What courses lead to a graduate work visa?

We are often asked by students if their course can lead to a graduate work visa (Subclass 485) – Often called TR.
A Graduate Work Visa allows an applicant to remain in Australia for up to 2 – 6 years after their study. Many applicants use this time to build up additional work experience in order to apply for PR. However, if you want to study this visa, you MUST study a relevant course.

In order to apply for either stream you MUST study for at least 92 CRICOS weeks (or close to 2 years).

There are 2 different streams:

– Post Study Work Stream
– Graduate Stream

Essentially if you study a Bachelor’s, Master or PhD you generally should qualify for a Post Study Work stream. However, if you study certain courses at a vocational level, you may qualify for the Graduate Stream.

In order to qualify for the graduate stream you will need to:

 nominate an occupation on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL)
– occupations on the MLTSSL that DO NOT require a Bachelor qualification include must trade occupations, telecommunications, civil or electrical drafting (Please go to https://pathwaytoaus.com/ website)

 hold a degree, diploma, or trade qualification closely related to that occupation

Closely Related:

The course that you study MUST be closely related to your nominated occupation. For example, if you nominate the occupation of Carpenter, you must have studied a relevant course Cert III in Carpentry. Other related courses could be the Certificates or Diploma’s in Building and Construction. If you select Carpentry, and you studied a Diploma and Adv Diploma of Management, immigration may not consider it to be closely related.

 Must be able to pass a provisional skill assessment as assessed by a relevant assessing authority as having skills suitable for your nominated occupation.

Skill Assessment – Provisional:

You must be able to pass a skill assessment (or provisional skill assessment). For example, if you study a Cert IV in Commercial Cookery you can pass a provisional skill assessment as a chef. However, if you study for a Diploma of Engineering, you cannot pass a skill assessment as an Engineer. The only exception to this is if you have studied previously in your home country and can pass a skill assessment based on this study. For example, if in your home country, you have previously studied a bachelor of civil engineering. You may then be able to pass a skill assessment based on this. You could then look to potentially study a closely related course (previously we have had applicants study a Diploma of Project Management) to meet the study requirement.