‘One big migration scam’: University of Sydney enrols more international students than Australians for the first time

For the first time in its 170-year history, the University of Sydney saw international students outnumber domestic ones - with more than half of its Australian-based students arriving from overseas.

Federal Education Department data published by The Australian revealed that 51 per cent of enrolments in 2024 at the university were foreign students, who generated $1.6 billion in fees for the institution.

The university enrolled 39,725 international students onshore, compared with 35,727 Australian citizens.

The University of New South Wales followed closely behind, with 46 per cent of students (37,870) coming from overseas.

Perth’s Murdoch University recorded 45 per cent, the University of Melbourne 43 per cent, the Australian National University 40 per cent, and the University of Queens