Charting Your PR Journey: Top PR Courses in Australia, Top Universities, Eligibility Criteria & more

Do you plan to study and live in Australia permanently?

In that case, the course you pick will have a bigger role to play in getting you permanent residency in Australia.

However, if you are planning to study, work and live in Australia permanently then it becomes extremely important for students to be aware of the Skilled Occupation List and Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List.

What are these lists?

Let's find out!

Australia's Department of Immigration and Citizenship releases a list of occupations every year that qualify for a permanent residency visa. This list is called the "Skilled Occupation List' or the "Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL)."

This is the list of skilled occupations that deliver high-value skills required by the Australian economy, aligning with the national workforce development strategy. This list is applicable for international students who wish to apply for the Graduate Work stream under the Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa. In order to apply for this stream, students must choose an occupation on the MLTSSL and graduate with skills and qualifications that closely relate to this occupation. 

Let's get into more important details on PR courses in Australia. 

What is the PR system in Australia?

Permanent Residency is a popular visa category that allows applicants to live, work, and settle in Australia indefinitely with their families. PR visa holders in Australia will enjoy equal rights as Australian citizens.

The Australian Permanent Residency visa has multiple categories. The immigration office has divided the visa categories based on requirements. Here are the various visa categories for Australian PR:

1. Family-stream permanent residence visas.
2. Work-stream permanent residence visas.
3. Business or investment-stream permanent residence visas.
4. Other options

Getting a work-stream permanent residence visa is your most plausible option when you have moved to Australia on a student visa.

There are multiple subclasses under this visa category. You can explore the most suitable option for your permanent visa request by taking a small quiz here on visa options for permanent residents (homeaffairs.gov.au).

It is important to understand that the Australian PR visa system is by invitation only. The Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship selects applicants based on a point-based system and invites them to submit their PR visa application.

Applicants' occupation adds substantial value to the points table. Thus, your occupation plays a key role in the PR visa point table.

Related Article: Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189): A Complete Guide

What are the benefits of PR in Australia?

Holding a PR in Australia gives you equal rights and benefits as an Australian citizen. These are the benefits of PR in Australia:

• As a PR holder, you can live, work and study in the country indefinitely without having to worry about re-applying for work or study visas.
• PR holders are eligible to apply for Australia's health scheme. Medicare insurance and other health benefits are applicable to PR holders in Australia.
• With PR, you are also eligible to apply for bank loans for buying properties.
• PR holders' sponsors are also eligible for permanent residency.
• You can travel to and from Australia as per the 'overseas travel as a permanent resident' guideline. (Travelling overseas as a permanent resident (homeaffairs.gov.au)
• You can attend free English language classes provided by About the Adult Migrant English Program. (AMEP) (homeaffairs.gov.au)
• You can travel, work and live in New Zealand without any visa permit.
• You are also eligible for other government social benefits when residing in Australia.

How is a PR visa different from Australian citizenship?

Based on the many benefits of Australian PR, it often becomes a little confusing to differentiate between Australian PR and citizenship. Check out these basic don'ts for PR holders that explain the difference for clarity:

• PR holders do not hold an Australian passport.
• They cannot vote in Australian government elections.
• PR holders cannot access student loans.
• They are not eligible to join the defence force.
• PR holders cannot obtain ongoing employment with the Australian government.

If you are a student right now planning to study in Australia, these steps might sound advanced to you. At this initial stage, you just have to consider the right course that can give you access to your permanent residency visa.

However, there are multiple subclasses, so the Australian Home Office offers a quiz to help you explore your visa options. The two most popular sub-classes under this scheme are:

• Skilled Independent Visa Subclass 189 (Independent visa)
• Skilled Nominated Visa Subclass 190 (Need state nomination to apply)

Skilled Independent Visa Subclass 189 is a point-based visa system that does not require any sponsors. 

Which courses are eligible for PR in Australia?

The PR courses for Australia hugely depend on the skilled occupation list announced by the government. In Australia, certain courses such as trade qualifications, 

• Engineering, 
• Computer networking, 
• Midwifery, education, and 
• Medical studies 

can make you eligible for permanent residency. Additionally, there are other trade courses available like 

• Electrical engineering, 
• Automotive, 
• Painting, 
• Hospitality, 
• Building, and
• Construction, among others. 

Based on the occupation list set by the Australian immigration department, here are the fields that students might want to consider pursuing a course in, to get PR in Australia:  

PR Trade Courses in Australia:

Trade courses are comprehensive, short-term courses that can pave an easy pathway for PR in Australia. The trade industry is expected to grow at record-high levels, increasing employment opportunities for students pursuing PR trade courses in Australia.

Here is a list of PR courses in Australia:

• Carpentry
• Electrical Engineering
• Engineering Fabrication
• Boat Building
• Plastering
• Electronic Equipment Trade
• Automotive Mechanics
• Vehicle Body Repair
• Heavy Diesel and Commercial Mechanics
• Cabinet Making
• Wall and Floor Tiling.

Things to remember when applying for a PR in Australia:

There are 3 essential things you must remember when it comes to PR in Australia:

• Your list of occupations should be listed in ANZSCO job descriptions.
• The programme you choose must be approved by CRICOS.
• Adhere to the Australian Study Requirements. You should study for at least two years in higher education or vocational programs in Australia.
  

Eligibility Criteria for PR in Australia:

There are certain eligibility criteria that are mandatory to apply for PR in Australia. Achieving a minimum score of 65 points is a mandatory requirement for qualification, but meeting this criteria does not guarantee selection and invitation to apply. Have a look at these eligibility criteria for PR in Australia to check if you match the requirements: 

Age: Age is a considerable factor in the points table. Here is how:

• Applicants from non-native English-speaking countries must submit IELTS test results. This score will add points to your assessment table.

• Educational Qualification: Applicants' levels of education have different levels of points on the table.

• Work experience: the amount of work experience holds an important value on the points table. Here is how:

• Applicants with an Australian degree completed while residing in Australia get 5 points.

• Applicants with interpreter/translator level language skills in any one of Australia's community languages get 5 points.

• If your spouse or partner is included in the visa application, their qualification will add an extra 5 points to your point score.

• Candidates with professional experience gained within the last four years will receive an extra 5 points.

• Applicants with a sponsorship or nomination from an Australian Territory or state or government under the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) and Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Subclass 491 visa get an additional 5 and 10 points, respectively.

Also, as part of the new Australian immigration points system, there are a few additions to the list:

• 10 points for specialist educational qualifications in STEM.
• 10 points for applicants without a spouse or de facto partner, or a spouse or de facto partner who is a citizen or a permanent resident of Australia.

Australia is looking for skilled professionals to meet the workforce shortage, offering plenty of opportunities as a result. Therefore, it is critical for students to pick the right course as part of their study-in-Australia plan.