University of Technology Sydney is pushing ahead with a contentious $100 million cost-cutting program that will see 400 staff sacked despite a record intake of foreign students in the autumn semester mainly due to a resurgence in demand from China.

The record enrolment of 3257 full-degree international students undermines vice chancellor Andrew Parfitt’s argument that lower international student numbers in 2025 would crunch revenue and force UTS to slash its $1.3 billion annual expenses.