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Australia wants foreign students – genuine ones only

The effort to weed out fake students is the latest chapter in a decades-old struggle to grow a promising sector while minimising its less welcome side effects

Workers setting up booths and putting up banners for the Study in Australia fair this weekend at Suntec Convention Centre. Some 10,000 Singaporeans are now enrolled in universities Down Under, up from 8,700 three years ago.

New rules, which kicked in on March 23, require applicants to complete a “Genuine Student Test”.

PHOTO: ST FILE

Jonathan Pearlman

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SYDNEY – Are you a genuine student? That in essence is a question applicants seeking visas to study in Australia’s colleges and universities face as part of a result of a crackdown on fake students.

New rules, which kicked in on March 23,

require applicants to complete a “Genuine Student Test”.

In answers of up to 150 words, students need to state why they have chosen their particular course, how it will help them, and their current family and economic circumstances.

Australia wants foreign students – genuine ones only

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