The Australian government has moved to prevent new international students from enrolling in the Graduate Diploma of Management (Learning), citing concerns that the qualification has been misused to facilitate student transfers and undermine the integrity of the country’s international education system.
Assistant Minister for International Education Julian Hill announced the decision on Sept. 4, saying it marks the first use of new powers allowing the government to suspend or cancel particular courses offered to overseas students.
The measure specifically targets the Graduate Diploma of Management (Learning), course code BSB80120, and does not apply to graduate diploma courses generally.
From Oct. 5, 2026, providers registered under the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students, or CRICOS, will be prohibited from issuing new Confirmations of Enrolment, enrolling new overseas students or allowing overseas students who have not already commenced the course to begin studying it.
Confirmations of Enrolment linked to students who have not commenced the course will also be automatically cancelled on Oct. 5.
However, international students who have already commenced the course by the deadline will be permitted to complete their studies with their current providers. The measure does not affect domestic students.
The government said there was significant evidence that the course had been used to facilitate onshore transfers by “non-genuine students” and that it was associated with high rates of visa refusals and students failing to complete the course.
According to government figures, 452 vocational education and training providers are registered to offer the qualification to international students. There are 41,033 active Confirmations of Enrolment for the course, including 15,772 students currently recorded as studying it.
Hill said Australia would continue to welcome genuine international students while maintaining a strong focus on the quality and integrity of its international education and student visa systems.
The powers used in the decision stem from integrity reforms passed in 2025, which allow the government to automatically suspend or cancel courses based on factors including systemic quality concerns, Australia’s skills needs and the public interest. (Newswire)
