Australia offers exemption to attract students for diploma courses before visa restrictions

Several private colleges are trying to quickly enroll students in Australia after a decision was made to close a diploma course to prevent abuse of the visa system by international students. Some are offering discounts to attract students before the course is canceled, while others are announcing same-day admission offers and confirmations.

The Guardian reported that the Australian government is closing the Graduate Diploma of Management (Learning) course to new students from October 5. The government fears that some international students are using the course as a way to stay in Australia and extend their visas, rather than for the purpose of their actual studies. The course is currently taught at about 450 educational institutions. More than 15,000 students are currently studying in it. In addition, more than 40,000 students are registered to enroll in the course in the future.

After the announcement of the closure of the course, students are being urged to enroll quickly through social media, WhatsApp and various education and immigration agents throughout September. Some advertisements have offered discounts on course fees and immediate admission confirmation. A private college has also announced special commissions for immigration agents, same-day offer letters and admission confirmation. Two special admission dates for the course have also been given - September 21 and October 2. That is, students have the opportunity to enroll until just three days before the course is canceled.

The Australian government's decision is also driven by the fact that student transfers to the course have increased in recent years. According to government data, transfers to the Graduate Diploma of Management from other courses have increased from 510 in 2020 to around 4,000 in 2025. Almost half of the students accepted onto the course in 2025 have not started their studies.

The government has alleged that some students were transferring from higher-level studies to lower-level courses, while retaining their stay and work opportunities in Australia under the same visa. The government has already tightened the rules on changing courses to prevent such 'visa hopping'. In the future, changing courses from one institution to another will also require a new visa.

Australian Assistant Minister Julian Hill warned that the government and regulators would monitor any unusual changes in student or institution behavior - such as sudden increases in enrollment or early course starts - before canceling courses, and that action would be taken if the rules were circumvented.

However, students who have already started their studies on the course are being given the opportunity to complete it. Students who had a future admission scheduled may need to go to an alternative higher course to meet visa requirements. In some cases, students are being advised to take multiple courses at the same time, which has also raised concerns among students.

The Australian government says the move is aimed at protecting the quality of its international education system and the integrity of its visa system. The country has recently imposed a series of restrictions on course changes, student visas and overstayers as part of a push to establish greater control over international students and immigration.