In recent years, Australia has become an increasingly popular destination for international students, particularly from India. However, concerns have been raised about the number of fraudulent visa applications being made by Indian students, leading to calls for action to be taken to protect the integrity of Australia’s immigration system. Australian universities have now responded to these concerns by implementing measures to detect and prevent fraudulent visa applications.
According to data from the Australian government, international students contributed more than AUD 40 billion to the Australian economy in 2019. India is the second-largest source country for international students in Australia, after China, with over 107,000 Indian students enrolled in Australian universities in 2021. These students generate significant revenue for the Australian government, making them a valuable asset to the country’s economy.
Research for the Department of Education, Skills and Employment (DESE) shows Australia also gains social, cultural and skilled workforce benefits from international education.
This quick guide provides an overview of key information related to overseas students in Australian higher education. Higher education accounted for 68.1 per cent ($25.4 billion) of international education export income in 2019–20, and 47.4 per cent of all overseas student enrolments in 2020. Overseas students also enrol in Australian vocational education and training (VET), schools, English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS), and non-award courses. However, each of these accounts for fewer students and has less economic impact than overseas student enrolments in higher education.
However, concerns have been raised about the number of fraudulent visa applications being made by Indian students. These applications often involve students claiming to have completed courses that they have not actually studied, or providing false information about their academic credentials or financial situation. These fraudulent applications not only undermine the integrity of Australia’s immigration system, but they also put genuine international students at a disadvantage by taking up spaces in universities that should be reserved for those who meet the necessary criteria.
In response to these concerns, Australian universities have implemented a range of measures to detect and prevent fraudulent visa applications. These measures include verifying the authenticity of academic credentials, conducting background checks on applicants, and working closely with government agencies to identify and report suspected cases of fraud.
One of the key challenges facing Australian universities in this regard is the difficulty of verifying academic credentials from overseas institutions. To address this issue, universities are increasingly using third-party verification services to confirm the authenticity of academic transcripts and certificates. These services can provide independent verification of documents, helping to ensure that only genuine applicants are granted visas.
Another important measure being taken by Australian universities is the use of background checks to identify potential cases of fraud. These checks can include criminal record checks, credit checks, and checks on social media activity, among other things. By conducting these checks, universities can identify any red flags that may indicate fraudulent activity, allowing them to take appropriate action.
In addition to these measures, Australian universities are also working closely with government agencies to identify and report suspected cases of fraud. This collaboration between universities and government agencies is essential in ensuring that the integrity of Australia’s immigration system is maintained.
The recent surge in fraudulent applications from South Asia seeking work rather than study opportunities in Australia has raised concerns among lawmakers and the education sector. According to a report in The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper on Tuesday, there are worries about the integrity of Australia’s immigration system and the potential long-term impact on the country’s highly lucrative international education market.
“The volume of students arriving has come back a lot stronger than anyone was expecting,” Jon Chew from global education firm Navitas was further reported as saying.
“We knew there would be a lot of pent-up demand, but there has also been a surge in non-genuine students,” Chew added.
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 said.
The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald newspapers conducted an investigation and obtained emails that reveal a crackdown on applications from Indian students within Victoria University, Edith Cowan University, the University of Wollongong, Torrens University, and agents working for Southern Cross University.
The universities that have imposed restrictions on students from certain Indian states are reportedly worried that the Australian Home Affairs department may reduce their ability to expedite student visa applications due to the high number of fraudulent applications from individuals seeking work rather than study opportunities in Australia. This could have a negative impact on their ability to attract and enroll genuine international students.
In February, Perth’s Edith Cowan University placed an outright 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.
The restrictions placed by some Australian universities on students from certain Indian states coincided with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s recent visit to India.
Crucially, the agreement included a “mutual recognition of qualifications between Australia and India”, which will make travelling to either country for university study easier.
In March, the University of Wollongong imposed stricter conditions on its “genuine temporary entrant” test for students from several countries including India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Lebanon, Mongolia, Nigeria, and any other countries considered to pose a risk by the Australian Department of Home Affairs.
A spokeswoman for Adelaide’s Torrens University said it too was “now looking carefully at each area where our applications come from” after the university told The Times Higher Education in March that it was considering only “very strong” applications from Gujarat, Haryana, and Punjab.
The issue of fraudulent visa applications by Indian students is a significant challenge for Australia’s immigration system. However, Australian universities are taking decisive action to address this issue, implementing a range of measures to detect and prevent fraud. By working together with government agencies and using innovative technologies to verify the authenticity of academic credentials, Australian universities are ensuring that only genuine international students are granted visas. This is crucial not only for maintaining the integrity of Australia’s immigration system, but also for ensuring that genuine international students are able to study in a safe and supportive environment.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Coverpage’s editorial stance
