Chinese "Fake Students" Face Crackdown While Seeking Jobs in Australia

Illustration: Concealing Employment Challenges by Extending Graduate Program Durations at Multiple Universities (Getty Images)

[People News] "I just arrived in Australia and am currently working at a construction site, mainly doing trash collection for the rebar team. The work here is great—not tiring and very easy. Plus, they pay in cash, so there are no taxes. Since I’m new, I’m just getting used to things. I want to try something else, but there are no opportunities, so I can only work at construction sites," said Li Hongjie, a self-identified "student" from China’s Hebei Province, in an interview with Voice of America.

According to the report, Li Hongjie, 28, is a vocational college graduate who previously worked as a delivery driver in China. In mid-October, he received a four-year, multiple-entry student visa to Australia. On November 1, he landed in the country and began his new life working overseas under the guise of being a student.

"I found this job through the person who picked me up at the airport. It’s not a great job. Once you’re here, you can join local job groups and find better opportunities yourself. The jobs they recommend aren’t very good. The airport pickup person helps you find housing, set up a bank account, and settle in, but they charge you 600 Australian dollars," Li explained.

"Studying Abroad" Becomes a New Pathway for Chinese Migrants to Work Overseas

As China's domestic economy continues to decline and unemployment rises, an increasing number of Chinese people are applying for Australian student visas to engage in "work-study" programs. In reality, however, these individuals often prioritize working over studying. Several Chinese students in Australia told Voice of America that they chose to work in Australia because of the appealing exchange rate. Some, after their initial excitement, admitted that working abroad is far from easy, with exhausting daily routines. Education agencies facilitating the flow of Chinese individuals to Australia under the guise of studying have normalized this practice, even marketing it with phrases like "gold explosion" to attract clients. Experts have raised concerns, stating that while international students are allowed to work, this "work-first, study-second" model damages the reputation of Australia's education sector.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the number of international students arriving in Australia reached a record 30,650 in September, compared to 24,420 during the same period last year.

Additionally, from January to September 2024, Australia recorded a net permanent and long-term migrant inflow of 391,850 people—the highest on record. The previous record was set in 2023, with 390,580 migrants.

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Australia has actively expanded its immigration quotas, aiming to bring in one million migrants over two years. However, this has intensified housing shortages, impacting the lives of Australians. Recently, there have been growing calls to tighten immigration quotas.

Chinese Rush to Australia for "Golden Opportunities"

Qi Hangxing, a 19-year-old from Henan, came to Australia shortly after taking China’s national college entrance exam this year. For the past two months, he has been working at construction sites, mainly nailing boards and plastering walls.

In an interview with Voice of America after work, he sighed, "I don’t have much strength. After 10 hours a day, I’m exhausted. Right now, I work six days a week, but I can’t do it every day—I need rest. I can’t keep up."

When it comes to balancing work and study, many interviewees admitted they don’t care much about studying. Their primary goal is to work, and many rarely attend school. Some even confessed they don’t know what major they enrolled in, as their applications were handled entirely by agents.

Li Hongjie, from Hebei, said, "Coming here wasn’t about studying in the first place. Right now, I work six days a week, around 8–10 hours a day. Sundays are off, which is really considerate. The language class is from 6–9 PM, and you only need to go two or three times a week, not every day. As long as you don’t miss too many classes, it’s fine. You don’t have to attend your main courses, and I plan to transfer schools later because the current tuition fees are too high."

Qi Hangxing was even more blunt: "I don’t even know what I’m studying. I came here to make money—who cares? I’ve checked in at school once, and then I went back for a morning session three weeks later. I only scored 300 on the college entrance exam and don’t speak any English."

The initial excitement many feel upon arriving in Australia quickly fades, with some expressing frustration over the hard work and monotonous life. Others, however, have clearer career goals and insist they aren’t solely focused on "making money."

Wang Kexing, a young woman from Shanghai, worked at a supermarket for a year before coming to Australia. She graduated from a vocational college this year but was discouraged after narrowly missing the English proficiency requirement for transferring to a university. In frustration, she decided to pursue a work-study program in Australia.

"I’ve been here for three months. I had never traveled abroad before, so everything felt new at first—like stepping out of a book into reality. But the excitement has worn off now. I’m working at a butcher shop, which is pretty tough. The hourly wage is $23, five days a week. Mostly, it’s mentally exhausting, and over time, it gets boring," she said.

Still, Wang noted, "It’s lonely. I thought this was what I wanted, but humans are social creatures. Yet, I also enjoy being alone. Coming here alone was impulsive, but I had no choice."

Unlike others, Wang remains interested in her studies and hopes to find a clear career path in the future. "After finishing the language class, I plan to transfer schools. Working and studying don’t conflict. I plan to study Western cuisine because it’s easier to find a job here. I’m so tired today," she said.

While many lack enthusiasm for studying, they speak passionately about making money, exuding confidence.

"Wages here are hourly. Beginners typically earn $25 an hour. If you have skills, it can go up to $30–35. With some effort, you could make a million RMB in three years. The longer you work, the more you earn because wages increase," Li Hongjie said. "For example, on Saturdays, work is from 7 AM to 3 PM, with a one-hour lunch break and 30 minutes at the end for cleaning up. You only work 6.5 hours but get paid for 10."

According to the Australian Fair Work Commission, the minimum wage for employees aged 21 or older is $24.10 per hour. If they don’t receive paid leave, the minimum is $30.13 per hour. Additionally, working on weekends increases hourly rates by a certain percentage.

Qi Hangxing expressed satisfaction with his income in Australia: "Back in Henan, I worked at a bubble tea shop for 1,500 RMB a month—it was devastating. My friend in Inner Mongolia only earns 800 RMB a month. Working at a bubble tea shop in China pays peanuts, and there’s so much to do. Here, it’s mostly cash payments, so no taxes. It’s all about making money. When I first arrived, I earned $23 an hour, and now I’ve gone up to $29. Mid-level workers start at $37 an hour, and some senior workers make $700–800 a day. Even master’s degree holders come to construction sites to work. Why bother with vocational college? I’d bet I make more than most master’s graduates."

"One-Stop Service" from Study Abroad Agencies and Schools

Many students reported that they obtained their "work-study" student visas through study abroad agencies, which handle school and visa applications on their behalf. If the visa application is unsuccessful, they can often get a significant portion of their fees refunded. The upfront cost typically ranges from 50,000 to 60,000 RMB. Some agencies even encourage students to share their work and daily life on social media after arriving in Australia to attract more clients.

Annine Li, a study-abroad and immigration agent from Tianjin, explained to Voice of America, "The general process for applying to work-study programs in Australia is to first get a school offer and pay tuition, which provides a CoE (Confirmation of Enrollment). We call it the tuition confirmation letter. Then, you apply for a student visa with the immigration office."

She admitted, "We conducted a survey, and the approval rate for VET (Vocational Education and Training) visas this year is only 17%. Many people looking to work and study are avoiding VET education. Older applicants face greater challenges in getting visas. By 2025, Australia will cap enrollment numbers for both public and private schools. Starting in September or October this year, even private schools for work-study programs are struggling to provide language classes. If you don’t meet an IELTS score of 4.5 to 5.5, you won’t be enrolled in a language program, making it difficult to get a school offer."

Mr. Kang, a study-abroad agent from Anhui, told Voice of America, "We’ve sent 1,000 people to Australia this year. Regardless of age, going to Australia is still a good way to ‘strike gold.’ Whatever the job, whatever the work, the goal is to profit from the exchange rate."

He added, "Once they’re there, they can share their work and daily life online to promote themselves as mini-influencers. Most of the students we send out take this route. If one video gets a lot of likes, we’ll boost its visibility. We hope more students will help us promote our services after they go abroad. Our boss built this company through word of mouth after sending hundreds of people abroad in a single year."

Mr. Kang also mentioned that younger applicants are more likely to get student visas, though there are options for older applicants too.

"For example, they can first enroll in a higher education program like a music academy, where attendance is required only one or two days a week for half a day each time. Later, they can transfer to a private vocational school, which can handle attendance for them, so they don’t even have to go. This is the true meaning of ‘striking gold.’ However, they must attend during the first six months, as immigration authorities conduct checks," he explained.

Zheng Xiwei, an admissions officer at a private vocational school in Melbourne, told Voice of America, "We have attendance requirements for international students. Normally, international students are allowed to work 20 hours a week. Schools are much stricter now because the government is conducting thorough checks, and some schools may even close down. To avoid issues, we require attendance, unlike some schools that enforce it inconsistently."

Regarding admissions requirements, Zheng noted, "The minimum IELTS score for admission is 5. Without a 5, you can’t enroll. For visas, the requirement might be an IELTS score of 6. The policy recently changed, so this might be the new standard. Right now, some students can still get visas with a score of 5 if they pair it with a language program, but the odds improve significantly with a higher score."

She added, "It’s easier for students who’ve just graduated high school to get visas. We generally admit students who meet our requirements. However, if they’re between 18 and 24 and can’t explain what they’ve been doing since graduating high school, we won’t accept them. If the immigration office denies their visa, it affects our school’s reputation."

Zheng explained further, "We usually work with agencies. Students can apply to our school directly, but almost no one does that—they all use agencies. The tuition fees are the same whether they apply through us or an agency. We work with many agencies, about 200–300."

Legal Issues Behind the "Work-Study" Model

Many Chinese study-abroad agencies promote "striking gold in Australia" as a way to attract potential Chinese clients, helping students navigate risks through gray areas. However, lawyers warn that this practice comes with significant risks and places working students in vulnerable positions.

Mr. Kang, a study-abroad agent, explained: "Theoretically, Australia’s immigration office allows student visa holders to work, but they can’t exceed 48 hours every two weeks. No one can track how long you actually work. Most of the jobs students find in Australia are with Chinese employers, who typically pay in cash, handing over the money at the end of each day. These employers don’t want to deposit it into your bank account or pay taxes."

He added, "When students arrive, there’s an airport pickup service to help them rent housing, buy daily necessities, and find temporary jobs. They can choose to keep the job or leave it later. Labor agencies help students find work, but they take a cut of the wages. For instance, if the employer offers $25 an hour, the agency might take $3–5, leaving the student with only $20."

Liu, a lawyer practicing in Australia, said in an interview: "Student visa holders are allowed to work, but there are time restrictions. If students exceed these hours, they won’t want their work to be exposed, which gives employers an opportunity to exploit them. For example, a restaurant job might promise $18 per hour but actually pays only $11–12. These students end up being disadvantaged—they are losing out. Many come with the mindset of earning money while studying, but they’re not informed about the limitations. They think they’ll study a little but prioritize earning money, and that’s why they apply for student visas and fall into this trap."

Liu further explained: "If the immigration office discovers they’re working overtime, it could impact their visa status. Initially, they’ll issue a warning, but they have the authority to cancel their student visa. This is a real risk. Employers can also be penalized, but they often deflect responsibility, claiming ignorance—even though they’re fully aware of the situation."

She shared an example: "For instance, I know of a beauty salon owner who hired many student workers, some aged 30–40. With the new regulations, this route may be cut off. Additionally, many people come to me to apply for partner visas. These are often older students who marry much older foreigners, sometimes 10–20 years older. They use this as a stepping stone. Before the reforms to student visas, this was genuinely a way to secure a better status."

She also noted: "If 100,000 people enter on visitor visas, perhaps 30,000 of them apply for student visas. During the application process, they automatically receive a Bridging Visa. Some may not succeed but can appeal repeatedly, dragging the process out for three to five years. By the time the appeals are over, they’ve earned enough money. Alternatively, they might quickly find a partner. The student visa system has been overused and exploited."

Australia Tightens Student Visa Loopholes

In response to the misuse of student visas and their socioeconomic impact, the Australian government is actively working to close loopholes and limit the number of international students.

Study-abroad agent Ms. Li explained: "With more people coming to Australia, housing prices and living costs have risen, and there’s a shortage of housing. Local residents are voicing their concerns, so the government is starting to tighten immigration and student visa policies. Education is also a significant industry in Australia, and they hope to manage economic issues by tightening these policies."

This month, the Australian Parliament planned to pass a new bill that would cap the number of international student enrollments starting January 1, 2024, reducing total student intake to 270,000 by 2025. However, on Monday, November 18, the bill faced unexpected opposition from the opposition coalition and may ultimately fail. Despite the lack of legislative approval, the government can still use existing laws to limit new student visa approvals to meet the 270,000 target.

Recently, Australian regulators revoked diplomas or qualifications issued by Luviam Pty Ltd, an educational and vocational institute, since January 2023, affecting 7,360 students. Australian Minister for Skills and Training Andrew Giles emphasized that qualifications should be earned through effort, not money, and reiterated the government’s zero-tolerance stance on misconduct.

Lawyer Liu commented: "Some language schools and dubious universities used to operate like this—you didn’t have to attend classes or meet attendance requirements, and you could still pass as long as you paid tuition. But reputable schools don’t dare to do that. Stricter regulations in the future are a good thing. Without reform, it’s unfair to those who genuinely want to study and excel. Many people misuse the system and take up spots. Reform isn’t necessarily a bad thing."

Phil Honeywood, former Victorian Minister for Higher Education and Training and current CEO of the International Education Association of Australia, stated in a written response to Voice of America: "Most major study-abroad destinations, including Canada, the UK, New Zealand, and Australia, allow full-time international students to work part-time for 20–24 hours per week during their studies. However, as the primary purpose of a student visa is education, we do not support ‘work-study’ initiatives or policies."

Honeywood added: "We take great pride in Australia’s world-class education ranking and reputation. These phenomena could harm our educational reputation and should be prohibited by law. We only want genuine students studying at our universities. The Australian government is seeking information about who is behind these problematic advertisements. We aim to pass this information to our embassies for discussions with Chinese authorities (the CCP)."