We recently received an enquiry from a student named Xiao Li, who asked: I am currently enrolled in a18-month business postgraduate programmebut I would like to apply for aSubclass 485 work visa, and I also havemigration in mind— is that possible?What options are available?

Many international students face a very similar situation to Xiao Li’s. They arrive, fall in love with life here, and want to apply for a work visa to stay an extra three years — or find themselves seriously considering migration. So what are the best solutions?

Today we provide a comprehensive answer for students with exactly these needs!

Want to apply for a Subclass 485? Here’s what to do.

The most straightforward answer: enrol in a one-year programme in the same discipline — course credits may be granted.

If you are in the same situation as Xiao Li — enrolled in an 18-month business or other postgraduate programme — the simplest and easiest-to-understand option isto enrol in an additional one-year programme in the same discipline. Based on the applications we have handled, credit exemptions are granted in most cases, reducing the additional study to as little as six months.

That means our students can, upon graduation,apply for a Subclass 485 work visa of at least three years!

If you would like a more official and detailed explanation, keep reading!

First, let’s clarify exactly what the Department of Home Affairs requires when it comes to thetwo years of study required for a Subclass 485 application— and how that requirement is defined.

1. The course must be registered on CRICOS — this is met by most Australian institutions attended by international students.

2. The enrolled duration of the course must be no less than92 weeks

3. The total study period must be no less than16 calendar months

With that foundation established, let’s address some specific scenarios.

If I transferred courses during my studies, how does the two-year period count?

The key factor isthe enrolment period of your final course — if it is two years, that satisfies the requirement.Some students transfer and complete their degree in one year due to credit recognition,but as long as the course enrolment duration is two yearsit counts as completing two years of study.

I’m in a 2+2 or 3+1 programme — how is the two-year study period calculated?

Note that the two years of study do not have to be consecutive —they can be accumulated.For example, under a 3+1 arrangement,if you spent the final year in Australia completing an undergraduate degree and then enrol in a one-year master’s, you can still apply for a Subclass 485.

18-month master’s — how do I get a Subclass 485?

This situation is very common.One important caveat:any extension of study due to failed subjects does not count!

In most cases, we recommendenrolling in an MBA programmeprimarily becausethe fees are affordable, scholarships are available, there are multiple enrolment dates throughout the year, entry is flexible, campuses exist across Australia, and you can study while working.If you have prior study in a related field, credit exemptions may apply.

MBA programmes are offered by many different institutions — feel free to contact us to find out more.

That covers the most common questions about the Subclass 485 work visa. For more complex or specific situations, please get in touch with our consultant Claudia. Alternatively, if you have completed your 18-month master’s and are considering a change of direction for further study, feel free to contact us to plan your pathway!

Want to apply for a Subclass 485 + migration? Here’s what to do.

If you are in the same situation as Xiao Li — your current programme is not in a migration-pathway discipline — and you have now developed migration aspirations, what should you do?

Let’s use one of the most in-demand migration disciplines right now —Early Childhood Education— as an example. Western Sydney University’s Master of Teaching programme in early childhood is exactly 2.5 years in duration. It not only meets students’ migration needs —crucially, after graduation, the skills assessment can exempt you from the notoriously demanding IELTS 7788 requirement!It neatly satisfies the condition that four or more years of higher education in an English-speaking context can waive the language requirement!

Western Sydney University

2.5-year Early Childhood Education

programme: Master of Teaching (Birth–5 Years/Birth–12 Years)

Programme duration: 2.5 years full-time

Intake dates: February and July each year

Tuition fees: AU$28,320 per year

CRICOS Code: 071442G

Entry requirements: A bachelor’s degree or above in any discipline. Note: applicants wishing to add the primary education stream will need some relevant background.

IELTS requirements:Overall 7.5, with Writing and Reading at 7, and Speaking and Listening at 8. Students who have completed four or more years of undergraduate or higher study in an English-speaking country may be exempt from the IELTS entry requirement.

Key highlights from Claudia:

1. The early childhood education component hasno background requirements

2. Unusually, intakes are offered in both February and July —two intake windows in one year

3. Yes, the IELTS requirements are quite high at 7788, but students who have completed four or more years of undergraduate or higher study in an English-speaking country — including Australia — may be exempt from the IELTS entry requirement.

4.Tuition fees are affordable —currently AU$28,320 per year, with modest annual increases

5.Direct master’s entry is available, and scholarships may be applied for

6. The early childhood education programme at Western Sydney University also boasts strong academic quality —it is one of the rare programmes offered at 2.5 years— which happens to satisfy

Those are the most common questions about the Subclass 485 work visa and pathways to a language-waiver migration route for students who fall short of the required study duration. For more complex or specific situations, please don’t hesitate to contact a Newstars Education & Migration study-abroad consultant for a detailed discussion.

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