Australia regulates concurrent study: Should Indian students worry?

Australia has stopped allowing international students to enrol in two courses simultaneously for the first six months of their principal course of study. The step has been taken to dissuade foreign students from leaving their main course and switching to cheaper vocational courses as soon as they reach the Western country. The Australian government’s move comes amid a recent surge in concurrent enrolment. What is concurrent study and what are the new rules? How will it impact students? Let’s take a closer look. What is concurrent study? Concurrent study allows overseas students to take an additional course along with their main academic progamme. Students usually enrol in cheaper vocational courses which prepare them for the job market. All student visa holders are required to register on the Australian government’s CRICOS website. To undertake an additional course, overseas students must have a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE), noted Insider Guides. There has been a sharp uptick in concurrent enrolments – 17,000 in just the first half of 2023 as compared to 10,500 in 2019 and 2022 combined for the same period, Reuters reported citing data. What’s the new rule? In August, the Australian government said it is changing its rules to prevent the misuse of its concurrent enrolment policy by education providers who were persuading overseas students to switch courses, as per Economic Times (ET). The government said investigations have revealed that many students were abandoning their university courses and permanently shifting to cheaper courses, reported Reuters. This practice is called ‘course-hopping’. “This change will work to stop predatory ‘second’ providers from enrolling students before they have studied for the required six months at their first provider,” Education Minister Jason Clare said in a statement. He stated that international education was Australia’s fourth-largest export industry and maintaining its “integrity” was “critical” for the country’s economy, reported Reuters. [caption id=“attachment_13213432” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] The new rules have been enforced to dissuade foreign students from abandoning their main course and switching to cheaper vocational courses as soon as they reach Australia. Reuters (Representational Image)[/caption] It must be noted that this decision will not impact those who are already pursuing concurrent study. There are also some exceptions. Speaking to ET, Saurabh Arora, CEO and Founder, University Living, said, “For example, students will still be able to enrol concurrently in a course that is an approved component of a combined or double degree. Additionally, students who have a valid reason for needing to enrol concurrently, such as extenuating circumstances, may be able to obtain an exemption from the rules”. ALSO READ: How Canadian colleges are seeking to reassure Indian students amid diplomatic standoff How will it impact Indian students? Australia has witnessed a surge in Indian students wanting to pursue higher education. India is the second-largest source of overseas students in the country, with as many as 95,791 Indian students studying in Australia in the January-April 2023 period. There were 75,109 Indian students in the same period last year. As students aiming to undertake an additional course will now have to wait till six months after their first course, this could delay their graduation plans, as per the ET report. With no formal practical training for at least six months after landing in Australia, it may become tough for overseas students to find part-time work to survive financially, the report added. In July, the Australian government capped the number of working hours for foreign students to 24 hours a week. This came after international students were allowed to work 40 hours a fortnight during the pandemic. Moreover, Australia does not permit overseas students to transfer in the first six months of their primary course of study. With new regulations on concurrent enrolment, the students could have to wait longer to transfer if they cannot find a suitable vocational course, as per ET. With inputs from agencies