Australian Government Warns Against Last-Minute Enrollment Surge in Course Set for Abolition

3,000 Enrollments in One Month

Since the Australian government announced on September 4 the abolition of the graduate diploma of management (learning) program, private education providers have issued over 1,300 new enrollments and more than 1,500 students have brought forward their scheduled commencement dates, The Guardian reported.

The program is currently offered by nearly 450 education providers, with 15,000 current students and over 40,000 students enrolled for future commencement.

Some education providers offered immigration agents two special intake dates, September 21 and October 2, promising same-day issuance of letters of offer and confirmations of enrollment. October 2 is three days before the program's abolition.

Government Sanctions Announced

Assistant Minister for International Education Julian Hill stated that education providers breaching regulations could be prohibited from recruiting new students.

The Department of Home Affairs has sent letters of concern to multiple education providers requesting explanations for their behavior and practices.

Hill said "paper enrollments, hastily arranged orientations, and token activities will not circumvent the purpose of this measure" and that "suspicious patterns are being actively investigated." He added that regulators will examine substance, not just paperwork.

Background of Program Abolition

The government determined this program was being exploited by some non-genuine students to extend their stay in Australia. Hill revealed last month that the system had been "exploited."

The Guardian reported last month that private education providers were offering discounts to rush students into enrollment before the October 5 abolition. Some immigration education agents offered tuition discounts or free confirmations of enrollment for immediate registration through WhatsApp messages and texts throughout September.

Under the rule change, students enrolled in both lower-level vocational courses and this graduate diploma must enroll in higher-level courses to meet visa requirements. Bringing forward the graduate diploma start date could result in concurrent enrollment in both courses.

Warning to Students

Hill said regulators are monitoring students with study structures that appear non-genuine, such as concurrent enrollment in two full-time courses.

He warned that students in non-genuine structures may face risks to their student visas or future visa applications.

Hill said "if someone is pressuring you to immediately start another course while completing your existing studies, you should be very careful" and "genuine students deserve clear advice and quality education, not structures created for someone else's commercial interests."

Students who commenced the program before October 5 can complete it "unless a breach of genuineness is identified."

Source: The Guardian