RMIT’s Capitol Theatre, where they heard from a series of keynote speakers and met with representatives from RMIT’s STEM College, Global Victoria and other government organisations, industry partners and BITS-RMIT alumni. 

Hosting the event, RMIT Deputy Vice-Chancellor STEM College and Vice-President, Professor Catherine Itsiopoulos said the strength of RMIT’s partnership with BITS and the immersion program had gone from strength to strength. 

“The study options offered to students through The Academy continue to expand, giving students even more pathways to training, great careers, and a global edge,” she said. 

Professor Sudhir Kumar Barai (BITS-RMIT Higher Education Academy Director), Caroline Hartnett (Director, International Education and Study Melbourne), and BITS-RMIT student.Professor Sudhirkumar Barai (Director, BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus), Caroline Hartnett (Director, International Education and Study Melbourne), and BITS alum.

Victorian government backs international education 

RMIT received funding from the Victorian government, under its  'Yes to International Students Fund', partially contributing to this year’s immersion visit fund. 

RMIT Vice-President, International, Layton Pike, said the state government support recognised the strength of RMIT’s partnership with BITS and the impact of education and global experiences. 

“When the Victorian premier met BITS students in India, she said they are gaining a superpower through this program: cultural intelligence,” he said.

“By the time BITS-RMIT students graduate, they will have something rare – not just knowledge, but the experience of living and learning across cultures, and the confidence that comes with it." 

Professor Sudhir Kumar Barai (BITS-RMIT Higher Education Academy Director), Caroline Hartnett (Director, International Education and Study Melbourne), and BITS-RMIT student.Visiting BITS-RMIT students and RMIT Indian Club members taking part in social event.

For BITS-RMIT student, Divyanssh Jain, the immersion visit reinforced why he chose the dual-degree pathway.  

"The best part of studying the dual degree, is that BITS gives a good theoretical foundation, and RMIT focuses a lot on technical and practical skills - so I get a really well-rounded experience that will set me up for success in my future career," he said.  

The inaugural cohort of BITS-RMIT Higher Education Academy students, which completed their immersion visit in 2024, transferred to RMIT as full-time students in July 2025 to complete the final two years of their degrees. 

This year’s immersion visit cohort will return to Melbourne in July 2027 to complete their studies. 

Discover more about the BITS-RMIT Higher Education Academy. 

 

Story: Duncan Scott

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28 May 2026

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