The government announced last week that university funding will be frozen at 2017 levels until 2020 in an attempt curb spending in the federal budget.  

As a result of the funding freeze, many universities have cried out that the freeze will lead to fewer places for students in courses like teaching and nursing. 

ACU were tight-lipped about exactly how many students in Ballarat will miss out on a place in the 2018 teaching year but did confirm they won’t be able to accommodate the same number of students as in 2017. 

However, Minister for Education Simon Birmingham said the government were left with no choice but to curb university education spending to help balance the budget. 

“Despite years of consultation and our willingness to work with Labor, the Greens and Xenophon parties, Australia’s universities and Parliamentarians have preferred to turn a blind eye to the challenges confronting both the federal budget and higher education,” he said.

“The policy measures announced in MYEFO will partially deliver on previous budget decisions that moderate the rate of funding growth.

“Australia must face up to the task of putting our higher education costs on a more sustainable, responsible path for the future while also having a stronger focus on supporting students.”

Universities Australia Chair Professor Margaret Gardner said funding freeze would hurt regional universities the most where student enrollment is already lower than the metro-based institutions. 

“For universities that are still growing their student numbers to meet the needs in their local communities and regional economies, this will be an even deeper cut,” she said. 

“A freeze will put budget pressure on universities to offer fewer places in courses that are expensive to teach but hugely needed such as nursing, science and engineering.”