RMIT University

ABOUT UNIVERSITY

RMIT University, located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, is a public research institution founded in 1887 by Francis Ormond as the Working Men's College, aimed at providing education in art, science, and technology during Australia's Industrial Revolution. Initially a private college, it merged with the Phillip Institute of Technology in 1992 to become a public university. With approximately 95,000 students in higher and vocational education and an annual revenue of A$1.5 billion, RMIT is a member of the Australian Technology Network and Universities Australia. It ranks 15th globally for art and design in the QS World University Rankings. Its main campus is on the northern edge of Melbourne’s Hoddle Grid, with satellite campuses in Brunswick, Bundoora, and Point Cook, plus sites in Bendigo and Hamilton. Internationally, RMIT operates branch campuses in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, a training centre in Da Nang, Vietnam, and a research centre in Barcelona, Spain, alongside partnerships in Asia. The university’s early history began with Ormond’s £5,000 donation, matched by workers’ unions, and a government-donated site. Opening with 320 students, it expanded in the early 20th century, contributing to World War I and II efforts by training military personnel and manufacturing aircraft parts. In 1954, it received royal patronage from Elizabeth II, becoming the Royal Melbourne Technical College, and in 1960, it was renamed RMIT. It pioneered dual-sector education in Australia and engaged with Southeast Asia via the Colombo Plan. In 1979, it incorporated the Emily McPherson College. Today, RMIT remains a leading institution, blending historical significance with global academic and research influence.