Two Year Study Requirement for Skilled Migration

International students who complete a qualification or qualifications taking at least 2 years of study in Australia may be able to access concessions in applying for general skilled migration.

Benefits of Study in Australia

The main advantages are as follows:
  • Onshore Lodgement: Students can apply onshore and remain in Australia on a bridging visa during processing of their application. The bridging visa has full work rights, but ceases on departure from Australia. Other applicants for skilled migration are not granted a bridging visa and must be overseas when their applications are granted.
  • Work Experience Waiver: Most applicants must show that they have worked for at least 12 of the last 24 months in skilled employment. International students completing studies taking at least 2 years in Australia are exempt from this requirement.
  • Extra Points: Students can receive extra points for their studies - 5 points for meeting the 2 year study requirement, 15 for completing a bachelor plus honours or a masters degree or 25 for completing a PhD.
  • Skilled Graduate Visa: Students may be eligible to apply for the 18-month skilled graduate visa. This is an 18-month work visa which can enable students to accumulate further points from studying or working in Australia.

Australian Study Requirement

The main requirements in meeting the 2 year study requirement are as follows:
  • Type of Qualification: You must complete a degree, diploma or trade qualification. Masters, graduate diplomas and PhDs are considered degrees and so may be counted towards the 2 year study requirement.
  • CRICOS registration: The courses completed must be on the approved list of courses for international students (CRICOS). There can be issues if your course or educational institution is deregistered prior to completion of your studies.
  • Two Academic Years: this is now defined as being at least 92 weeks according to the CRICOS registration of the courses. If you have exemptions, the calculated period of study credited may be reduced.
  • 16 Month Duration: the course must take at least 16 months of study in Australia from the beginning of the course till completion.
  • English Medium: All instruction must be in English. There can be issues with this requirement in the case of translation/interpreting qualifications.
  • Compliance with Visa Conditions: Study must be in compliance with visa conditions to count towards the 2-year study requirement. This will not in general be an issue if you are studying in Australia on a student visa, but could be an issue if you are studying on a visa with restricted study rights.
  • Closely Related Studies: your studies must be "closely related" to the occupation you apply for skills assessment in. This is in practice a difficult matter on which to get exact guidance from the Department of Immigration. In many cases, a carefully worded "statement of relevancy" needs to be provided to show how the courses will be relevant to your future career in the occupation.

Time Limit

Students would generally need to apply within 6 months of completion of qualification to be able to apply onshore for their skilled visas. However, you should consider the following:
  • The completion date is the date you are notified of your final results, not your graduation date (which may be many months after you complete studies).
  • In most cases, your student visa will expire within a few weeks or months of completion of your studies. You will need to apply for a further visa before your student visa expires and this in practice is a tighter deadline.
  • If you have obtained a skilled graduate visa, you will be able to apply onshore for skilled migration at any time during the 18-month validity of your visa.
  • You can claim points for Australian study even if it has been more than 6 months from the date you completed your studies.

Acacia's Expertise

Acacia Immigration has had a significant amount of expertise in assisting international students with difficult issues in applying for their permanent residence after completion of studies. We can assist in ensuring that you meet the 2 year study requirement, can show that your studies are closely related to your occupation and that your application is lodged on time even if there is a tight deadline.

Follow Us:

Twitter Facebook