THE University of Newcastle (UON) had the largest increase in the number of full-time equivalent students in NSW in 2020, says a NSW Auditor-General report.
The report for Parliamentanalysed the results of audits of the state's 10 universities last year.
"The impact of COVID-19 has exposed the university sector to new financial risks in 2020," the report said.
"However, the impact is being felt differently at each university."
It said revenue from overseas students decreased by $286.6 million (7.9 per cent) across the universities in 2020 compared to the previous year.
Revenue from full fee paying domestic students decreased overall by $42.2 million (14.8 per cent) but increased at four universities.
There were 289,667 students at NSW universities in 2020, a decrease of 10,032 students (3.3 per cent) compared to 2019.
Of this decrease, 8310 were from overseas.
A graph that showed the movement in the numbers of full-time equivalent students at universities in 2020 showed just two saw an increase in their "Equivalent Full-Time Student Load": UON with 2.8 per cent and Western Sydney University with 0.5 per cent.
Overseas student enrolments in semester one of 2021 compared to semester one last year decreased at every university - including by 10.4 per cent at UON - apart from two.
Domestic student enrolments in semester one 2021 increased at all universities.
UON was one of four universities to record a positive net operating result in 2020 ($7.5 million). Its revenue and expenditure were virtually equal at around $750 million.
Its expenditure was up 2.7 per cent and around $500 million was employer related expenses. It was one of three to receive more than 40 per cent (44 per cent) of its revenue from government grants.
It received 42 per cent from fees and charges, 10 per cent from other revenue and four per cent from investment income.
It received around $375,000 in government grants in 2020, up 1.7 per cent on 2019. It recorded around $6 million in philanthropic income, up 74.2 per cent, and about $110 million in research income in 2019, up four per cent from 2018.
