What fiscal or financial risks, if any, has the Minister been informed of within the university sector in 2026?

Answer

I have been advised of the following fiscal and financial risks: • Domestic enrolment growth is strong with nearly all universities delivering well above their funding allocations. There is a key risk that this growth may not be funded given fiscal constraint, which will negatively impact on university financial performance and access to tertiary education. • Affordability of capital plans is tight for many universities (including an increasing reliance on borrowing). • There is an ongoing need for universities to lift underlying financial performance, particularly given funding challenges over the past five years. • There remains uncertainty regarding the strength of the recovery of international learners.