Nicole is back to share anotherlesser-known, migration-friendly specialisation. This week we’re unpacking two a-little-off-the-beaten-track specialisations with accessible entry requirements, strong employment outcomes, easy invitations and reliable migration pathways — Medical Imaging and Speech Pathology.
Nicole’s Study Without Confusion
livestream is back!
Medical Imaging + Speech Pathology Special
8pm AEDT, 23 November (5pm Beijing time)
A detailed look at entry requirements, skills assessment, migration pathways and career prospects for these two niche, migration-friendly specialisations.
Livestream agenda:
– What is a Medical Imaging professional?
– Which universities accept applicants without a related bachelor’s background?
– What is a Speech Pathologist?
– Which universities accept applicants without any specific bachelor’s background?
– Who are these two specialisations best suited for?
– Why study and build a career in these fields?
Scan the QR code to book your spot!
Occupational Therapy (OT) recap:Want a great migration outcome and a great job without studying nursing? High pay, strong employment, easy invitations — Australia’s “lesser-known” Occupational Therapy specialisation is anything but obscure! Dedicated OT course livestream!
Physiotherapy (PT) recap:You’ve heard of this profession, but didn’t realise how strong the migration pathway is? High demand, high pay and steady invitations — how do Physiotherapy courses and skills assessment work? Dedicated livestream, tonight!
What is a Medical Imaging professional?
Medical imaging (medical imaging), also called diagnostic imaging, is a discipline dedicated to medical treatment and medical research. It uses non-invasive techniques to obtain the morphology, physiological function and pathological state of internal organs and tissues in the human body — both as an imaging technology and an image-processing workflow. Medical imaging uses a range of medical imaging equipment and techniques to generate images that provide clinicians with detailed diagnostic information. Common medical-imaging modalities in hospitals include ultrasound, X-ray and MRI, and are primarily used to support doctors in the initial diagnostic assessment of patients.
Study abroad — courses
In Australia, this specialisation is offered with accredited courses at eleven universities in total. Across these eleven universities, every imaging-specialisation bachelor’s course runs for four years, and only three universities offer a master’s course, with varying course lengths.
For this specialisation, entry requirements generally call for four-band IELTS 7or an equivalent PTE score. Some universities only require an overall 7, with sub-scores of 6.5.Master courses require that applicants have completed relevant bachelor’s-level units such as human anatomy, biology, chemistry and physics, and also set a requirement on the bachelor’s GPA.
University of Canberra
Master of Medical Imaging
Location: Bruce, Canberra
Duration: 2.5 years
Intake: February each year
English requirement: IELTS 7 across all four bands, or equivalent
Note: applicants must have studied anatomy and physiology at bachelor’s level; applications are currently open through 2026
University of Sydney
Master of Diagnostic Radiography
Location: Camperdown/Darlington
Duration: 2 years
Intake: February each year
English requirement: IELTS overall 7 — reading and listening no lower than 6, writing and speaking no lower than 6.5; PTE accepted
Monash University also offers Master of Radiation Therapy, but it is not open to international students applying for a Subclass 500 visa
If you’re applying for the Medical Imaging bachelor’s program, Australian high-school students generally need an ATAR of 90–95, with some universities setting the bar higher; for students from mainland China, Gaokao results are accepted.
Apply as early as possible — seriously, as early as you can!
Note: this is a quota-capped program with only one intake per year. Students interested in medical imaging should reach out for consultation well in advance and start preparing early.
Medical Imaging
How do you migrate?
Skills Assessment
The Australian Society of Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy (ASMIRT) is the body designated by Australian immigration to assess radiography-related occupations.
Through ASMIRT, you can obtain a skills assessment for the following three occupations:
251211 Medical Diagnostic Radiographer
251212 Medical Radiation Therapist
251214 Sonographer
For students planning to migrate after graduation, the usual pathway is one of the first two occupations
Qualification requirement:
Qualifications obtained in Australia must be from a course accredited by the Medical Radiation Practice Board of Australia (MRPBA), specifically graduates of courses on ASMIRT’s list of recognised qualifications. A full OQAP assessment is not required; applicants can apply directly with proof of qualifications and English test results.
Accredited course list:
https://www.asmirt.org/asmirt_core/wp-content/uploads/Recognised-qualifications-2022.pdf
English requirement:
To meet certification requirements, applicants need IELTS Academic 7 with no band below 7, or PTE 65 with no section below 65.
Assessment timeframe:
16 weeks
For more on skills-assessment document preparation, feel free to DM us for guidance.
Migration outlook
251211 and 251212 are both occupations where migration is achievable with 65–75 points. Once you meet the EOI point score and requirements, you essentially just wait to be invited — no need to stress about chasing extra points or work experience!
Worried that 189 is unreliable and want to apply for state//territory nomination? As at the time of writing,, across Australia’s 6 states and 2 territories, every jurisdiction accepts Medical Imaging 190/491state-nomination applications.Healthcare-related occupations are a priority-invitation sector in NSW,, Victoria, and Western Australia, — if you’re willing to move, employers are competing to hire you!
What are the employment prospects for Medical Imaging professionals?
Beyond migration, Medical Imaging professionals enjoy broad employment prospects and strong career development opportunities across Australia. After graduation, you can work as a medical diagnostic radiographer, medical radiation therapist, nuclear medicine technologist or sonographer, with roles available in hospital radiology departments, specialist medical centres, health-screening centres and similar organisations.
According to a November 2023 market survey by SEEK (one of Australia’s largest online job platforms), for the Radiographer role alone, there are currently close to 700 open positions across Australia, with domestic demand for Radiographers growing at 14.7% per year; the average annual salary for the role currently sits at around AUD 90,000.
What is a Speech Pathologist?
Speech pathology is generally considered a comprehensive discipline, spanning linguistics, medicine, psychology, rehabilitation science and education. Its main research focus covers a range of speech and communication disorders — such as aphasia, autism, communication-cognitive difficulties and dysphagia. Through research into these issues, speech pathology works to provide patients with accurate diagnoses and effective treatment plans.
Study abroad — courses
Australia is a world leader in speech-pathology treatment. Below are some of the universities that offer this course and their entry requirements:
University of Sydney
Bachelor of Applied Science (Speech Pathology)
Full-time, 4 years
Entry requirements: mainland Chinese students must meet the Gaokao first-tier (yiben) cutoff; VCE students need a minimum ATAR of 93
English requirement: overall 7, with no band below 7
University of Sydney
Master of Speech Language Pathology
Full-time, 2 years
Entry requirements: applicants must hold an Australian bachelor’s degree or equivalent, with a GPA no lower than 4.5/7 (around a 60% average), and prior coursework in the following subjects: anatomy, neuroscience, linguistics and phonetics.
English requirement: overall 7, with no band below 7
University of Melbourne
Master of Speech Pathology
Full-time, 2 years
Entry requirements: Applicants must hold a relevant bachelor’s degree — for example, in science, biopharmaceutical sciences, linguistics, education or psychology, etc.
English requirement: IELTS 7 or above
La Trobe University
Bachelor of Applied Science and Master of Speech Pathology
Full-time: combined bachelor’s + master’s — a 4-year full-time accelerated course (equivalent to a 4.5-year full-time course)
Entry requirements: VCE students need at least 35 in English (EAL), plus at least 25 in one of biology, chemistry, mathematics or physics.
English requirement: IELTS Academic overall 7.5, with no band below 7; TOEFL, PTE and other recognised English tests are also accepted.
For other relevant specialisations, school recommendations and course requirements, feel free to DM us.
Speech Pathologist
How do you migrate?
After completing a specialist course accredited by Speech Pathology Australia (SPA), students can apply for a skills assessment without any work experience. After graduation, they can submit a skills-assessment application to SPA and, once certified, are eligible to apply for skilled migration. Because SPA-accredited courses already have relatively high English requirements, no additional English requirement applies for the skills assessment itself.
In other words, after completing an accredited course — with no work experience or additional language test required — you can obtain a 252712 Speech Pathologist / Speech Language Therapist skills assessment.The occupation sits on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) and is eligible for Subclass 189, 190 and 491 visas.
What is the migration outlook for Speech Pathologists?
Speech Pathologists can apply for migration or Australian work visas under the nominated occupation ANZSCO Code 252712 Speech Pathologist:
In the last Subclass 189 invitation round, , Speech Pathologists were invited at 65 points, meaning that as long as you meet the EOI point threshold, an invitation comes easily.
For applicants planning to obtain a Speech Pathologist skills assessment and pursue a state//territory-nominated permanent residency visa,, it’s all green lights.!As at the time of writing,,, across Australia’s 6 states and 2 territories accept Speech Pathologist190/491 state-nomination applications.In addition, , Speech Pathology falls within the Health sector,, and in NSW,, Victoria, and Western Australia it is classified as a priority-invitation occupation..
What are the employment prospects for Speech Pathologists?
After graduation, you can work as a speech pathologist, audiologist or similar role, with employment opportunities across private and public hospitals, research institutes, rehabilitation centres, community health centres, aged-care facilities, disability services, mental-health agencies, education centres and youth-justice centres.
According to SEEK (one of Australia’s largest online job platforms), its November 2023 market survey shows over 2,000 open Speech Pathologist positions, with domestic market demand for the role projected to grow by 34.7% over the next five years. The current annual salary for the role sits around AUD 93,000 — and that’s just entry level. This absolutely qualifies as a high-pay, high-demand specialisation.
For more detail on these specialisations and a tailored study-and-migration plan, join Nicole’s Study Without Confusion livestream at 8pm AEDT this Thursday, 23 November (5pm Beijing time)!Senior consultant Nicole will walk you through everything you need to know about the Medical Imaging and Speech Pathology specialisations!
Follow Nicole — study without confusion!
Past articles
Graduates have a “special pathway” too — no need to grind for points or chase priority occupations!
Skills-assessment approvals and Subclass 189 & 190 grants pouring in! Plus a tough refusal case successfully overturned on appeal!
ICT and Engineering invited for NSW 190 — overseas applicants even more in-demand! Tourism-service occupations: seize the WA opportunity!
Migration Information Group
2023
Step 1: long-press to add our consultant
Step 2: once you’ve added them, please
Study abroad · migration · visas — we’re the specialists
Attention!Please verify genuine NewStars consultant!
Study & migration consultation Consultants at every office
Sydney Head Office
Melbourne
Canberra
Brisbane
Adelaide
Hobart
Beijing
Guangzhou
Perth
Next branch coming soon
Follow the NewStars WeChat Official Account
Reply in the Official Account with any of the numbers or keywords below (not the comments section at the bottom of the article), to receive the most up-to-date and authoritative migration news!Reply [A] to view the directory (covering every topic)!
Reply: 0000 → 16 November policy update (491 + skilled-migration point test)
Reply: 000 → latest visa / citizenship processing times
Reply: 001 → latest official Subclass 189 EOI round results
Reply: 002 → Subclass 189 independent skilled migration
Reply: 003 → state-by-state Subclass 190 nomination
Reply: 004 → Subclass 489 regional state nomination
Reply: 005 → student entrepreneur & investor migration
Reply: 006 → Parent visa
Reply: 007 → Employer Sponsored visa
Reply: 008 → Subclass 485 visa
Reply: 009 → Partner migration / partner points
Reply: 010 → work-experience points
Reply: 011 → PY (Professional Year) points
Reply: 012 → NAATI / CCL points
Reply: 013 → regional-area points
Reply: 014 → Tourist / family-visit visa
Reply: 015 → Working Holiday visa
Reply: 016 → TAFE study
Reply: 017 → Australia-to-Canada migration for students
Reply: 018 → Subclass 407 Training visa
Reply: 019 → Subclass 408 Temporary Activity visa
Reply: 020 → New Zealand migration
2023 Recommended
