Australia is renowned for its world-class education and outstanding quality of life. Cities such as Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne and Brisbane are consistently ranked among the world’s top ten most liveable cities. Australia has43 universities, includingthe University of Sydney, UNSW Sydney, the Australian National University, the University of Melbourne, Monash University and the University of Queensland,which consistently rank among theglobal top 100。

Universities such asthe University of Technology Sydney, the University of Wollongong and RMIT Universityare also regular fixtures in theglobal top 200. Their programmes are widely recognised for their practical, hands-on approach and are popular choices among international students in Australia.

Because Australia is a safe, welcoming and highly liveable country, most students aspire to settle there and obtain permanent residency.

Study and migration planning therefore tend to go hand in hand.

However, simply holding an Australian qualification does not automatically lead to permanent residency.Your choice of field of study, the location of your institution, and the type of programme you enrol in all significantly influence how straightforward your migration pathway will be after graduation.Students who are considering migration to Australia should plan well ahead — before they even begin their studies.

Studying in a major Australian city offers more employment opportunities, while studying in a regional area may open up more pathways to permanent residency. Most importantly, students should have a genuine interest in their chosen field and be willing to work in that industry after graduating.

Here is our guide to the ten best fields of study for migration to Australia in 2023!

Teaching & Education

Australia has a significant and growing shortage of education professionals. Working in education in Australia requires a university qualification.Students can complete a four-year undergraduate degree to become qualified as an early childhood, primary or secondary school teacher. Those who already hold a bachelor’s degree can pursue a Master of Teaching instead. Australian universities also offer double-degree programmes — for example, the University of Adelaide’s “Bachelor of Teaching (Secondary) / Bachelor of Music”, which provides an excellent foundation for aspiring music teachers.

Becoming a teacher requires registration upon completing your programme. For migration purposes, graduates of bachelor’s or master’s degrees in education and teaching will be eligible for a skills assessment through AITSL, provided they meet the English language requirements. Work experience is not required for the skills assessment, and graduates may later apply via Subclass 190 or Subclass 491.

Teachers currently in high demand in Australia include:

Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher

Primary School Teacher

Secondary School Teacher

University Lecturer

Special Education Teacher

Nursing

Australia’s Health Workforce Agency has forecast a shortage of approximately 85,000 nurses by 2025. Since the pandemic,it has become clear that Registered Nurses remain in very high demand and have been designated as a priority migration pathway under state-nominated skilled visas — Subclass 190 and Subclass 491 — including in popular states such as Victoria and New South Wales.

Nursing is one of the most popular programmes in Australia’s healthcare sector. With affordable course fees and a relatively simple registration process, the prospects for obtaining permanent residency are excellent. In the 2020–2021 financial year, Registered Nurses recorded the highest number of holders among Subclass 491 and Subclass 190 skilled visas. A Bachelor of Nursing is typically a three-year full-time programme. Registration is required before you can practise as a nurse, and the English language requirements for Registered Nurses are high. As a Registered Nurse, you will need three months of work experience before obtaining a skills assessment through AHPRA.

As a Registered Nurse, some of the specialty areas available to you include, but are not limited to:

Aged Care

Mental Health

Critical Care and Emergency

Medical

Midwifery

Healthcare

When people hear “healthcare”, many students immediately worry about how difficult the studies will be. It is true that studying a medical degree in Australia (such as an MBBS or MD) can be expensive, highly competitive to gain entry into, and may take five to seven years to complete. However, if you have a genuine interest in this field, it is absolutely worth it — graduates generally face little difficulty finding employment or obtaining permanent residency, and healthcare occupations are among the highest-paid in Australia.

For those who have not previously specialised in healthcare, there are several medical fields that are particularly well-suited to international students. We generally recommendPhysical Therapist, Occupational Therapist, Pharmacist, Speech Pathologist and similar roles.

These fields have relatively lower entry requirements, are more manageable for international students to complete, and offer clear pathways to both employment and migration after graduation.

Most healthcare occupations in Australia require registration before you can practise, and qualifications must be recognised by the relevant Australian authorities.

Work experience is also an important contributing factor when applying for skilled migration or employer-sponsored visas.

Social Work

If you enjoy helping people and working closely with others, social work may be the ideal career for you. Both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees are available. Those holding a degree from an AASW-accredited social work programme are eligible to join AASW, the professional body for social workers in Australia. English proficiency is a critical entry requirement for the social work sector — AASW stipulates that social workers must achieve an IELTS score of 7.0 or above in each band to be eligible for recognition.

Social work is a growing field in Australia. Completing a Master of Social Work at an Australian university does require meeting certain prerequisites, though some programmes accept applicants from non-related backgrounds. For those who have already completed a programme accredited to AASW standards, employment options and English language requirements tend to be more flexible.Social work is currently listed on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), making it a highly attractive occupation for those seeking PR.

Health & Welfare Support Workers

This category sits within the same broader field as social work (discussed above) and may be less familiar to students from China. It includes roles such asCommunity Worker, Welfare Worker, Enrolled Nurse, Youth Worker and Disability Service Officeramong others. Demand for these occupations increased further during the pandemic. The pathway to Australian permanent residency is relatively straightforward — a Diploma qualification may be sufficient. Completing an ACWA-accredited programme provides the most direct route. Skills assessment requirements for Community Workers and Welfare Workers are also relatively simple to meet.

Engineering

Engineering is one of the three major fields for migration to Australia — and compared with some other sectors, competition is relatively manageable! Demand for engineers is high across all disciplines in Australia, including but not limited to:

Civil Engineering

Chemical Engineering

Structural Engineering

Transport Engineering

Electrical Engineering

Mechanical Engineering

Mining Engineering

Petroleum Engineering

Given the high demand, international students often have the opportunity to secure employment while still studying, and can then apply for skilled migration to obtain PR. The majority of engineering occupations are listed on the MLTSSL, meaning graduates are eligible to apply for mainstream skilled visas including Subclass 189, Subclass 491 and Subclass 190.Furthermore, the first step on the migration pathway for engineering graduates — the skills assessment — is generally straightforward.

Construction & Building Trades

Construction is another industry experiencing strong growth in Australia right now. If you are interested in the building sector,Architect, Quantity Surveyor and Construction Project Managerare excellent occupations that are in high demand and offer clear migration pathways.

For those with a more limited budget, trade-based pathways are worth considering — for example, roles such asBricklayer, Wall and Floor Tiler, and Roof Tiler, as well as related trades such as Carpenter, Electrician, Welder and Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic, which remain consistently popular.These occupations are highly sought after, command strong hourly wages, and as careers develop, many tradespeople go on to become self-employed operators or subcontractors.

Information Technology

IT is one of the major study areas for international students, and Australia’s technology sector is growing rapidly. As the industry continues to expand,demand for IT security professionals and software engineers is set to increase.，IT skills and knowledge are also broadly applicable worldwide,so even those who do not remain in Australia tend to find it relatively easy to secure employment in other countries and regions — which is one reason so many students choose IT.

However, competition in IT is relatively intense, particularly in large cities such as Sydney and Melbourne.Studying IT in a regional area and pursuing a Subclass 491 or Subclass 190 visa may therefore be a stronger migration strategy. If you cannot meet state nomination requirements, employer-sponsored visas are another option — IT roles are among the most commonly sponsored positions in Australia, and prior IT work experience from your home country will be viewed very favourably.

A Bachelor of IT in Australia typically requires three years of full-time study, while a Master of IT takes two years. For the skills assessment, applicants must complete either one year of a Professional Year (PY) programme or demonstrate one year of relevant work experience. The assessing authority is the Australian Computer Society (ACS).

Fields available to students include:

Cyber Security Specialist

Analyst Programmer

Developer Programmer

Software Engineer

Applications Programmer

ICT Business Analyst

Hospitality Management

If you have an interest in baking, cooking or hospitality management, consider a packaged diploma programme combining commercial cookery and hospitality management.These programmes typically include mandatory work placements, giving students genuine real-world industry experience.Most placements are paid positions.The most popular pathway is completing a Certificate III or IV in Commercial Cookery.Graduates then work on a Subclass 485 Graduate Work visa before applying for PR.

Automotive Trades

If you have an interest in the automotive industry, consider a Certificate III or IV in Automotive Technology. This is typically a two-year full-time programme covering Certificate III, Certificate IV and a Diploma.

Occupations on the MLTSSL related toMotor Mechanicinclude:

Motorcycle Mechanic

Automotive Electrician

Motor Mechanic

Diesel Motor Mechanic

That concludes our overview of the best courses for obtaining Australian PR in 2023. If you would like advice or assistance with any of these programmes, get in touch with us today! We have already helped numerous students secure offers from universities and programmes across Australia.

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