The new Adelaide University is not on track to meet its international student targets and is staring down tens of millions in lost revenue.
A business case three years ago for creating the university forecast that it could attract 6,000 more international students by 2034 — before the federal government's enforcement action on migration.
The new university opened its doors to students in January after a roughly three-year process to bring together the University of Adelaide and University of South Australia, backed by a $464.5 million package from the state government.
The business case for the merger projected that the new Adelaide University could attract 6,000 more international students by 2034 compared to what the two universities had enrolled in 2023.
Adelaide University has enrolled 16,677 individual international students in 2026; the two predecessor institutions had enrolled 20,820 international students at the same point last year, the university said.
"We are deeply concerned by the policy direction," said Professor Jessica Gallagher, Adelaide University's deputy vice chancellor, international and external engagement.
Professor Gallagher said the changes "absolutely" jeopardised the university's target for 6,000 more international students.
In May, Adelaide University Vice-Chancellor Professor Nicola Phillips said that international student enrolments were 40 per cent below target for semester one, creating a projected revenue shortfall of $90 million.
In her May message, Professor Phillips said the university would not undertake a "radical restructuring" of the workforce and domestic student enrolments remained on target.
The universities of Adelaide and South Australia agreed to work together on a merger in December 2022 and decided to go ahead with it in July 2023.