Australia warns VET providers and students over attempts to bypass course cancellation
Australia warns VET providers and international students against bypassing the cancellation of the Graduate Diploma of Management Learning course as regulators investigate enrolment practices and visa risks.
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The Australian Government has warned vocational education and training providers, education agents and international students not to circumvent the cancellation of new enrolments in the Graduate Diploma of Management Learning course.
From 5 October 2026, VET providers and education agents will be prohibited from recruiting or enrolling new international students in the GDML course. The move follows Assistant Minister for International Education Julian Hill’s decision on 4 September to use new course cancellation powers for the first time.
The government said it was closely monitoring provider behaviour and student enrolment patterns after concerns emerged about the integrity of Australia’s international education and visa systems.
During the transition period, some providers issued more than 1,300 new Confirmations of Enrolment and brought forward the commencement dates of more than 1,500 students. The government said these actions appeared designed to circumvent the deadline for the cancellation.
The Australian Skills Quality Authority has been monitoring provider conduct and building evidence against providers suspected of undermining the integrity of the international education and visa systems.
Providers with students currently studying the GDML course must be able to demonstrate that they are complying with the 2025 Standards for Registered Training Organisations and the National Code of Practice for Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2018.
This includes ensuring that training is delivered by qualified trainers and assessors with current industry skills and knowledge relevant to the course. Providers must also show that their facilities, resources and equipment are fit for purpose, safe, accessible and sufficient.
The Department of Home Affairs has sent formal letters of concern to several providers, asking them to explain their behaviour and practices.
Hill said he was actively considering using powers under Section 97 of the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 to suspend an international education provider’s ability to recruit new students where misuse of the migration system had been established.
If used, it would be the first time those powers had been applied.
International students who began the GDML course and were studying with their current provider before 5 October may be allowed to complete their studies, provided no integrity breaches are identified.
However, government tip-offs have raised concerns that some providers and agents may have pressured students to begin the GDML course before completing their existing studies in order to meet the October deadline.
Providers and education agents have been warned not to pressure students or provide misleading assurances about the effect of enrolment on a current or future student visa application. They must also comply with restrictions on transferring providers before students have completed the required period of study.
Authorities are monitoring students who agree to enrolment or study arrangements they do not understand or cannot genuinely undertake. This includes arrangements involving two full-time courses at the same time.
Students who participate in non-genuine study arrangements could put their current student visa and future visa applications at risk. Before changing courses or starting another course, students must ensure they continue to comply with all visa conditions and obtain accurate information from their provider or, where necessary, independent migration advice.
The Department of Education will examine possible changes to the Education Services for Overseas Students framework to address loopholes and other integrity problems. It has also issued fact sheets for providers and students.
“The message to providers, agents and students is simple: do not try to game this measure,” Hill said.
“A paper enrolment, a rushed orientation or token activity is not a licence to evade the intent of the action and curious patterns are now being actively examined.”
Hill said providers should expect attempts to circumvent the measures to attract close regulatory scrutiny, with authorities assessing what actually occurred rather than relying only on paperwork.
“Students should be very wary of anyone pressuring them to start another course immediately, particularly while they are still completing their existing studies,” he said.
“Genuine students deserve clear advice and quality education—not arrangements created for someone else’s commercial benefit.”
The assistant minister said the government would continue taking action to protect international students, prevent misuse of the student visa system and maintain Australia’s reputation as a trusted education destination.
“Australia continues to welcome genuine international students seeking a premium education and must maintain a ruthless focus on quality, integrity and a great student experience,” Hill said.
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