New Zealand's education regulator has stopped new enrolments in Master of Management programmes at Auckland's ICL Graduate Business School, leaving some international students with visas or pending applications uncertain about their study plans.
The New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) issued a compliance notice on 21 October requiring ICL to suspend enrolments in the affected programmes until further notice, according to RNZ and Awaaz.
NZQA has not publicly explained the specific reasons for the restriction, saying it would not comment on the details of regulatory action while the process remained underway.
The restriction applies to Master of Management programmes, including specialisations in healthcare, marketing, supply chain and logistics management, construction project management and project management, as well as the Master of Management by Thesis, according to communications reported by Awaaz.
Students with visas face uncertainty
Awaaz reported that some international students who had already received visas were told not to travel to New Zealand on those visas following the enrolment restriction.
ICL also advised prospective students that pending visa applications connected to the affected programmes could not proceed as planned.
The school's communications, as reported by Awaaz, indicated that the restriction also covered students who had enrolled but had not yet begun studying.
Immigration New Zealand confirmed it had been informed of the enrolment ban. Affected students were advised to contact immigration officials to discuss their circumstances and possible next steps.
These may involve changes to study arrangements, but the available reports do not establish a single outcome for everyone with an existing or pending visa.
Immigration New Zealand told RNZ there were more than 1,500 valid international student visas for master's-level study at ICL. That figure does not establish how many students are directly affected by the Master of Management restriction.
Current students can continue
ICL said students already undertaking the affected programmes could continue their studies, with teaching and student support operating normally.
The school said its other qualifications, including the Master of Business Informatics, were unaffected and continued to accept enrolment offers.
RNZ reported that Tertiary Education Commission figures showed the organisation had about 200 students last year. A 2022 NZQA evaluation had awarded the school its highest quality rating, when almost all its students were international.
That earlier rating does not explain the current compliance action, and NZQA has not provided a public account of its findings.
Students who have not started their courses face the most immediate decisions, particularly those who have already paid fees, secured visas or arranged travel. The reports do not confirm what refunds or alternative placements will be available.
The restriction remains in place until further notice. The next developments will be NZQA's regulatory decision and clarification from ICL and Immigration New Zealand about affected applicants.
