STEM Points for Skilled Migration — Specialist Educational Qualifications
How to Claim 10 STEM Points on the Skilled Migration Points Test
The skilled migration points test awards 10 additional points for holding a specialist educational qualification — commonly called STEM points for skilled migration. These 10 points are separate from and stack on top of your standard educational qualification points, meaning a PhD graduate in an eligible STEM field can claim both 20 points (doctorate) + 10 points (specialist) = 30 qualification points in total.
To qualify for the specialist education points, you must have completed either:
- A Masters degree by research — not a Masters by coursework or Masters (Extended)
- A Doctoral degree (PhD)
The qualification must include at least 2 academic years of study conducted in Australia and must be awarded by an Australian educational institution. Overseas research degrees do not qualify — the degree must be Australian.
The qualification must be in a field specified by the Department of Home Affairs. The eligible fields cover STEM specialisations (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) — detailed in the table below.
The Specialist Education Fields for STEM Points (Skilled Migration)
Your research Masters or PhD must fall within one of the three broad fields below, in one of the listed narrow specialisations. If your field does not appear in the narrow field list, you cannot claim the 10 STEM points for skilled migration — even if your degree is research-based.
| Broad Field of Education | Narrow Field of Education |
| Natural and Physical Sciences | Biological Sciences |
| Chemical Sciences | |
| Earth Sciences | |
| Mathematical Sciences | |
| Natural and Physical Sciences | |
| Other Natural and Physical Sciences | |
| Physics and Astronomy | |
| Information Technology | Computer Science |
| Information Systems | |
| Information Technology | |
| Other Information Technology | |
| Engineering and Related Technologies | Aerospace Engineering and Technology |
| Civil Engineering | |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering and Technology | |
| Engineering and Related Technologies | |
| Geomatic Engineering | |
| Manufacturing Engineering and Technology | |
| Maritime Engineering and Technology | |
| Mechanical and Industrial Engineering and Technology | |
| Other Engineering and Related Technologies | |
| Process and Resources Engineering |
Important: A Masters by coursework does not qualify — only a Masters by research. If you are unsure whether your degree is classified as research or coursework, check your academic transcript or contact your institution. Your assessing authority’s confirmation of your degree type may also be required.
VisaAid’s migration consultants confirm whether your research degree qualifies for the STEM points skilled migration claim, calculate your full pr points calculator score and identify the fastest pathway to an invitation. Book your free assessment to get started.
STEM Points and Your Skilled Visa Strategy
Applicants who hold a research Masters or PhD in an eligible STEM or ICT field have a significant structural advantage in the points test australia — 25–30 qualification points before age, English, work experience or nomination are even counted. This typically places STEM research graduates well above the 65-point minimum and often within range of 189 visa invitations without needing additional nomination points.
If your STEM research degree is from an Australian institution and included at least 2 academic years of in-Australia study, you may also qualify for:
- +5 points — Australian Study Requirement
- +5 points — Regional study points (if your institution is in a designated regional area)
- +5 points — Professional Year (if in accounting, IT or engineering)
Combined with superior English and Australian work experience, a STEM PhD holder can potentially reach 85–100+ points — making them highly competitive in most pr points calculator scenarios.
Check the latest SkillSelect invitation rounds to see current scores attracting invitations in your occupation.
Related Points Test Pages
- Skilled Visa Points Test Table — Full Guide
- Australian Study Requirement Points
- Regional Study Points
- Professional Year Points
- English Language Points
- Work Experience Points
- Partner Skills Points
Book your free STEM points assessment — VisaAid’s consultants confirm your qualification type, verify your degree falls within an eligible field, and calculate your complete skilled migration points score in a single session.