The federal government has decided to halt new enrollments in a specific graduate diploma program due to concerns that it may be exploited by non-genuine international students seeking to change courses and extend their stay in Australia. This action marks the inaugural application of newly established powers aimed at preserving the integrity of the international education framework.
While current students will be allowed to complete their diploma studies, educational institutions will no longer be able to enroll new students in this program.
Under the new government directive, the Graduate Diploma of Management (Learning) will effectively be phased out as a pathway for international students aiming to maintain their visa status. This decision follows a notable increase in transfers into the program, prompting fears that students are using it primarily to extend their residency rather than for legitimate academic pursuits.
This crackdown on vocational education and training (VET) courses is part of a larger initiative to enhance the quality of Australia’s international education sector, coinciding with efforts to regulate migration levels. Assistant Minister for International Education Julian Hill emphasized that the Labor government is committed to ensuring Australia remains a reputable destination for international students, aiming to safeguard their interests and prevent visa system misuse.
Hill criticized the previous Coalition government for allowing unsustainable growth in the least reputable segments of the international education landscape. Earlier this year, he implemented a 12-month moratorium on private colleges and training organizations proposing new courses for international students, providing the national regulator with additional time to address quality concerns regarding educational providers.
The decision to cancel the management diploma was driven by the alarming rise in international students in Australia switching into this course. Transfers surged from 510 students in 2020 to a projected 4,000 in 2025, with a significant 77 percent of these transfers originating from other higher education institutions. This trend allowed students to transition into the diploma program without requiring a new student visa application.
Data indicates that nearly half of those approved for enrollment did not commence their studies in 2025, and the completion rates for the diploma were considerably lower compared to other VET courses. Currently, there are 452 VET providers authorized to deliver this course to international students, with 41,033 confirmed active enrollments, including 15,772 students currently engaged in studies.
While students already enrolled will be permitted to finish their education, VET providers and educational agents will be barred from recruiting additional international students.
In a broader context, the government is increasingly utilizing regulatory measures to control immigration and reduce the influx of new arrivals, as it aims to decrease net overseas migration (NOM) from approximately 300,000 annually to its target of 225,000 by 2028. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has shifted visa processing priorities to favor skilled migrants already in Australia, effectively delaying applications from overseas workers. Additionally, applications for backpacker visas from 24 countries have also been slowed.
While Burke hinted at potential changes to working holiday visa conditions for British backpackers, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has since confirmed that existing arrangements under the Australia-UK free trade agreement will remain intact. Furthermore, reports have suggested that the federal cabinet contemplated revoking work rights for individuals whose protection claims were denied. The number of people on bridging visas has escalated from 130,450 in 2017 to 413,000 in 2026.
Initially, there was speculation that Labor might reduce Australia’s humanitarian intake from 20,000 back to a previous limit of 13,750; however, Albanese has assured that such a reduction will not take place.
