Top college faces class action over unaccredited degree claims

A leading private college is facing a Supreme Court class action by students who claim they were misled about the accreditation status of their degrees. The International College of Management Sydney (ICMS) is accused of misleading and deceptive conduct.

Lead plaintiff Tessa Coddington initiated the lawsuit after discovering her degree was not professionally accredited by the Australian Property Institute (API). "These are pivotal years of your life, and [the ordeal has caused] so much financial strain," Ms Coddington said. "To take, like, a pay cut is one thing, but to delay your career is another."

Ms Coddington accrued a $45,000 student debt to complete the three-year ICMS Bachelor of Property (Management, Valuation and Development) degree she graduated from in late 2022. She was shocked to discover after graduating that the degree was never accredited by the API, which she said left her unable to progress beyond an entry-level graduate role in property valuation, or have her qualifications recognised overseas.

"I was like, 'What do you mean this property degree doesn't get me what it says it does?'" she said. Ms Coddington said it took years of emailing with ICMS to confirm the degree had never been accredited, after employers raised concerns about it.

ICMS representatives initially said they were still seeking accreditation from API, which has not been accused of any wrongdoing. Only in December last year did API confirm the degree had not met its standards and reject the college's accreditation application.

In March this year, Ms Coddington commenced a diploma at Deakin University to gain accreditation, which involves studying the same subjects again. "I shouldn't have to do this. My original degree should have been enough," she said. "It's been a huge burden, emotionally, just to prepare yourself after a full day of work to go and study more and do a 7pm lecture."

Students are seeking compensation for their distress, their HECS debts, and the costs of further study. ICMS declined a request for an interview but in a statement said students were not "materially affected" by promotional material on its website that wrongly claimed the course was accredited with API.

ICMS said this incorrect claim was made in 2024 and removed in 2026. "ICMS identified one recent news article on its website, which stated that the degree was accredited by the Australian Property Institute," an ICMS spokesperson said. "That statement occurred due to an administrative oversight and was immediately removed once identified. "

The college said it reported its "oversight" to the higher education regulator, the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA), and removed the article earlier this year. ICMS said it "denies the claims being made against it", and that it would defend the class action and had met its legal obligations.

ICMS said the Australian Valuers Institute recognised its degree. It added a disclaimer to its website earlier this year to clarify the degree did not have professional accreditation for property valuers.

Mauritian international student Yuvarassee Moothoosamy, who has also joined the class action, was shattered by the lack of accreditation. She estimated the degree cost her $97,000, plus tens of thousands extra for accommodation in Sydney, with her parents going into debt to fund her studies.

"There was a bit of guilt because I already spent that much money and my parents paid it all … some of it was a loan as well," she said. Ms Moothoosamy said she was furious that she would need further study to gain professional accreditation to work as a valuer.

Ten students have already signed onto the ICMS class action, but lawyers expect those numbers to grow as they identify other students. Australian Law Partners ran similar cases, saying TEQSA needed to be "on top of its game" to ensure representations to students were accurate.

In a statement, TEQSA said providers must provide students with "accurate and current information" about accreditation status. "Where a course is intended and advertised as meeting professional accreditation requirements, the necessary accreditation must be in place," a spokesperson said.