When Thomas D'Souza enrolled in Victoria University's Bachelors of Engineering Building Surveying course in 2002, he hoped to be walking out with a degree allowing him to practise as a fully qualified engineer in Australia.
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It was only a year into the four-year course that he realised that despite repeated verbal and written claims by the university, the degree was not accredited by the regulating authority, then known as the Institution of Engineers, Australia.
A May 2000 Victoria University brochure, seen by Fairfax Media, advertising Bachelor of Engineering in Building Surveying, clearly states the double degree "satisfied the requirements for accreditation by The Institute of Engineers, Australia".
A Victoria University brochure with the false advertising about the Bachelor of Engineering in Building Surveyor course. Photo: Supplied
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A confidential letter, dated November 24, 2003, from The Institution of Engineers, Australia to Victoria University, seen by Fairfax Media, states the course is not accredited.
Having his suspicions, Mr D'Souza decided to make his own inquiries.
"I called Engineers Australia directly," he said. "They said 'no, it is not accredited, and it has never been'."
Mr D'Souza said the lack of accreditation meant despite graduating from an Australian university, he would still need to obtain a migration skills assessment, "just like a foreigner", to be able to work in the country as a professional engineer.
"I felt very angry. No one told me the brochure was wrong," he said. "I wouldn't have a enrolled in this degree if I knew it wasn't recognised by the regulating body.
"But you take their word for it. You trust them ... because they are your teachers."
In 2013, Mr D'Souza filed a case claiming $102,084 against the university for misrepresentation as well as a breach of contract over the grading and honours system.
The case was due to be heard in Melbourne's County Court this month, but in November, Victoria University settled with Mr D'Souza for $75,000 plus costs.
Penny Antoniou, whose company Antoniou Libreri and Associates represented Mr D'Souza, said the case was more than a civil dispute.
It encompassed a lesser-explored area of litigation, the rights of students as a consumer group.
"Issue must be taken with universities misleading one of the most vulnerable groups in our society, our young people, who lack the life experience and financial resources to seek justice," Ms Antoniou said.
She said while the case dealt with various issues, including the university's grading and honours system, the core issue involved representations made about Mr. D'Souza's course.
"Courses should be accurately represented in promotional material and by university representatives."
Mr D'Souza said he felt "angry and betrayed" that the university "lied to him" as a "young lad".
"It has been long, it has been tiresome, it has been emotionally draining," he said.
"It wastes a lot of your time ... when you should be enjoying the benefits of going to work, earning money. You shouldn't have to spend weekends photocopying documents to your lawyer, and digging out emails."
He warned students entering tertiary education to verify the accuracy of the information provided before choosing a university.
Mr D'Souza said students should also find out whether the university of their choice had an independent grievance system.
"Students straight out of high school take the university's brochures at face value," he said.
"Universities should tell the truth about qualifications [and] what they will enable you to do."
A Victoria University spokeswoman said the matter referred to dated back to around 2003 and had now been resolved.
She said the Bachelor of Engineering (Building Surveying) course was discontinued about 10 years ago.
Asked if it still ran any courses not accredited by a regulating body, the spokeswoman said Victoria University offered a range of courses, some of which were professionally accredited by external bodies.
"Victoria University is a self-accrediting institution governed by the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency and undertakes regular course monitoring," she said.
Engineers Australia general manager Ian McEwan said an individual without a qualification that had been accredited or assessed for professional practice would find it difficult to work within the engineering profession in the country.
"We would encourage all students to check that their courses are accredited by Engineers Australia before enrolling.
Students can easily check what courses are accredited through our website," Mr McEwen said.
