A Migration Agent’s Opinion on Choosing What to Study
Study lets you try out Australia, lets you maintain your lifestyle with some part-time work but most importantly creates a platform for not just your career but also for your visa.
When considering what course to study we know people care about time, money and visa prospects.
Here are some courses that I think tick all the boxes:
Course: Master of Social Work Studies
Duration: 1.5 years
Future Occupation: Social Worker
Cost: $38,500 at University of Queensland
Visa options: If you have 7 in each category of IELTS and 60 points, for as long as this occupation remains on the list this is a great way to earn PR. If you need longer to get your English score we can add a 6 month Diploma after this course so you can qualify for the 485 visa.
Course: Graduate Diploma of Land Surveying
Duration: 1 year
Future Occupation: Surveyor
Cost: $23k at University of Tasmania but if you don’t have a surveying background you’ll need to do the Bachelor at about $75k
Visa options: If you can achieve 60 points and if the occupation stays on the list, finishing this course will earn you your skills assessment which is often the hardest thing for PR visas. Also, if you are interested in the 190 PR visa studying in Tasmania for a year can earn you another 5 points!
Course: Associate Degree in Civil Engineering
Duration: 2 years
Future Occupation: Civil Engineering Draftsperson
Cost: 34k at TAFE QLD
Visa options: 485 visa can be granted after you finish your studies which can earn you time to get more points for permanent migration. If you have worked as a civil engineering draftsperson for 3 years before you finished this course you may be eligible to apply for PR as soon as you finish your course otherwise you need 1 year of post qualification experience.
Course: Master of Health Science (Osteopathy) / Master of Osteopathic Medicine
Duration: 2 years
Future Occupation: Osteopath (similar to a physiotherapist)
Cost: +- 54k
Institutions: Victoria University – Melbourne or Southern Cross University – Lismore (regional study means more points towards PR)
Visa options: 485 visa can be granted after you finish your studies which can earn you time to get more points for permanent migration but you may not need it as completing one of these approved courses is sufficient for a skills assessment as long as you have 7 in each category for academic IELTS.
Course: Master of Teaching (Secondary)
Duration: 2 years
Future Occupation: High School Teacher
Price: 33.5k at Alphacrucis College Limited – Paramatta Sydney
Visa options: 485 visa can be granted after you finish your studies which can earn you time to get more points for permanent migration but you may not need it as long as you have done at least 45 days of prac with your course. The College should organise this for you but you should double check. There is a high English language requirement for this occupation. There is also a 1.5 year Master Degree offered with Griffith University.
Course: Bachelor of Nursing
Duration: 3 years
Future Occupation: Registered Nurse
Price: 51k at Avondale College Limited – Wahroonga – near Sydney, Lake Macquarie – near Newcastle
Visa options: 485 visa can be granted after you finish your studies which can earn you time to get more points for permanent migration but you may not need it. You need academic IELTS 7 for registration as a nurse.
Course: Master of Construction management
Duration: 1.5 years
Future Occupation: Quantity Surveyor
Price: 39k at Deakin Univserity Melbourne
Visa options: For as long as this occupation stays on the list, if you can earn 60 points and 6 in each category in IELTS this course could be your pathway to PR.
Of course there are many other courses and you need to pick what will fulfil your passion but consider getting some advice from a migration agent first. If you choose the wrong education agent they might push a course on you because of commission they will receive but in terms of migration some courses definitely are more useful than others.
Also, I must emphasise that PR often comes down to how good your English language skills are, make sure you make friends with people who speak English and not just your mother tongue.
This opinion is not tailored to your personal circumstances and is based on the skilled occupation list as it is in March 2017, no one knows what changes there will be to the skilled lists and visa programs in the future. Prices and course information has been obtained from CRICOS website.