Internationals students choose to study in Australia for a variety of reasons.  Some like to obtain a high standard of education and return to their country of residence to pursue their career, whilst others see an Australian qualification as an opportunity to obtain skills that will be recognised in Australia and that will enable them to settle permanently.

For international students who have satisfied the two year study requirement by obtaining an eligible qualification, the general skilled migration program offers a range of temporary and permanent visas.   However, given recent changes to immigration law students studying certain fields will only be eligible for a temporary visa at the end of their studies and will need to obtain, in most cases, 12 months’ work experience in their nomination occupation or closely related.

Take our Free Online Visa Assessment now to see if you’re eligible.

In general the student needs to meet the following requirements to be considered for a visa:

1.     Speak English and have sat the IELTS test and achieved a minimum score of 5.5 overall (for certain courses e.g. nursing and university courses the benchmark is higher) or be enrolled in an English (ELICOS) course in Australia before commencing the principal course;

2.     Have completed secondary school;

3.     Demonstrate by way of savings in the bank account, a sponsor or education loan that you have sufficient money to pay for your course fees and living expenses for you and any dependents.  Refer to Student Living Costs and Evidence of Funds

Definition of 2 Year Study Requirement:

You must have met this eligibility requirement in the six (6) months immediately before the date of making your application. To meet this requirement, you must have completed in no less than 16 calendar months, either:

a single qualification requiring at least two (2) academic years study

or

more than one qualification resulting in a total period of at least two (2) academic years study.

Two (2) academic years study

Two (2) academic years study means the equivalent of two (2) years study enrolled at 100% of a full time load. It is a measure of the amount of study you have completed rather than how long it took you to complete the study.

If you are given credit for prior learning it will reduce the amount of study you have completed.

The department will use the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) to determine the standard duration of a course. A course that has a registered duration of 92 weeks is considered to be a two year course.

Example 1:

If a course is CRICOS registered for 138 weeks (3 years) and consists of 24 units, 100% of full-time enrolment would equate to 8 units per year. In that course, a student will have completed two academic years when they have successfully completed 16 units. That means a student enrolled in that course can be given credit for prior learning for up to 8 units and still complete two academic years study.

Example 2:

If a course is CRICOS registered for 92 weeks (2 years) and consists of 12 units, 100% of full-time enrolment would equate to 6 units per year. Students would be required to complete all 12 units to meet the two year study requirement.

A student enrolled in this course who is given any credit for prior learning will not have completed two academic years study and may have to complete an additional degree, diploma or trade qualification to meet the two year study requirement.

Course requirements

Each qualification that you have completed and are relying on to meet this requirement must:

·         be either a degree, a diploma, or a trade qualification;

·         have been undertaken at an Australian educational institution in Australia;

·         have been conducted in English;

·         be registered on CRICOS

Note: English language proficiency courses cannot be used to meet the two (2) year study requirement.

Qualifications must be closely related to nominated occupation

The Australian qualification/s you have completed must be closely related to your nominated skilled occupation. This means that the subject matter and the skills gained from your qualifications can be applied at the level you achieved them in your nominated skilled occupation.

Examples:

Diploma in Business and Certificate IV in Carpentry would be consistent with nominating Carpenter as your occupation as applicants could find those qualifications genuinely useful in operating their own business as a carpenter.

Masters in IT and Certificate III in Carpentry would not be consistent with nominating Carpenter as your occupation as you have attained skills at a significantly higher level in a professional field and skills at that level will not have any practical application in working as a carpenter.

What if you have completed study outside Australia?

If you have undertaken study whilst not physically present in Australia, this study cannot be used to satisfy the two (2) year study requirement.

Example: If you have studied at an overseas campus of an Australian educational institution, or undertaken study online or by correspondence with an Australian educational institution while outside Australia, this study will not be accepted. This is because all study must be undertaken while you are physically present in Australia.