In 2020, the University of Bristol signed a cotutelle framework agreement with the Royal Melbourne Institute — a research-focused university in south-eastern Australia.

RMIT has a world-class academic reputation, and this collaboration provides access to their extensive global network of institutional partnerships and new funding opportunities.

RMIT has three campuses and two sites in Australia, two campuses in Vietnam and a research and industry collaboration centre in Spain.

They also offer a number of programs through partners in Singapore, Hong Kong, mainland China, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Belgium, Germany, Austria and the Netherlands.

Two dual-PhD projects have already been initiated in the areas of Aerospace Engineering, supported by funding from the Engineering and Physical Research Council.

Although the signing of the cotutelle framework agreement represented a significant development, it was no means the first collaboration between the two institutions. RMIT was already a partner in the Bristol's Centre for Doctoral Training in Advanced Composites for Innovation and Science (ACCIS CDT), whilst Bristol was a partner in RMIT’s Atlas Doctoral Training programme.