A year since it raised the Covid-induced limitations on the entry of foreign citizens, Australia has reported a peak in attempts to receive student visas via fraudulent means, “including by students from India”, which is responsible for the second most considerable affiliate of international students on Australian land.

While responding to questions, the Australian Department of Home Affairs stated that applications in which components of fraud are noticed are identified under the “non-grant” category, which prevents an individual from making new applications for at least three to ten years.

The previous month, the Sydney Morning Herald informed that at least five Australian educational institutions set regulations on the applications of Indian students from at least four states- Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.

There are about 89,700 Indian students in Australia currently, while the number of Chinese students stands at 1.25 lakh, as per the data given by the Australian government. The number of Indian students is up 27% compared to 2022, while China has registered a 4% drop.

When reached regarding the restrictions on applications, all the universities said their actions are directed by the guidelines of the Australian Department of Home Affairs. Three institutions- Edith Cowan University (ECU), Victoria University, and Southern Cross University- approved that applications from Indian students are confronting “additional” scrutiny.

Edith Cowan University, set in the 601-650 band in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) rankings, informed it has “temporarily paused undergraduate student recruitment from Punjab and Haryana in order to review its admission procedures and settings for the area” since the month of January 2023.

A representative of the Southern Cross University said, while it resumes receiving applications from all Indian students, “we are conscious some (admission) agents are adopting a more selective position. All candidates or applicants, regardless of country, must satisfy our entry requirements”.

Victoria University Melbourne stated that it is imposing additional conditions for applicants from specific states in India.

The University of Wollongong refused to impose restrictions, while Torrens University reported it is still considering receiving applications from the “states in question.

News Source: The Indian Express