The 18 graduates of James Cook University in Queensland, Australia are pursuing a class action against their alma mater after discovering their degrees were effectively useless.

They alleged that the financial advising course was marketed as accredited but only became accredited in July 2022, after they had graduated, A Current Affair reports.

One graduate, Blade Stark, said he was assured the course would be accredited by then, but it wasn’t and he consequently lost a job offer over the issue.

Solicitor Duke Myrteza, representing the graduates, said: “A course must not be advertised, or a course of study must not be represented as accredited when it’s not, and it’s essential that no statements are made to students that are false or misleading.

“Some have missed out on significant job opportunities. Others have suffered enormous mental anguish from them having to flail around trying to find a solution to the problem created by the university.”

A spokesperson for the university said graduated students have now “received an accredited degree” and affected graduates have been offered “the opportunity to obtain additional and higher qualifications at JCU’s expense”.