Photo: Collected
Following a decision to close a diploma course to prevent abuse of the visa system for international students in Australia, several private colleges are trying to enrol students in it quickly. To draw students before the course is scrapped, discounts are being offered in some places, while elsewhere same-day admission offers and confirmation of enrolment are being advertised.
A report by The Guardian said the Australian government is closing the Graduate Diploma of Management (Learning) course to new students from 5 October. The government fears that, instead of for the purpose of genuine study, some international students are using the course as a way to stay in Australia and maintain the validity of their visas. The course is currently taught at about 450 educational institutions and more than 15,000 students are studying in it. More than 40,000 other students have registered to enrol in the course in future.
After the announcement of the course’s closure, students have been urged throughout September to enrol quickly through social media, WhatsApp and various education and migration agents. Some advertisements offer discounts on course fees and instant confirmation of enrolment. One private college, meanwhile, has advertised special commission for migration agents and same-day offer letters and confirmation of enrolment. The dates of two special intakes for the course have also been given — 21 September and 2 October. That is, the opportunity to enrol has been kept open until just three days before the course is scrapped.
The rise in student transfers to this course in recent years is also an important factor behind the government’s decision. According to government data, transfers from other courses to the Graduate Diploma of Management rose from 510 in 2020 to about 4,000 in 2025. About half of the students who received approval for enrolment in the course in 2025 did not begin their studies.
The government alleges that some students were moving from higher-level studies to comparatively lower-level courses and retaining the opportunity to stay and work in Australia under the same visa. To prevent such ‘visa hopping’, the government has already tightened the rules for changing courses. In future, a new visa will be required even to change courses from one institution to another.
Australia’s Assistant Minister Julian Hill has warned that the government and the regulator will monitor unusual changes in the behaviour of students or educational institutions before the course is scrapped — such as suddenly increasing enrolments or starting courses early. He also said action would be taken if there are attempts to evade the rules.
However, students who have already begun studying in the course have been given the opportunity to complete it. Students whose future enrolment had been scheduled may have to move to alternative higher-level courses to meet their visa conditions. In some cases, taking more than one course at the same time is being advised, which has also created concern among students.
The Australian government says the aim of the step is to protect the quality of the international education system and the integrity of the visa system. As part of establishing greater control over international students and the migration system, the country has recently imposed several restrictions regarding course changes, student visas and those staying on after their visas expire.
