A year since it lifted the Covid-induced restrictions on the entry of foreign nationals, Australia has registered a rise in attempts to obtain student visas through fraudulent means, “including by applicants from India”, which accounts for the second largest cohort of foreign students on Australian soil. Responding to questions from The Indian Express, the Australian Department of Home Affairs said that applications in which elements of fraud are detected are placed under the “non-grant” category, which prevents a person from making fresh applications for at least three to 10 years. Last month, the Sydney Morning Herald reported that at least five Australian universities have placed restrictions on the applications of Indian students from at least four — Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh. Currently, there are around 89,700 Indian students in Australia, while the number of Chinese students stands at 1.25 lakh, according to Australian government data. The number of Indian students are up 27 per cent compared to 2022, while China has recorded a 4 per cent dip. When contacted regarding the restrictions on admission applications, all the universities pointed out that their actions are guided by the guidelines of the Australian Department of Home Affairs. Three of those institutions — Edith Cowan University (ECU), Victoria University, Southern Cross University — confirmed that applications from Indian students are facing “additional” scrutiny. Edith Cowan University, placed in the 601-650 band in the QS rankings, said it has “temporarily paused undergraduate student recruitment from Punjab and Haryana to review its admission processes and settings for the region” since January 2023. A spokesperson of the Southern Cross Universitysaid while it continues to accept applications from all Indian students, “we are aware some (admission) agents are adopting a more selective position. All applicants, regardless of origin, must meet our entry requirements”. The Melbourne-based Victoria University said it is imposing “additional requirements for applicants from certain states in India. University of Wollongong denied imposing any restrictions, while Torrens University said it is still considering applications from the “states in question.
