Fraudulent applications: Indian students face restrictions from 5 Australian universities
Melbourne, April 18: Amid a surge in fraudulent applications from South Asia seeking to work not study in this Australia, at least five universities have placed bans or restrictions on students from some Indian states, says a media report.
"The current surge has prompted concerns from lawmakers and the education sector about the integrity of Australia's immigration system and the long-term impact on the nation's lucrative international education market," 'The Sydney Morning Herald' newspaper reported on Tuesday.
With many applications deemed by universities not to meet Australian visa requirements that they are a “genuine temporary entrant” coming solely for education, universities are putting restrictions in place to pre-empt their “risk rating” being downgraded, the report added.
As per information, an investigation by The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald newspapers has obtained emails from within Victoria University, Edith Cowan University, the University of Wollongong, Torrens University, and agents working for Southern Cross University that show the crackdown on applications from Indian students.
In February, Perth's Edith Cowan University had imposed a ban on applicants from the Indian states of Punjab and Haryana, then in March, Victoria University increased restrictions on student applications from eight Indian states, including Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat.
- With inputs from agencies
