Choose the right PR courses in Australia and turn your hard work into Permanent Residency.
12 months ago
PR courses in Australia are academic programs designed to align with the Australian Skilled Occupations List (SOL). Enrolling in courses such as Nursing, Engineering, and IT will significantly improve the chances of obtaining permanent residency (PR) in Australia through General Skilled Migration (GSM) visas, including Subclass 189, 190, and 491.
Choosing the right PR courses in Australia is an important step towards skilled migration. To be eligible for many permanent residency pathways, your qualification should align with an occupation on Australia's Skilled Occupation List, making course selection a crucial decision.
If students are passionate about PR courses in Australia, making sure occupations listed on the SOL are essential. So, let's understand SOL list categories, such as:
Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL):
Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL):
Regional Occupation List (ROL):
Now that you understand the categories of SOL, let's thoroughly understand and dissect some of the best PR courses in Australia.
Some of the best PR courses in Australia are thoroughly dissected below. A note before the breakdown: IT used to be one of the best PR courses in Australia, but currently, it is highly saturated. And we don't recommend students pursue a degree just for PR. Students should pursue something they are passionate about. So, if students are passionate about studying IT in Australia, then they should do so.
Due to an ageing population and a shortage of healthcare workers, nurses and other health professionals are in high demand in Australia. Nursing and other health courses are listed on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), offering great opportunities for permanent residency (PR) in Australia. So, students passionate about nursing and health fields should enroll in this PR course in Australia.
Average tuition fees: AUD 20,000 to AUD 45,000 per year for international students
Salary of a registered nurse: AUD 70,000 to AUD 120,000 per year
Average tuition fees: AUD 20,000 to AUD 60,000 per year
Salary of healthcare professionals: AUD 75,000 to AUD 150,000
Learn more about: Nursing and health courses
Social work is one of the fastest-growing and most in-demand PR courses in Australia. It is listed on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), an open pathway for several skilled migration visas, including the Skilled Independent 189, the Skilled Nominated 190, or the 489 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visas.
Average tuition fees: AUD 25,000 to AUD 40,000 per year
Salary of social workers: AUD 70,000 to AUD 100,000 per year
Learn more about: Social work courses
Teachers are the most in-demand profession in Australia due to low enrolment in teaching courses and teachers leaving their careers. The Australian government has invested over $70.9 million to recruit more teachers across Australia. All levels of teaching, from early childhood to primary and secondary school teachers, are listed on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), thus making it one of the most in-demand PR courses in Australia.
Average tuition fees: AUD 20,000 to AUD 40,000 per year
Starting salary for teachers: AUD 70,000 to AUD 90,000 per year
Learn more about: Teaching courses
Studying kitchen management and hospitality opens multiple career opportunities, thus making it one of the best and most popular PR courses in Australia. The hospitality sector is rapidly growing in Australia, with a high demand for skilled kitchen managers and chefs. In this course, students will learn leadership, management, culinary, and food safety skills required to succeed in the competitive food industry. Additionally, the hospitality sector in Australia offers competitive salaries, diverse career paths, pathways to permanent residency, and opportunities for continuous professional development.
Average tuition fees: AUD 17,000 to AUD 23,000 per year
Average salary: AUD 75,000 to AUD 80,000 per year
Learn more about: Kitchen management & hospitality courses
Land and property development is increasing rapidly in Australia. Carpenters and cabinet makers are in high demand in Australia. It is listed on the Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), opening several skilled visa pathways to permanent residency (PR). Hence, it is one of the best PR courses in Australia.
Average tuition fees: AUD 15,000 to AUD 30,000 per year
Salary of carpentry & cabinet professionals: AUD 40,000 to AUD 90,000 per year
Learn more about: Carpentry & cabinet making courses
Building and construction is one of the top-demand sectors in Australia. Due to the lack of tradespeople, the Australian government has included them on the Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL). After completing this PR course in Australia, graduates can apply for the temporary graduate visa to gain work experience in this field. After gaining the required skills and experience, professional workers can apply for PR through skilled migration programs.
Average tuition fees: AUD 10,000 to AUD 30,000 per year
Salary of building and construction professionals: AUD 65,000 to AUD 320,000 per year
Learn more about: Building and construction courses
Let's thoroughly break down and understand the entry requirements for PR courses in Australia, covering key fields like nursing, teaching, IT, social work, and trade/hospitality:
Students aiming to enroll in PR courses in Australia should score at least 6.5 on the IELTS, with no individual component below 6, or an equivalent test score.
Note: If you are aiming for a postgraduate or master's degree, you might need a higher score. Typically, Nursing and Health-related courses require a higher IELTS score compared to other PR courses in Australia. Please consult with our expert migration agent if you are unsure of what score you need for the course you have chosen.
Studying PR courses in Australia requires strong financial documents. Even if your visa is expiring, you must still demonstrate that you can cover your tuition fees, living costs, and several other expenses while studying, living, and working in Australia. Consult with our migration agent for detailed information on financial requirements.
You need to submit an updated police clearance certificate if you're applying for a new student visa. Additionally, you are required to maintain a valid Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the full duration of your studies in PR courses in Australia.
You must submit a strong Genuine Student (GS) statement if you want to apply for a new student visa. It provides evidence of the intention to study PR courses in Australia and return to your home country upon completing the degree. This means you need to prove that you are staying in Australia for education only and have no intention to secure PR.
After completing PR courses in Australia, graduate students can apply for a temporary graduate visa (subclass 485), which allows them to study and work in Australia for up to 2 to 3 years. During this period, graduate students can gain work experience and make connections in their field of study, which increases the likelihood of securing permanent residency through several skilled migration programs.
To be eligible for Australia's skilled migration visas, including subclasses 189, 190, and 491, applicants must score at least 65 PR points. These points are evaluated based on the applicant's age, education, work experience, and English proficiency. If you meet the point requirement, you can apply for the following visa to obtain PR after completing PR courses in Australia:
The subclass 189 is a point-based permanent visa that does not require a sponsored letter from an employer, nor does it require nomination by a state or territory of Australia. Generally, it is for highly skilled workers who do not require employer sponsorship but are evaluated based on their qualifications and skills.
The subclass 190 is a permanent residency (PR) visa for skilled workers nominated by an Australian state or territory government to live and work in Australia. This means each state has its own list of in-demand and eligible occupations, and if the occupations match your profile, you apply for nomination. You will get extra points if you are approved, which significantly increases the chance of PR.
The subclass 491 visa allows skilled workers to live and work in designated regional areas of Australia for up to 5 years. To be eligible for this visa, you must be nominated by an Australian state or territory government agency or an eligible family member residing in a designated regional area. To be eligible for a subclass 191 visa, one must have held a subclass 491 for at least 3 years.
Choosing the right PR course in Australia is only the first step. To maximise your chances of skilled migration, you also need to understand visa requirements, skills assessments, and Australia's Points Test.
At Search Education, our MARA-registered migration agent helps you build a clear pathway from study to permanent residency by:
Book a consultation today and let Search Education help you choose the right PR course and build a stronger pathway to permanent residency in Australia.
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