Federation University is among 16 other Victorian universities that will share a grant of $5 million under the Yes To International Students Fund.
Granted by the Victorian Government, the fund backs international education by supporting universities and TAFEs to expand their global footprint.
The Minister for Economic Growth and Jobs, Danny Pearson, visited William Angliss Institute to make the announcement.
He said that “we are backing international students because they drive jobs and the economy and boost Victoria’s global reputation”.
“As Australia’s education state, we stand against student caps and with our universities and TAFEs,” he said.
The investment will focus on transnational education, offering targeted seed funding to Victorian universities and TAFEs so they can kick-start and grow partnerships to deliver more education overseas.
To be more precise, transnational education is the delivery of Australian courses to international students outside Australia, where a university or TAFE may set up a campus offshore or co-deliver courses with a reputable international institution.
The Minister for Skills and TAFE, Gayle Tierney, said that the “Yes to International Students Fund is about backing out world-class universities and TAFEs to take Victorian education to the world”.
According to the state government, the partnerships will strengthen the state’s global presence by creating new courses and expanding existing programs, offering student exchange programs and more.
The release also added that making Victoria’s world-class education more accessible to the globe brings huge benefits back to the state.
This includes economic growth, strengthening of Victoria’s institutions’ global reputation, and giving staff and students the mobility and opportunities for research, career development and future collaboration.
The Victorian Government has once more called on the Federal Government to axe the international student caps, adding that a cap on international students is a cap on economic growth.
“This fund will ensure students can benefit from the world-class education Victoria has to offer while supporting innovation and deepening cultural ties,” Minister Tierney said.
The Yes to International Students Fund is funded through the state government’s Economic Growth Statement as a key initiative to support education providers for global opportunities.
The overall 2025/2026 Victorian Budget is also investing $18.6 million to continue backing international education programs and services, supporting the sector to navigate the national and international landscape.
