NSW and Victoria were hard hit, Queensland and SA not so much

ANU had the toughest financial 2020, according to a new analysis by Frank Larkins and Ian Marshman, from the Melbourne Centre for the Study of Higher Education, in CMM this morning.

They assess all public universities, on percentage change in total income, student fee/charges receipts and net change in overall financial position.

Overall, they conclude the pandemic had a “high” impact on ten universities which, “appear to face the greatest challenges to restore their financial position to pre-pandemic levels.”

The universities taking the hardest hit are variously impacted by exposure to the international student market, “relatively weak” finances pre-dating the pandemic and, short-term  redundancy costs.