One Nation Senator Malcolm Roberts has ignited a debate on social media, claiming that Indian university degrees should not be considered equal to Australian qualifications due to alleged issues of cheating and degree fraud in India.
Posting on X, Roberts wrote:
“Australians have valid concerns about Indian degrees being considered equal to Australian degrees, especially given the serious issues with cheating and degree fraud in Indian universities, where degrees can be purchased for as little as $3,700.”
Australians have valid concerns about Indian degrees being considered equal to Australian degrees, especially given the serious issues with cheating and degree fraud in Indian universities, where degrees can be purchased for as little as $3,700.
— Malcolm Roberts
Minister Wong's response was…(@MRobertsQLD) March 15, 2025
He criticised Foreign Minister Penny Wong for not showing “concern for Australians” in her response, warning that the agreement could lead to unfair competition between local graduates, who have invested years and significant fees into their education, and Indian graduates who “may not have.” He argued this would result in wage erosion and fewer Australians willing to pursue university degrees due to high costs and HECS debts.
Roberts went as far as declaring:
“One Nation will tear up this agreement.”
However, Roberts’ generalisation does not reflect the reality of Indian higher education. The latest QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025 highlight the strong global standing of many Indian institutions.
The Indian School of Mines (now IIT Dhanbad) achieved the highest ranking for any Indian university, placing 20th in Engineering (Mineral and Mining)—a significant jump from 41st last year.
A total of 79 Indian institutions featured in the rankings, up from 69 in 2024, with nine Indian universities making it to the top 50 across various disciplines. These include IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay, IIT Madras, IIT Kharagpur, IIM Ahmedabad, and IIM Bangalore. Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences in Chennai ranked 26th in Dentistry, making it the only private Indian institution in the top 50.
While some institutions saw a dip in rankings—such as IIT Madras falling from 16th to 31st in Petroleum Engineering, and JNU dropping from 20th to 29th in Development Studies—others improved significantly. IIT Delhi climbed from 45th to 26th in Engineering and Technology, and IIT Bombay from 45th to 28th. These rankings, based on academic reputation, employer reputation, and research impact, place India ahead of many developed countries in certain fields.
The controversy stems from the Australia-India Education Qualification Recognition Mechanism, finalised by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during his visit to India in 2023. Under this agreement, degrees obtained in India will be recognised in Australia and vice versa. However, professional degrees such as medicine, engineering, and law are not included.
Albanese called it the “most comprehensive and ambitious arrangement” India has signed with any country, aimed at strengthening commercial opportunities for Australian universities and fostering deeper educational ties.
“The new mechanism means that if you are an Indian student who studied in Australia, your degree will be recognised when you return home,” said Albanese.
“Or if you are part of Australia’s large Indian diaspora, you can be confident that your Indian qualification will be recognised here.”
The agreement also paved the way for Australian universities to establish international branch campuses in India, with Deakin University setting up a campus at GIFT City in Gujarat and the University of Wollongong following suit.
In a bid to further strengthen ties, the Australian government also launched the Maitri (Friendship) Scholarship to support Indian students studying in Australia for up to four years.
Backed by an $11.2 million fund, the scholarships are part of a broader initiative to promote science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and health (STEM+H) education and foster deeper cooperation between the two countries.
Despite concerns raised by One Nation, Australia’s policy towards recognising Indian qualifications is not a blanket endorsement but a structured initiative aimed at fostering educational exchange while maintaining professional standards.
As Indian universities continue to rise in global rankings, the recognition of qualifications from reputable institutions is likely to benefit both Indian and Australian graduates, enhancing collaboration in education and research.
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