Australian Universities Ban Students From Select Indian States Due To Visa Fraud Concerns

Amid a surge in fraudulent visa applications, two Australian universities, Federation University in Victoria and Western Sydney University in New South Wales, have made the decision to prohibit the recruitment of students from specific Indian states.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that both institutions have issued instructions to education agents, informing them not to recruit students from Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

Citing a significant increase in the proportion of visa applications being refused from these Indian regions by the Department of Home Affairs, Federation University expressed its concerns in a letter to agents. The university initially hoped this would be a temporary issue, but it has become evident that a trend is emerging, as reported in The Herald.

Last month, several other Australian universities, including Victoria University, Edith Cowan University, Torrens University, and Southern Cross University, implemented measures to address a reported rise in fraudulent applications originating from specific Indian states.

Western Sydney University highlighted a high attrition rate among Indian students who commenced their studies in the 2022 intake. In a message sent to agents on May 8, the university identified Punjab, Gujarat, and Haryana as locations with the highest risk of attrition. Consequently, the university decided to pause recruitment from these regions with immediate effect, while recruitment from other regions in India will continue as usual, according to FirstPost.

It is noteworthy that Australian Prime Minister, along with the Indian Prime Minister, recently signed a migration and mobility agreement aimed at increasing student mobility and fostering collaboration. The agreement seeks to promote exchanges in education, research, and business, strengthening the ties between the two nations and encouraging cultural and knowledge sharing.

The decisions made by these Australian universities reflect their concerns over the increasing number of fraudulent visa applications, as they strive to maintain the integrity of their student recruitment processes and ensure the academic success and retention of enrolled students.