Time flies, and many students are finding thattheir undergraduate degree has reached its final semester. At this crossroads in life,
what should you choose for your Master’s?
Not satisfied with your undergraduate major?
Which programmes and universities let you tick both the migration and employment boxes in one go?
Today Newstars brings you one complete guide — your Master’s options and migration pathway, all mapped out. Let’s get started!The fields below are listed in no particular order. If none of them suit you, feel free to message us anytime.
Today’s Migration Champions
Nursing and Allied Health
Remember that image that went viral at the start of 2020? It perfectly captured which fields dominated Australian migration!
As the undisputed champion of both migration and employment, nursing holds strong no matter which state’s nomination pathway you pursue.From migration to employment,nursing has stayed rock-solid in recent years, no matter how competitive each state’s nomination rounds have become! Many fields see Subclass 189/190/491 grants taking six months, a year, or even two years...Nursing? Most applicants receive their grant within just a few months!
From lodgement to invitation to grant — the speed is unmatched!
Meanwhile, according to partial official data, Registered Nurses — a long-standing in-demand occupation in Australia —have recorded 18.1% growth over the past six years, with a projected further increase of 18.4% through to 2023.The chart above is based on data published by the Australian Government’s JobOutlook,showing that the average weekly salary for Registered Nurses in Australia is approximately AUD 1,909 (equivalent to approximately RMB 9,545 per week, or an annual salary of around RMB 496,000).
In fact, whether you are currently in Australia or overseas,you only need to have completed any undergraduate degree and meet the language requirement of 7.0 in each band(if language is a challenge, a 3-year undergraduate nursing programme is also an option, though it takes longer)For more details, refer to our earlier article:
Master of Nursing —No Prior Background —Which Universities Can You Apply To?
When it comes to nursing programmes, having no medical or health-related backgroundis not necessarily a barrier — many universities only require a completed undergraduate degree to apply.For example:ECU and Curtin in Western Australia, the University of Queensland (a Go8 university), Flinders University, and the University of South Australia all offer nursing programmes that only require applicants to meet academic and language requirements (7.0 in each band), with no professional background needed,while graduates from regional areas may also be eligible for additional regional area points.
Recommended Programmes and Universities
01 Charles Darwin University (CDU)
Master of Nursing Practice (Pre-Registration)
Duration: 2 years full time
Intake: February
Entry requirements: Any undergraduate degree; no background restrictions
IELTS requirement: Overall 7.0, no individual band below 7.0
Programme highlights: One intake per year in February;any undergraduate graduate may apply regardless of background. Includes 800 hours of clinical placement; no relevant background required to apply.A great opportunity for students without a nursing background to change direction and study the field they’re passionate about. Registered programme; regional area points available.
02 The University of Adelaide
Master of Clinical Nursing
Duration: 2 years full time
Intake: February
Entry requirements: Any undergraduate degree other than nursing; GPA 4.0 (undergraduate must include Human Physiology); students without a relevant background must complete online bridging units in Human Physiology and Anatomy
IELTS requirement: Overall 7.0, no individual band below 7.0
Programme highlights: One intake per year; prerequisite courses required; does not accept applicants with a nursing background; registered programme; regional area points available
Prefer Not to Go Regional? Which University Then?
The Go8 universities, Melbourne, and Victoria offer stable nursing nomination policies and outstanding employment prospects.
03 Monash University
Semi-related Background — Online Bridging Available
You can complete the prerequisite 96-hour Human Biology course online, which is accepted by many universities. For more details, feel free to message us~
Not keen on nursing? What about other allied health fields? OT and PT are fantastic options — see our article below for more:
Want to find out more about nursing programmes at these or other universities? Message us directly!
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The Dark Horse Migration Field
Teaching (Secondary Education or Early Childhood Education)
When it comes to early childhood education, invitations have been rolling in across every state! Victoria in particular has become a paradise for early childhood educators pursuing migration. From Western Australia to Victoria to Canberra and New South Wales, teaching is a genuinely strong choice — the legendary field you simply can’t go wrong with!
Many recognised institutions do not require applicants to hold an education-related undergraduate degree, but they will assess whether the applicant’s prior coursework can meet the requirements of the teaching field. English language requirements for teaching programmes are relatively high, though waivers may be available depending on the applicant’s academic background.
Recommended Qualification — Graduate Diploma (GD):
First, let’s clarify that a Graduate Diploma and a Diploma are two very different things! Australia’s education qualifications span 10 levels, from Certificate to Doctoral Degree. A Diploma sits at Level 5, which is below undergraduate level;whereas a Graduate Diploma (GD) is Level 8, which is above undergraduate level!
*** So if you’ve had doubts about the standing of a GD, you can rest easy!
You may have heard a rumour that a GD is not on the occupation list for early childhood education, making skills assessment and migration impossible. To be very clear: without a skills assessment, migration is indeed not possible. But the claim that a GD is not on the assessment list is simply not true. According to AITSL — the sole authority in Australia that conducts skills assessments for teachers seeking to migrate,there is no such thing as a fixed migration occupation list for teacher skills assessments. We also have extensive examples of students who completed a GD in early childhood education, received a positive skills assessment, and successfully migrated (from VU, RMIT, and Southern Cross Institute, among others)
Our Recommendation: VU’s Graduate Diploma in Early Childhood Education
With no prior education background required and a duration of just one year, the GD keeps both study time and costs to a minimum.Placements are arranged by the institution, with a clear focus on employment outcomes.
Graduate Diploma in Early Childhood Education
Duration: 1 year full time
Intake: February / July
English requirement: Overall 7.0 (Listening & Speaking 7.5, Reading & Writing 6.5) or equivalent
Students who have completed a 3-year undergraduate or 2-year postgraduate programme in an English-speaking country may be exempt from the English language requirement.
Programme highlights:The GD is just one year! Compared to a Master’s programme, study time is halved — and so are tuition fees and living costs!No Casper exam required Placement duration meets the 60-day requirement; the institution satisfies the conditions recognised by AITSL
For further details, see our related articles:
A Classic Field with Strong Employment Outcomes
ICT / Computing
A search for IT roles on SEEK — Australia’s largest job platform — returns over 55,000 positions.
More than 20,000 of these roles offer annual salaries above AUD 100,000. The IT field in Australia offers excellent prospects and strong advantages, though many feel — as with accounting — that the migration path for IT has become a challenging road.
That said, the employer sponsorship pathway remains very steady, with IT professionals continuing to receive a steady stream of invitations through employer-sponsored migration. High IT salaries combined with employer-sponsored migration make this an excellent choice for those aiming to succeed on both the career and migration fronts.In terms of employment, the quality of IT education in Australia is high, with the resources and facilities at virtually every university ranking among the world’s best. If you are looking to pursue an IT postgraduate degree in Australia,entry requirements in terms of prior undergraduate majors are not particularly strict — most universities accept applications from different backgrounds.
How to Apply for an IT Master’s Without a Relevant Background
IT is one of the few STEM fields in Australia where undergraduate background requirements are not particularly strict. Many students view an Australian computing Master’s as a second chance to pursue the field they truly want,and some IT Master’s programmes can even be applied to without any relevant background at all!
University of Adelaide:IELTS overall 6.5 (no band below 6.0); prerequisite courses apply; minimum entry: a bachelor’s degree or higher recognised by the University of Adelaide.
Western Sydney University:A recognised full-time undergraduate degree or higher (any background accepted); IELTS overall 6.5 (no band below 6.0).
La Trobe University:A recognised full-time undergraduate degree or higher (any background accepted); IELTS overall 6.5 (no band below 6.0).
Swinburne University of Technology:16 units in total (4 units per semester × 4 semesters); pathway available via the Professional Qualification Programme (PQP).
Charles Darwin University:Successful completion of a recognised bachelor’s degree or equivalent international qualification; IELTS overall 6.5 (no band below 6.0).
Fields for Those with a Heart for People
Master of Social Work
Social workers contribute to policy development, education, and research — particularly in areas of social justice, vulnerable populations, and marginalisation. They are also dedicated to the wellbeing of individuals, families, groups, and communities, working alongside people across material, cultural, social, and environmental contexts.
The most common two-year social work postgraduate qualification in Australia is the Master of Social Work (Qualifying). While many universities require applicants to have a background in the humanities, social sciences, or related fields,some institutions take a broad view of what counts as a relevant background, and others offer short bridging courses to help applicants fill any gaps.
Recommended Examples — Programmes With No Background Required:
01 Western Sydney University
Social Work Master’s Bridging Course — 6 months
Direct entry into the Master of Social Work professional programme upon completion of the bridging course
Entry requirements: Any undergraduate degree, no subject background required
IELTS requirement: Overall 6.5, no band below 6.0
Campus: Parramatta, Liverpool Campus
Intake: July
Master of Social Work Professional Programme — 2 years
Entry requirements: Undergraduate degree in health, education, or social and cultural fields; at least 8 credit points in social science or psychology
IELTS requirement: Overall 7.0, no band below 6.5
Campus: Parramatta City Campus
Intake: March
Many other universities also offer social work programmes without background requirements, such as QUT, Monash, or Flinders in South Australia,so if social work interests you, send us a message~
If any of the above fields or universities interest you, get in touch with us right away
And if none of the above quite fits your needs, message us and we’ll tailor a plan just for you!
Study Abroad & Migration Video Resources
Past Articles
Applying for a visa soon — especially a migration visa? This article is a must-read!
Applying for a visa soon — especially a migration visa? This article is a must-read!
Victoria invitation wave — IT, engineering and more! New South Wales Subclass 190 rounds again inviting teachers and civil engineers!
When can holders of a bridging visa work or study full time?
When can holders of a bridging visa work or study full time?
One after another, the whole family gets PR! The small investment migration programme — Australia’s MINT!
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