A brief history of RMIT University in Australia and Vietnam.
- 1887: RMIT is established as the Working Men’s College in Melbourne, Australia.
- 1934: A new name, Melbourne Technical College, is adopted.
- 1954: The College is awarded royal patronage by Queen Elizabeth II in recognition of its educational service to the Commonwealth and contribution to the war effort. It is renamed Royal Melbourne Technical College and remains the only higher education institution in Australia with the right to use the prefix “Royal” and the Monarchy's coat of arms.
- 1960: The College Council adopts a new name, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology.
- 1992: The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology is granted university status, becoming RMIT University.
- 1994: RMIT becomes the first Australian university to adopt an international strategy that incorporates the delivery of teaching programs offshore and onshore.
- 1998: RMIT is invited by the Government of Vietnam to establish Vietnam’s first foreign-owned university.
- 2000: RMIT University is established in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
- 2001: The first class in Vietnam commences at Pham Ngoc Thach campus in Xuan Hoa ward, Ho Chi Minh City.
- 2004: The first class commences in Hanoi at 2/2C Van Phuc Diplomatic Compound, Kim Ma Street, Giang Vo ward.
- 2005: A purpose-built university campus opens at Saigon South.
- 2010: Hanoi campus moves to the Handi Resco Building at 521 Kim Ma, Giang Vo ward.
- 2010: Saigon South campus opens an international standard Recreation and Events Complex.
- 2011: The Residential Centre is built at Saigon South campus, providing accommodation to both international and local students.
- 2013: The award-winning Academic Building 2 opens at Saigon South campus.
- 2013: RMIT University opens a research centre in Barcelona, Spain.
- 2015: The Vietnamese Government awards RMIT University a prestigious Golden Dragon Award for the 12th consecutive year, recognising its excellence in education and research. By 2015, RMIT is still the country’s only fully foreign-owned university, with 6,250 students.
- 2018: A language centre opens in Danang, Vietnam.
- 2019: RMIT graduates hit 14,600 from both Saigon South and Hanoi campuses.
- 2019: RMIT celebrates a total of 1,330 scholarships worth US$13.7 million (approximately 319 billion VND) given to students to support university tuition and study, since opening in Vietnam.
- 2020: RMIT celebrates its 20th anniversary in Vietnam.
- 2021: RMIT’s academic portfolio has expanded from the first class commenced at Pham Ngoc Thach campus 20 years ago to four schools which include 23 undergraduate, four postgraduate and three PhD programs, and two graduate certificates.
- 2026: RMIT now has a dynamic student body of 12,000 students and a strong alumni network of more than 28,500 members.
Information correct as of March 2026.
RMIT’s long history, commitment and firm friendship in Vietnam
We’re proud of the impact and contribution RMIT has made over the last 23 years as the exemplar of international education in Vietnam.