Australia blocks international students from enrolling in graduate diploma course

Australia has cancelled new international student enrolments in the Graduate Diploma of Management (Learning). The government says the course was being used to facilitate onshore visa transfers by non-genuine students.Australia has cancelled new international student enrolments in the Graduate Diploma of Management (Learning). (Photo: Getty Images)Australia has moved to stop new international student enrolments in the Graduate Diploma of Management (Learning), citing concerns over visa misuse, high refusal rates and course non-completion.The Albanese Government said the decision is the first use of new powers to suspend or cancel courses that raise concerns about the integrity of Australia’s international education and student visa systems.Providers offering the course, identified by course code BSB80120, will have their Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Student's registration automatically suspended or cancelled.However, students already enrolled will not be forced to leave their course. CURRENT STUDENTS CAN FINISHInternational students who have already started the course and are studying with their current provider will be allowed to complete their studies.The restriction applies to new international students. Vocational education and training providers and education agents will no longer be able to recruit new overseas students into the course or offer it to them. The scale of the course has also been highlighted by the government.As many as 452 VET providers are registered to deliver the programme to international students. There are currently 41,033 active Confirmations of Enrolment for the course, including 15,772 students who are recorded as currently studying it.The government said the targeted action is intended to strengthen the quality and integrity of Australia's international education sector while protecting genuine international students.WHY HAS AUSTRALIA STEPPED IN?The decision follows what the government described as "significant evidence" that the course had been used to facilitate onshore transfers by non-genuine students.It also pointed to high rates of visa refusals and course non-completion associated with the programme.The move follows integrity reforms passed by the government in November 2025. Under the legislation, the Minister can specify a course for automatic suspension or cancellation based on factors including systemic problems in course delivery, alignment with Australia's skills needs and the public interest.Assistant Minister for International Education Julian Hill, "The government will continue to act decisively to ensure Australia remains a trusted global education destination, to protect international students and to prevent misuse of the student visa system."He said Australia must maintain a strong focus on quality, integrity and student experience, while preventing misuse of the student visa system.The government said it will continue working with relevant regulators to monitor the impact of the decision on Australia's education sector and visa system.- EndsPublished By: Princy ShuklaPublished On: Sep 4, 2026 14:53 IST