Key facts
- Private colleges are offering discounts and expedited start dates for a graduate diploma in management.
- The federal government is cancelling the graduate diploma of management (learning) effective October 5.
- The government suspects the course is being misused by "non-genuine" students to remain in Australia.
- Over 15,000 students are currently studying the diploma, with over 40,000 registered for future enrollment.
- Students enrolled by October 5 will be allowed to complete the course.
- Assistant Minister Julian Hill warned that "curious patterns of early commencement or new enrolments will be investigated."
Private colleges across Australia are reportedly offering last-minute discounts and expedited enrollment for a graduate diploma in management that the federal government is set to cancel. The government announced in early September that it would deregister the graduate diploma of management (learning) from October 5, citing concerns that it was being "misused by shonks" and "non-genuine" students to remain in Australia.
Colleges are using social media, WhatsApp messages, and texts to encourage students to enroll or expedite their start dates before the cancellation. Some promotions include discounted course fees or a free certificate of enrollment. One college is offering "attractive" commissions to immigration agents for same-day offer letters and confirmations, with "special intakes" scheduled just days before the cancellation.
Phil Honeywood, chief executive of the International Education Association of Australia, supported the government's decision, stating it would remove "factory-type private providers" from the system. He believes high-quality providers will continue to thrive.
Students with future enrollments in the diploma are being advised by some education migration providers to start the course immediately to maintain their visa conditions, potentially requiring them to study concurrently with other courses. One student anonymously shared that they were advised to study both a VET course in carpentry and the graduate diploma simultaneously, expressing concern about the heavy study load.
Assistant Minister Julian Hill stated that the department and education regulator would be "closely watching student and provider behaviour" and that "curious patterns of early commencement or new enrolments will be investigated." He previously described the situation left by the previous government as a "shocking mess" where the student visa system was degraded into a "low-rent illegal work visa."
Melanie McFarlane, New South Wales president of the Migration Institute of Australia, noted that some reputable agents are helping students transition to master's degrees, while others facing financial difficulties might be rushing students into the soon-to-be-cancelled diploma. The government has also banned commissions for agents transferring students between courses and will require new visas for students changing providers from next year, as part of a broader crackdown on visa-hopping and overstayers.