Australian universities expand ChatGPT access and bring AI into teaching

Australian universities are expanding access to ChatGPT Edu and integrating AI into teaching, research and operations, according to OpenAI.

University collaborations

UNSW Sydney is bringing ChatGPT Edu to more than 80,000 students and staff, expanding access in stages. UNSW and OpenAI plan to integrate generative AI foundations and Codex into educational programs and courses, with opportunities for students to apply AI through hackathons and industry projects.

The University of Sydney will provide students and staff with supported access to ChatGPT Edu, with training and guidance. The rollout is staged, with access for all students scheduled for Semester 1, 2027 after a trial. The university is also establishing a $1 million AI Sustainability Research and Innovation Fund to study and advance sustainability.

La Trobe University says all 3,500 staff already have access to ChatGPT Edu, with universal access planned for its 45,000 students and staff in the first quarter of 2027. Its approach includes Australia’s first Bachelor of AI Engineering (Honours), welcoming its first cohort in 2027, and Australia’s first AI MBA program. La Trobe appointed Australia’s first Pro Vice-Chancellor AI and Chief AI Officer, Phil Laufenberg, to lead the university’s approach to AI across education, research and operations.

Adelaide University is one of the first institutions in the higher education sector to harness OpenAI Daybreak Blue to conduct authorised defensive security work, providing a vital capability for cyber defences, including vulnerability discovery, secure code review, malware analysis, incident response and patch validation.

AI in teaching and practice

Dr Cameron Anderson, Head of the Paramedicine program at La Trobe University, uses ChatGPT to create practice activities where students interpret an ECG, assess a possible heart attack or triage patients after a mass casualty incident. "ChatGPT helps us create realistic clinical scenarios so our paramedicine students can practice difficult field decisions. They still need to interpret evidence, explain their reasoning and defend their decisions. It also helps identify course material needing updates in line with new research, giving us more time for teaching."

Professor Therese Keane, Associate Dean for Research and Industry Engagement in La Trobe’s School of Education, uses a social robot called Fletch to help future teachers practice giving feedback to parents. Powered by OpenAI large language models hosted through Microsoft Azure, Fletch responds with speech, facial expressions and head movements.

Student survey findings

New research commissioned by OpenAI surveyed 1,018 Australian university students from 3–7 August 2026. The study by Pureprofile, on behalf of OpenAI, found that 81% of students said they already use AI several times a week, including nearly a third (33%) who use it multiple times a day. Over a quarter (28%) had already built an AI agent or assistant to help manage their studies, work or personal life. Four out of five students (79%) want their university to offer more opportunities to use advanced AI tools on real-world projects.

More than sixty percent (61%) believe AI skills will be essential to success in their chosen career, and 65% believe those skills will give Australian graduates an advantage in the global workforce.

Why it matters

Universities are setting clear expectations for when students can use AI and when they need to demonstrate their own knowledge. UNSW has introduced a Can, Can’t, Must framework for assessment. The University of Sydney is pairing its rollout with a responsible AI framework alongside its assessment approach. La Trobe’s library has developed free Responsible and Safe AI learning modules for all students, and AI skills development is being integrated in 50 priority first-year subjects for Semester 1, 2027.

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Sources

• openai.com: Australian universities are creating AI-native graduates | OpenAI

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.