Australia blocks international students from enrolling in graduate diploma course

The Albanese Government has taken action to protect the integrity of Australia’s international education sector by preventing new enrolments by international students in the Graduate Diploma of Management (Learning) (GDML).

The decision is the first use of new course cancellation powers and follows significant evidence that the course has been used to facilitate onshore transfers by non-genuine students and is associated with high rates of visa refusals and course non-completion.

Providers that deliver the course (BSB80120) will have their Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) registration for the GDML course automatically suspended or cancelled.

Students who have commenced the course and are studying with their current provider will be able to complete their studies. However, VET providers and education agents will no longer be able to recruit international students into, or offer, the GDML course to new international students.

452 VET providers are registered to deliver the course to international students, with 41,033 active Confirmations of Enrolment (CoEs) in the GDML, including 15,772 students recorded as currently studying the course.

The targeted action will strengthen the quality and integrity of Australia’s international education sector and protect the interests of international students and follows the package of integrity reforms the Government passed in November 2025.

This package included legislation which gives the Minister power to specify a course for automatic suspension and cancellation by reference to matters including systemic issues in course delivery, alignment with Australia’s skills needs, and the public interest.

The Government will continue to work with relevant regulators to monitor the impacts of the instrument on the sector and Australia’s visa system.

Quotes attributable to the Assistant Minister for International Education, Julian Hill:

“The government will continue to act decisively to ensure Australia remains a trusted global education destination, to protect international students and to prevent misuse of the student visa system.

“The Coalition left behind a shocking mess in 2022, with unsustainably high growth in student numbers in the least reputable parts of the sector, and our high-quality student visa being degraded into a low-rent illegal work visa and misused by shonks.

“Australia continues to welcome genuine international students seeking a premium education and must maintain a ruthless focus on quality, integrity and a great student experience.”