December is graduation season in Australia. Based on our consultations over the years and in recent months, many students are weighing up whether to continue their studies in Australia (for example, progressing from undergraduate to postgraduate, or pursuing a second master’s degree) or to apply for the Graduate Work visa — and which path suits them best. This article provides a detailed breakdown of your options, especially forthose with migration plans, on how tomake the most ofthe work visaperiod — a critical step on the path to permanent residency!
Subclass 485 policy updates
– PSW Post-Study Work stream: coursework postgraduate graduates now receive a 3-year visa; undergraduate graduates receive a 2-year visa
– Graduate Work stream — also known as the old TR — also increased to a 2-year validity from 1 December 2021 (primarily benefiting VET graduates)
– For offshore grants (a special COVID-era policy allowing the Subclass 485 to be granted offshore): previously, offshore grants required entry within one year and the visa only commenced on arrival. Under the new policy, offshore grants are now issued for a full 3-year period (2 years for undergraduates), though the visa still commences from the date of first entry.
the Subclass 485 period to its full potential
For students about to complete an undergraduate or postgraduate degree in a migration-friendly field
If you are already studying a migration-relevant field — particularly in a regional area of Australia where you stand a reasonable chance of receiving an invitation via Subclass 190 state nomination or Subclass 491 regional state nomination — we recommend applying for the Subclass 485 as soon as possible after graduation. At the same time, start building your points towards state nomination and work on meeting its requirements, including English proficiency and — most importantly — the work experience requirements.
For students about to complete a non-migration field, or those in a migration field but facing a highly competitive occupation where an invitation is difficult to obtain in the short term
– About to complete an undergraduate degree
– About to complete an Australian postgraduate degree (non-migration field) with plans to migrate
– About to complete an Australian postgraduate degree (in a migration field, but migration is difficult — for example, the occupation is hard to get an invitation for, the study is not in a regional area, or your EOI score is far below the invitation threshold)
– The current migration landscape seems difficult and you are undecided about whether to pursue PR
In all of the above situations, think carefully before immediately applying for the Subclass 485 after graduation!
Here is why
– The Subclass 485 Post-Study Work visa can only be applied for once per person as the primary applicant — not once per degree completed.
– Most undergraduate graduates receive a Subclass 485 valid for only two years, whereas postgraduate graduates receive at least three years.
– If you intend to migrate, you will need to accumulate points and meet work experience requirements during your work visa period; most state nomination schemes also require that the work experience be gained after completing the relevant qualification.If your current qualification does not support a migration pathway and you apply for the Subclass 485 before returning to study in a migration-relevant field, you may find it very difficult to meet state nomination requirements after graduating from that second programme(most state nomination programmes require post-graduation residence or work in the state, ranging from 3 months to 1 year, with work requirements being particularly stringent).
For example, IT — a field in demand across most states — requires one year of relevant work experience after graduation, or the completion of a one-year Professional Year, before you can obtain a skills assessment and become eligible to migrate. If you have already used up your Subclass 485 eligibility, you will no longer have a work visa to accumulate that experience, effectively closing off the IT migration pathway.
In short, the ideal scenario is for your Subclass 485 Graduate Work visa to be the last visa you hold before lodging your Subclass 491, 190, or 189 migration visa application.
Without planning ahead
In our day-to-day consultations, we frequently encounter students whohave rushed into applying for — or even nearly exhausted — their precious work visa, only to realise they are still some way from meeting migration requirements. By that point, switching to another state or a different field puts them in a far more difficult position.
Of course, every situation needs to be assessed individually based on your field of study and the relevant state nomination policies.
The solution
For the situations described above, we recommendrelocating to a regional area of Australia (anywhere outside Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane), and choosing a field with good migration prospects — one that local state nomination programmes favour consistently.After completing your final qualification, then apply for the Subclass 485,a three-year work visa will allow you to build up more local work experience and give you more time to meet state nomination requirements while waiting onshore for an invitation.
Below we recommend someuniversities and migration-friendly programmes in states with favourable migration policies. You can choose the right region based on your academic background and career goals. All areas of the following states are designated as regional areas,and studying there for at least 2 years can earn you an additional 5 points for regional study. If you continue living and working in a regional area during your Subclass 485 period, you may also be eligible for a 1- or 2-year extension after your visa expires.
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University of Adelaide
The University of AdelaideWith over 140 years of teaching experience, the University of Adelaide is the third oldest university in Australia and the city’s most iconic educational institution. As a member of the Group of Eight (Go8) — Australia’s leading research-intensive universities — it consistently ranks in the top 1% of universities worldwide and has produced more than 100 Rhodes Scholars and five Nobel Prize laureates.
Recommended migration-friendly programmes
Migration outlook (for most popular fields):
– IELTS 7 in each band, or PTE 65 in each communicative skill
– Standard South Australia graduates applying for Subclass 190 must currently be working in South Australia for at least three months; outstanding graduates from South Australia may be exempt from this three-month work requirement.
– Interstate graduates applying for Subclass 190 must have 12–24 months of work experience in the Adelaide metropolitan area, or 6–12 months in regional South Australia. For Subclass 491, 6 months of work experience in South Australia is required.
– Work experience must be closely related to the nominated occupation
University of Canberra
University of Canberrais one of Australia’s leading newer universities, located in the nation’s capital, Canberra, situated between Sydney and Melbourne. The University of Canberra is renowned for its strong emphasis on the practical application of research and its professionally focused teaching programmes. In the 2022 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, it placed 170th globally and 10th in Australia.
Recommended migration-friendly programmes
Migration outlook:
ACT 190/491
The following applies to Canberra residents
Subclass 491 requirements
1. At least three months of residence — you must have completed three months of residence before submitting your Matrix, and must maintain residence until you receive an invitation from the ACT. Residence is defined as genuinely living and settling in Canberra. Short visits to Canberra do not count as Canberra residence.
2. At least three consecutive months of employment, with a minimum of 20 hours per week. This employment must be in place immediately before submitting your Matrix.
Subclass 190 requirements
6 months of full-time employment, with at least 35 hours per week — which may be accumulated across two jobs (meaning this requirement cannot be met while on a student visa)
University of Tasmania
University of Tasmaniawas established in 1890 and ranks among the top 2% of universities worldwide. Favourable and accessible government policies, generous scholarships, an excellent natural environment, and comparatively low tuition fees have made it one of the most popular choices for international students. The cost of living is affordable: tuition for most undergraduate programmes is AUD 27,000–30,000 per year; postgraduate tuition is within AUD 30,000–34,000; and accommodation and transport costs are roughly half those in Sydney or Melbourne.
Recommended migration-friendly programmes
Migration outlook:
Applying for Tasmania Subclass 190/491 state-nominated skilled migration
Basic requirements: under 45 years of age; IELTS or equivalent 6 in each band; occupation on the migration occupation nomination list (including all occupations on the MLTSSL and STSOL); a valid skills assessment relevant to the nominated occupation; and a points score of at least 65.
Tasmania Graduate stream
– Completed a CRICOS-registered course at a Tasmanian institution and met the requirements for study in Australia.
– The period of study must be no less than 16 months;
– Study must span two academic years (defined as 92 weeks of registered study), during which more than one qualification may be obtained;
– A course with a registered duration of 92 weeks satisfies the two academic year requirement, but need not be completed within 24 months — breaks in the course are permitted;
– Qualifications that may be obtained include a degree (bachelor’s or above), a diploma, an advanced diploma, or a skills certificate;
Although work experience is not a mandatory requirement, based on actual invitation outcomes, we strongly recommend that Tasmania graduates accumulate as much work experience as possible after graduation — it significantly increases your chances of receiving an invitation!
Charles Darwin University
Recommended migration-friendly programmes
Migration outlook:
Applying for Northern Territory Subclass 190/491 state-nominated skilled migration
Basic Department of Home Affairs requirements: under 45 years of age; IELTS or equivalent 6 in each band; Northern Territory graduates may nominate any occupation on the federal Department of Home Affairs occupation list — they are not limited to the Northern Territory state nomination occupation list.
Local graduates who have completed at least two years of study must additionally reside in the Northern Territory for at least a further 6 months and demonstrate that they have actively sought employment related to their nominated occupation during that period.During the 6-month post-graduation period of job-seeking and residence, you must hold a visa that permits full-time work (including the Subclass 485 PSW work visa) in order to be eligible to apply for Subclass 190!In other words, if you are unable to apply for the Subclass 485 after graduating in the Northern Territory, it will be very difficult to meet the Northern Territory state nomination requirements.
Finding the best option for your field and state
Contact us for a personalised assessment and migration plan!
It is true that the days of migrating immediately after graduation are behind us. That makes planning ahead all the more important — giving yourself enough lead time to keep your options open. We hope this article helps graduating students think through their next steps on visas and study choices. Please choose carefully before making any decisions. Making the most of your precious 2–3 year work visa window — with a solid plan in place — is the key to unlocking permanent residency!
For detailed visa and migration programme planning, please contact Newstars education consultant Jessica.
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