As migration to major cities becomes increasingly competitive, the Australian Government is actively encouraging and supporting new migrants to settle in regional areas to addressregional areapopulation challenges — and this is set to become the mainstream trend formigration and study abroad pathways in Australia. For those planning to migrate through study, heading to a regional area tostudy or workortransfer to a regional institutionis increasingly becoming thetop choice!
Take note! The regional areas we’re referring to here areregional areas as defined by the migration authorities — not literally remote or rural locations! Beyond Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane,Canberra, the Gold Coast, Adelaide, and many other major cities qualify!
For students looking to migrate — especially those seeking to apply for Australian permanent residency within six months of their first or second Working Holiday (Subclass 462) visa or student visa — we strongly recommend two Australian universities that offer outstanding migration pathways for graduates!
University of Canberra
Charles Darwin University in the Northern Territory
Both of these states/territories haverelatively straightforward pre-conditions for state nomination,Canberrahas its own independent Matrix points system,and local graduates can earn significantly more points than graduates from other states, is geographically adjacent to Sydney, and its state nomination invitations are reliably consistent — just three to six months of residing and working in Canberra is enough to meet the minimum threshold for a Subclass 190 or Subclass 491 state nomination application.The Northern Territoryimposesno mandatory work experience or job offer requirementon applicants — local graduates are all eligible to apply for a Subclass 190 or Subclass 491 state nomination!
University of Canberra
Why Choose the University of Canberra?
The University of Canberra is one of Australia’s emerging universities, established in 1967 in the nation’s capital,situated between Australia’s two largest cities, Sydney and Melbourne. The University of Canberra is renowned for its emphasis on applied research and professional teaching programmes. Its flexible teaching model and internationally recognised degree programmes span accounting, business, and information technology. The University of Canberra ranked 436th in the 2022 QS World University Rankings.
Recommended Programmes for Migration
Migration Outlook:
A Subclass 485 Graduate Work visa can be granted for up to four years (master’s graduates: three years plus one year), all of the ACT falls within a regional area as designated by the Department of Home Affairs — completing two years of study there earns an additional 5-point regional study bonus when applying for migration;The primary migration pathway after graduation is to apply for ACT state nomination. Local Canberra graduates hold a clear advantage on the Matrix points system in areas such as long-term residency and local study.
ACT Subclass 491 State Nomination Requirements:
The following applies to ACT residents (the category typically chosen by international graduates):
1. Your occupation is on the latest ACT Critical Skills List
2. At least three months of residency —three months of residency must be completed prior to submitting the Matrix.Residency is defined as genuinely living and settling in Canberra. Brief visits to Canberra do not count as Canberra residency.
3. At least three consecutive months of employment — work does not need to be related to the nominated occupation. In the 13 weeks prior to submitting the Matrix, a minimum of 20 hours of work per week is required (part-time work is acceptable);
4. Employment must be sustainable:
— Paid leave (such as annual leave) is permissible
— Unpaid sick leave requires a medical certificate
— Public holidays or mandatory workplace shutdowns do not affect the continuous employment calculation
ACT Subclass 190 State Nomination Requirements:
1. Your occupation is on the latest ACT Critical Skills List
2. At least six months of residency — six months of residency must be completed prior to submitting the Matrix. Residency is defined as genuinely living and settling in Canberra. Brief visits to Canberra do not count as Canberra residency.
3. At least six consecutive months of employment — work does not need to be related to the nominated occupation. In the 26 weeks prior to submitting the Matrix, a minimum of 35 hours of work per week is required (full-time employment required — this is entirely achievable for international students on a Subclass 485 visa after graduation);
4. Employment must be sustainable:
— Paid leave (such as annual leave) is permissible
— Unpaid sick leave requires a medical certificate
— Public holidays or mandatory workplace shutdowns do not affect the continuous employment calculation
University of Canberra
Charles Darwin University
Beyond Canberra, the other migration-friendly destination is the Northern Territory. As more and more international students choose Tasmania, some are now turning their attention to the Northern Territory,where the number of international students remains relatively low,making it a genuinely smart alternative pathway!
Why Choose Charles Darwin University?
Charles Darwin University is located in northern Australia and is the only university in the Northern Territory. Formerly known as the Northern Territory University, it is one of the few universities in Australia that has truly achieved diversity across departments and provides opportunities to all. The university attracts students from around the world, with a total enrolment of approximately 24,000 students from more than 60 countries.Graduate employment rates exceed 85%, starting salaries for graduates rank first in Australia, and the university leads the country in student classroom experience and quality of life.As a young university, Charles Darwin University ranks in the top 2% of global higher education institutions in the Times Higher Education rankings and is among the world’s leading young universities.
Darwin is a well-developed, modern city.On-campus accommodation (Casuarina) costs at least AUD 140 per week (including water, electricity, and gas). Unilodge Darwin — off-campus apartments located a 10-minute walk from the main Casuarina campus — ranges from AUD 180 to AUD 300 per week. Bus fares can be processed as a weekly ticket for USD 7. As a result, annual living costs are approximately AUD 15,000–18,000. At CDU, a full year of tuition plus accommodation amounts to only RMB 200,000–250,000! International students can also earn enough to cover their living expenses through lawful employment. In Darwin, part-time work is significantly easier to find compared with other states. Average wages can reach over AUD 20 per hour — working 20 hours per week, a student can earn AUD 300–400 per week.
Recommended Programmes for Migration
Migration Outlook:
A Subclass 485 Graduate Work visa can be granted for up to five years for international graduates (master’s graduates: three years plus two years), the entire Northern Territory falls within a regional area as designated by the Department of Home Affairs — completing two years of study there earns an additional 5-point regional study bonus when applying for migration.The primary migration pathway after graduation is to apply for NT state nomination. The key advantage is that there is no mandatory work experience or job offer requirement for applicants.
Applying for Northern Territory Subclass 190/491 State-Nominated Skilled Migration
Basic requirements from the Department of Home Affairs: under 45 years of age, IELTS or equivalent test result of 6 in each band, NT graduates may nominate any occupation on the Commonwealth migration occupation list — not limited solely to the NT state nomination occupation list.
Northern Territory Subclass 190/491 Category 1: NT Graduate Category
Applicants must have completed at least two years of full-time study in the Northern Territory and obtained a degree. When applying for state nomination, the following conditions must be met:
— Continue residing in the Northern Territory for six months after graduation, and hold a visa that permits full-time work during this period (primarily referring to a Subclass 485 visa)
— Demonstrate that your field of occupation has genuine employment prospects in the Northern Territory (you do not necessarily need to have secured a job, but must demonstrate genuine efforts to find work in your field)
The six-month post-graduation period of job searching and residency requires holding a visa that permits full-time work in order to qualify for the Subclass 190 nomination,if the secondary applicant holds a student visa or is currently studying locally in the Northern Territory, the primary applicant will also be ineligible to apply for the Subclass 190. This is likely intended to prevent graduates from switching to a partner student visa as a secondary applicant after graduation (secondary applicants on both coursework and research master’s programmes are permitted to work full-time), in order to satisfy the above requirement of holding a visa that permits full-time work.It is therefore strongly recommended that students currently completing an undergraduate degree or approaching the end of their Working Holiday (Subclass 462) visa apply for a postgraduate programme in the Northern Territory — after graduation, applying for a Subclass 485 Graduate Work visa will buy valuable time to meet the Subclass 190 requirements.
The employment stream pathway to NT state nomination has more demanding requirements: Subclass 190 requires two years of NT residency plus two years of work plus a one-year job offer; Subclass 491 requires 12 months of residency plus six months of work plus a one-year offer.
Note: if the above requirements are not met, even having completed the required two-year programme of study in the Northern Territory may only qualify you for a Subclass 491 provisional residency state nomination.
Charles Darwin University
For students interested in either of these two universities
or those who wish to learn more about study-abroad migration pathways —
including South Australian, Tasmanian, or Western Australian state nomination
please add Newstars education consultant Kevin for a detailed personalised plan
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