Why asylum seekers are barred from Australian universities

<p>As a child refugee in India, Harini dreamt of making it to Australia to study medicine and become a doctor.</p> <p>She arrived in Australia in 2013 when she was 10 years old, leaving behind her two siblings and mother.</p> <p>Harini did not realise her visa status made her different to her classmates until she received a university offer for a biomedical science degree that required her to pay international student fees of nearly $100,000.</p> <p>After attempting to self-fund her studies and falling a year behind in payments, the university disenrolled Harini in 2023 &ndash; four months before she was set to complete her degree.</p> <p>Today, Harini Rathnakumar on how her promise of a better life in Australia was shattered, and the many others stuck in visa limbo.</p> <p>This episode was originally published in September 2024.</p> <p><strong>Socials:</strong><strong> </strong>Stay in touch with us on&nbsp;<a href="http://www.instagram.com/7ampodcast">Instagram</a></p> <p><strong>Guest:</strong> Harini Rathnakumar</p> <p><strong>Photo:&nbsp;</strong>AAP Image/Bianca De Marchi</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>