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Best Courses for PR in Australia

Choose the right course and turn your hard work into Permanent Residency

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PR leading courses are the academic program in Australia that is designed to align with the Australia Skilled Occupations List (SOL). Enrolling in such courses like Nursing, Engineering, and IT will significantly improves the chance of obtaining permanent residency (PR) in Australia through General Skilled Migration (GSM) visas such as Subclass 189, 190, and 491. 

To be eligible for PR, the course you choose must fall under the Skilled Occupations List of Australia. These lists are made by Australian government to solve the skilled labor shortages in various industries. 

What are the different categories of the SOL list?

The SOL list is divided into different categories, such as: 

Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL):  

  • Targets occupations in high demand across Australia and have long-term growth prospects
  • Best for PR (with or without employer sponsorship) 


Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL):  

  • Target occupations that are in demand in Australia, but only for a short-term period.
  • Requires employer sponsorship for PR 


Regional Occupation List (ROL):  

  • Targets occupations needed in regional areas (outside major cities)
  • Offers PR pathways for those willing to live and work outside major cities. 

Best PR Leading Courses in Australia

1. Nursing and Health Courses 

Due to an aging 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.  

Top nursing courses for PR 

  • Bachelor of Nursing (Registered Nurse Pathway)
  • Master of Nursing (Graduate Entry)
  • Master of Physiotherapy
  • Bachelor of Midwifery 


Average tuition fees: AUD 20,000 to AUD 45,000 per year for international students 

Salary of Registered Nurse: AUD 70,000 - AUD 120,000 per year 

Top Health Courses for PR 

  • Bachelor or Master of Occupational Therapy
  • Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science
  • Bachelor or Master of Physiotherapy
  • Bachelor of Medical Radiation Science
  • Bachelor of Gynecology and Obstetrics
  • Bachelor of Neuroscience 


Average tuition fees: AUD 20,000 to AUD 60,000 per year 

Salary of Health care professionals: AUD 75,000 - AUD 150,000 

Learn More About: Nursing and Health Courses 

2. Social Work 

Social work is one of the fastest growing and in-demand courses in Australia. It is listed on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), an open pathway for the several skilled migration visas including, Skilled Independent 189, the Skilled Nominated 190 or the 489 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visas. 

Top Social Work Courses for PR 

  • Bachelor of Social Work
  • Master of Social Work 


Average tuition fees: AUD 25,000 to AUD 40,000 per year 

Salary of Social Workers: AUD 70,000 - AUD 100,000 per year 

Learn More About: Social Work Courses 

3. Teaching (Early Childhood, Primary, Secondary) 

Teachers are the most demand professions in Australia due to low enrolment in teaching courses or teachers leaving their career. The Australian government has invested over $70.9 million to recruit the more teachers across Australia. All level of teaching from early childhood to primary and secondary are listed on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) in Australia.  

Top Teaching Courses for PR 

  • Bachelor of Early Childhood Education
  • Master of Teaching (Early Childhood)
  • Bachelor of Education (Primary and Secondary)
  • Bachelor or Master of Special Education 


Average tuition fees: AUD 20,000 to AUD 40,000 per year 

Starting Salary of Teachers: AUD 70,000 - AUD 90,000 per year 

Learn More About: Teaching Courses 

4. Information Technology 

Information Technology (IT) is one of the most fastest growing sectors in both Australia and global countries. As technology is growing day by day, Australia needs IT professionals in various areas like software engineering, cybersecurity, data science, and many more. Due to lack of skill shortages, Australian government has listed the various IT occupations on the MLTSSL list. Enrolling in IT courses will support long term growth both in Australia and other global nations. After completing the IT courses, gaining certain skills and experience, the applicants can apply for PR through the skilled migration program. 

Top Information Technology (IT) Courses for PR 

  • Master of Data Science / Analytics
  • Master of Cyber Security
  • Bachelor of Computer Science
  • Bachelor or Master of Information Technology 


Average tuition fees: AUD 35,000 to AUD 50,000 per year 

Salary of IT professionals: AUD 60,000 – AUD 150,000 per year 

Learn More About: Information Technology Courses 

5. Kitchen Management & Hospitality 

Studying kitchen management and hospitality opens multiple career opportunities 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 get to learn leadership, management, culinary and food safety skills, which are 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. 

Top Kitchen Management & Hospitality Courses for PR 

  • SIT40521 Certificate IV in Kitchen Management
  • SIT50422 Diploma of Hospitality Management 


Average tuition fees: AUD 17,000 to AUD 23,000 per year 

Average Salary: AUD 75,000 – AUD 80,000 per year 

Learn More About: Kitchen Management & Hospitality Courses 

6. Carpentry & Cabinet Making 

Land and property development increasing rapidly in Australia, Carpentry and Cabinet Making are high demand in Australia. It is listed on the Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), opening several skilled visa pathways that lead to permanent residency (PR).  

Top Carpentry & Cabinet Making Courses for PR 

  • Certificate III in Carpentry
  • Certificate III in Cabinet Making 
  • Certificate IV in Furniture Design and Technology
  • Certificate III in Cabinet Making and Timber Technology 


Average tuition fees: AUD 15,000 to AUD 30,000 per year 

Salary of IT professionals: AUD 40,000 – AUD 90,000 per year 

CTC-> Learn More About: Carpentry & Cabinet Making Courses 

7. Building and Construction 

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 the course, graduates can apply for temporary graduate visas, allowing them to gain work experience in this field. After gaining the required skills and experience, professional workers can apply for PR through skilled migration programs. 

Top Building and Construction Courses for PR 

  • Certificate III in Construction and Building
  • Certificate IV in Construction and Building
  • Diploma of Building and Construction (Building)
  • Graduate Certificate of Construction Management
  • Bachelor of Building (Construction Management)
  • Master of Construction Management 


Average tuition fees: AUD 10,000 - AUD 30,000 per year 

Salary of IT professionals: AUD 65,000 - AUD 320,000 per year 

Learn More About: Building and Construction Courses 

Entry Requirements for PR-Eligible Courses in Australia

To study the PR courses, you must first understand the entry requirements. Here’s a complete guide to the Entry Requirements for PR-Eligible Courses in Australia, covering key fields like Nursing, Teaching, IT, Social Work, and Trade/Hospitality. 

Academic Requirements 

  • For undergraduate courses: Applicants must have successfully completed an Australian Year 12 qualification.
  • For master courses: Bachelor’s degree is required 


English Proficiency Requirements 

International student's must show their English language proficiency to study the PR courses in Australia. The English language requirements depend upon institution and the course level. For Instance, if you are aiming for IELTS, then you must score at least 6.0 or higher with no band less than 6. 

If you are aiming for a postgraduate or master's degree, you might need a higher score.  

Typically, the Nursing and Health related courses required higher IELTS score compared to other courses 

Please consult with our migration agent if you are not sure what score you need for the the course you have chosen. 

Financial Requirements 

To study courses that lead to PR requires strong financial documents. Even if your visa is expiring, you still must show that you are financially capable of covering 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 

Health & Character Requirements 

You need to submit an updated police clearance certificate if you're applying for a new student visa. 

Additionally, you are also required to maintain valid Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the full duration of your studies in Australia. 

Genuine Student (GS) Requirement 

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 in Australia and return to the 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. 

Visa Pathways After Completing PR Courses

After completing the PR-eligible courses, graduate students can apply for a temporary graduate visa (subclass 485), which allows them to study and work in Australia for up to 2-3 years. In this period, graduate students can gain work experience and make connections in their field of study, which improves the chance 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 the minimum score of 65 points on a point-based test. These points are evaluated based on the age, education, work experience, and English proficiency of applicants. If you meet the point requirement, you can apply for the following visa to obtain PR: 

Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) 

The subclass 189 is a point-based permanent visa that does not require a sponsored letter from an employer, nor does it need to be nominated by a state or territory of Australia. It is mostly targeted for highly skilled workers that do not need employer sponsorships but are evaluated based on the skilled individual's qualifications and skills. 

Learn More About: Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) 

Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) 

The subclass 190 is a permanent residency (PR) visa for skilled workers who are nominated by an Australian state or territory government to live and work in Australia. This means each state of Australia has its own list of in-demand and eligible occupations, and if the occupations match with your profile, you apply for nomination. You will get extra points if you get approved, which significantly increases the chance of PR. 

Learn More About: Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) 

Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) 

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 PR, one must have held a subclass 491 for at least 3 years. 

Learn More About: Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) 

How Search Education Can Help You

  • We will provide expert guidance on visa subclass 189, 190, and 491. 
  • We help you obtain a positive skills assessment. 
  • We will assist you in preparing and submitting your Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect. 
  • Our migration agent will evaluate your Points Test results and ensure that all the points are calculated correctly. 
  • Our Immigration consultant will provide continuous support from initial consultation to the final visa decision. 

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