University Courses That Lead to PR in Australia
University Courses to Permanent Residency — How the Pathway Works
Choosing the right university course in Australia is the most important decision you’ll make on the path to permanent residency. Your qualification needs to match an occupation on the Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) — Australia’s list of most in-demand skilled professionals — and your university must be CRICOS-registered.
Unlike trade graduates who go through Trades Recognition Australia (TRA), university graduates get their skills assessed by the relevant professional assessing authority for their occupation — for example, Engineers Australia for engineers, VETASSESS for many professional occupations, and AHPRA for health professionals.
The four steps below walk through the complete journey from enrolling in your course to applying for a permanent visa. If you’re weighing up your study options, also see courses with good PR prospects for a broader comparison.
Step 1
Enrol in a CRICOS-registered bachelor's, master's or doctoral program that trains you for an occupation on the MLTSSL. The course must take at least two academic years and must be taught in English. The university courses on this page — Engineering, Social Work, Teaching, Nursing, Computer Sciences and Quantity Surveying — are all recognised pathways that currently qualify for skilled migration. Choosing your course with your occupation and assessing authority in mind from day one prevents costly mistakes later.
Step 2
After graduating, apply for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) — Post-Higher Education Work stream. This gives you full work rights in Australia to build experience and complete your skills assessment. The stay duration depends on your qualification level: 2 years for bachelor's and graduate diploma graduates, 3 years for master's graduates, and 4 years for PhD graduates. If you studied in a regional area, you may be eligible for an additional 1–2 years through the Second Post-Higher Education Work stream. Apply within 6 months of completing your course.
Step 3
While on your 485 visa, obtain a positive skills assessment from the assessing authority for your nominated occupation. Your qualification and, in many cases, your Australian work experience must meet the authority's requirements. This is why your course choice matters so much at Step 1 — the wrong institution, wrong specialisation or wrong ANZSCO occupation code can result in a failed skills assessment even with a genuine Australian degree. We help you align your application correctly from the start.
Step 4
With a positive skills assessment, you can lodge an Expression of Interest in SkillSelect and apply for a range of skilled visas: the Skilled Independent visa (189), Skilled Nominated visa (190), Skilled Work Regional visa (491), Skills in Demand visa (482) or 494 Employer Sponsored Regional visa. Your points score determines which visas are within reach — check the Skilled Visa Points Test Table to estimate where you stand.
University Courses That Lead to PR — Current MLTSSL Pathways
These degree programs are recognised skilled migration pathways for international students. All require CRICOS-registered study at an Australian university:
Engineering
Social Work
Teaching
Nursing
Computer Sciences
Quantity Surveying
Which Visa Can You Apply for After Your Skills Assessment?
Your visa options after graduation depend on your points score, occupation and state nomination availability. For most university graduates, the 189 visa (no sponsorship required), 190 visa (state nominated) or 491 visa (regional) are the main targets. Use the Skilled Visa Points Test Table to see how your age, English level, Australian study, work experience and other factors add up — and whether your score is competitive enough to receive an invitation.
Australian study points: completing a bachelor’s degree or higher at an Australian university earns you 5 points. Studying in a regional area and living there on a 485 visa can add a further 5 points — worth planning from enrolment if PR is your goal.
Not sure which course or occupation gives you the best pathway? Get a free student visa assessment and we’ll map the full journey for you — from course selection and skills assessment through to visa lodgement.