Charles Sturt University (CSU) will cut jobs to save $35 million after a sharp decline in international student enrolments pushed it into a $44 million deficit for 2024.
With campuses across regional NSW, CSU says international students once played a key financial role in supporting rural education.
“In 2019 Charles Sturt had 8,460 international students. In 2024, we had approximately 10 per cent of that number,” Vice-Chancellor Renée Leon said.
“The simple truth of Australian higher education is that international student revenue pays for domestic students and research and, by extension, jobs at universities.”
She called the cuts “distressing but unsurprising,” blaming federal policies that slashed 60,000 student visas in the past year.
Staff have criticised the university’s response.
“Staff are left with more questions than answers, we’re stuck in a crushing limbo,” said union representative Dr Anna Corbo Crehan.
“Cutting jobs would be a devastating blow not just for staff and students, but the regional communities that rely on CSU.”
The University of Wollongong has already announced more than 270 job cuts under similar pressure.
Ms Leon also urged reform of the university funding model, saying it “disproportionately handicaps regional universities.”
Federal MP Michael McCormack has written to Education Minister Jason Clare, warning of wider consequences.
“The ripple effect will be like a tsunami across those regional economies… Now is the time for action.”
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