A new report has revealed that some Australian universities are using private companies to operate their CBD campuses, with a large number of these campuses almost exclusively full of international students.

Sociologist and associate professor at the University of Sydney Salvatore Babones says universities like Central Queensland University have campuses in unexpected locations.

“It’s in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney … and it’s there to serve exclusively, or almost exclusively, international students,” he told Michael McLaren.

Mr Babones says international students have discovered they can stay in Australia despite dropping out by applying for a bridging visa.

“They’re sitting on a bridging visa, and that’s the real goal,” he added.

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