Saudi Arabia has moved a step closer to hosting its first foreign university campus, after an Australian institution pressed ahead with plans to establish a base in Riyadh.

The University of Wollongong said it intended to offer English-language programmes in the Saudi capital from mid-2025 and preparatory courses from 2026, as precursors to the delivery of undergraduate degrees from 2027.

The announcement follows Saudi authorities’ to award the university an “investment licence” in March last year, paving the way for Wollongong to establish a branch campus as part of the “” initiative to diversify the kingdom’s economy away from oil – partly by overhauling its education system.

Wollongong, whose local educational partner is the Riyadh-based Digital Knowledge Company, said it had been the first foreign university to be granted an investment licence through the Saudi Vision programme. Saudi authorities have also signed a memorandum of understanding with Arizona State University, according to .

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The development confirms Wollongong’s status as one of Australia’s most internationalised universities. The regional New South Wales (NSW) institution has campuses in Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and nearby Dubai, and in November it became just the second foreign university to open a branch in India.

Interim vice-chancellor Eileen McLaughlin said the move into Saudi Arabia was part of a broader strategy to build resilience and global relevance as the institution navigated financial constraints and shifting policy conditions on home soil.

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“This is about ensuring our long-term strength – both here and internationally – by drawing on the distinctive capability we’ve built in offshore education,” McLaughlin said.

The university’s marketing and recruitment arm, UOW Global Enterprises, said the institution had proven its ability to deliver “quality education” in “diverse international contexts”.

“Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 places education at the heart of national transformation,” said chief executive Marisa Mastroianni. “We believe in the power of education to shape social progress, and we’re proud to be part of that evolution. Our extensive global network…positioned us to pursue this opportunity.”

Australian universities are being pressured to develop their offshore offerings, amid a political backlash against the number of foreign students on home soil. Wollongong said its offerings in Saudi Arabia would be “shaped by the university’s formal course approval and governance processes, ensuring quality, integrity, and alignment with UOW’s values”.

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“Governance, academic freedom and cultural respect remain foundational to every stage of planning,” it said.

However, staff have expressed reservations about the “reputational risk” of doing business with a regime known for its human rights abuses, according to the . And Martin Cubby, National Tertiary Education Union organiser at Wollongong, said staff were concerned about “investment in offshore campuses” at a time when hundreds of jobs were under threat.

Cubby said the university’s underpinning act clearly ascribed its “primary responsibility” to its southern NSW coastal region. “Investment decisions about campuses in Saudi Arabia highlight again the urgent need for federal and state governments to fix university governance,” he told ̽����Ƶ.

“Our public university managements [should be] forced to refocus on our core mission – delivering quality teaching, research and student support in Australia.”

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john.ross@timeshighereducation.com