Originally published July 2026. Last reviewed 3 July 2026.
Choosing the right course is the single most important decision for your Australian PR pathway. Your course must lead to an occupation listed on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) to be eligible for the Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent) visa — the most direct route to permanent residency. Occupations on the STSOL or ROL open pathways through the 190 (State Nominated) and 491 (Regional) visas respectively. (Source: Department of Home Affairs — immi.homeaffairs.gov.au)
No course guarantees PR. What the right course does is ensure your occupation qualifies for a skilled visa, that a skills assessment pathway exists, and that labour market demand works in your favour when invitation rounds are run. The fields below consistently appear on the MLTSSL and have strong employment outcomes for graduates.
Nursing is widely considered the strongest PR pathway in Australia. Registered Nurses (ANZSCO 254499) appear on the MLTSSL with consistently high invitation rates and lower points cutoffs compared to IT or accounting. Australia faces a significant nursing shortage, particularly in aged care, mental health, and regional hospitals.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Key ANZSCO codes | 254499 (Registered Nurse nec), 254415 (Mental Health Nurse), 254418 (Surgical Nurse) |
| Occupation list | MLTSSL — eligible for 189, 190, 491 |
| Typical course | Bachelor of Nursing (3 years) or Master of Nursing (2 years for non-nursing graduates) |
| Tuition fees | AUD 24,000–52,000 per year |
| Skills assessment body | ANMAC (Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council) |
| Additional requirement | AHPRA registration as a Registered Nurse, IELTS 7.0 each band (or equivalent) |
| Average salary | AUD 75,000–95,000 per year |
| PR competitiveness | High demand, lower points cutoffs than many other fields |
Source: Department of Home Affairs (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au — Skilled occupation list); ANMAC (anmac.org.au).
Why nursing is strong for PR: Healthcare occupations rarely reach their invitation ceiling, meaning more applicants get invited at lower points. The English requirement (IELTS 7.0 each) is higher than other fields, but this also reduces competition. Nursing graduates typically find employment quickly, which helps accumulate Australian work experience points.
Engineering occupations feature prominently on the MLTSSL across multiple specialisations. Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, and Mining Engineers all have PR pathways, with Mining Engineers commanding some of the highest salaries in Australia.
| Specialisation | ANZSCO Code | Average Salary (AUD) |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | 233211 | 85,000–110,000 |
| Mechanical Engineer | 233512 | 80,000–105,000 |
| Electrical Engineer | 233311 | 85,000–115,000 |
| Mining Engineer | 233611 | 100,000–150,000+ |
| Electronics Engineer | 233411 | 80,000–110,000 |
Source: Department of Home Affairs (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au — Skilled occupation list).
Course details: Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) takes 4 years. Master of Professional Engineering takes 2 years (for those with a related bachelor’s degree). Tuition: AUD 30,000–45,000 per year. Skills assessment is through Engineers Australia (EA). A Washington Accord-accredited degree qualifies for a faster assessment pathway. The Professional Year in Engineering adds 5 points and costs AUD 10,000–15,000.
IT remains one of the most popular fields for international students seeking PR, though it is also one of the most competitive. Software Engineers (261313), ICT Business Analysts (261111), and Cyber Security Specialists are in high demand, but invitation cutoff scores tend to be higher than nursing or engineering.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Key ANZSCO codes | 261313 (Software Engineer), 261111 (ICT Business Analyst), 263111 (Network Engineer), 262112 (ICT Security Specialist) |
| Occupation list | MLTSSL — eligible for 189, 190, 491 |
| Typical course | Bachelor of IT / Computer Science (3 years) or Master of IT (2 years) |
| Tuition fees | AUD 30,000–42,000 per year |
| Skills assessment body | ACS (Australian Computer Society) — AUD 530–630 |
| Average salary | AUD 80,000–120,000 per year |
| PR competitiveness | High demand but very competitive — points cutoffs often 90–100+ |
Source: Department of Home Affairs (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au); ACS (acs.org.au).
Important note for IT graduates: ACS deducts work experience from your total when assessing skills — typically 2 years for ICT major holders and 4 years for ICT minor holders. This means a fresh graduate with a 2-year Master of IT may have zero “skilled” work experience counted by ACS. The Professional Year in IT (AUD 10,000–15,000) adds 5 points and is highly recommended. Cyber Security is an emerging specialisation with growing demand and potentially less competition than general software engineering.
Accounting has been a traditional PR pathway for decades, though competition has intensified significantly. Accountants (ANZSCO 221111) remain on the MLTSSL, but invitation cutoff scores are among the highest of any occupation.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Key ANZSCO codes | 221111 (Accountant General), 221112 (Management Accountant), 221113 (Taxation Accountant) |
| Typical course | Bachelor of Accounting (3 years) or Master of Professional Accounting (1.5–2 years) |
| Tuition fees | AUD 28,000–42,000 per year |
| Skills assessment body | CPA Australia, CA ANZ, or IPA — AUD 500–600, ~15 business days |
| Average salary | AUD 65,000–90,000 per year |
| PR competitiveness | Very competitive — cutoffs often 95–100+ points |
Source: Department of Home Affairs (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au); CPA Australia (cpaaustralia.com.au).
Strategy for accounting graduates: Given the high competition, accounting students should maximise every available point: Superior English (20 points), Professional Year (5 points), NAATI CCL (5 points), Australian work experience, and consider state nomination (190 for +5 points) or regional pathways (491 for +15 points).
Teaching is an emerging high-demand pathway, particularly for secondary education in STEM subjects and early childhood education. Australia has a significant teacher shortage, especially in regional areas.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Key ANZSCO codes | 241411 (Secondary School Teacher), 241111 (Early Childhood Teacher) |
| Typical course | Master of Teaching (2 years, requires relevant bachelor’s degree) |
| Tuition fees | AUD 25,000–38,000 per year |
| Skills assessment body | AITSL — AUD 500–700 |
| English requirement | IELTS 7.5 overall (R+W 7.0, L+S 8.0) |
| Average salary | AUD 75,000–100,000+ per year |
Source: Department of Home Affairs (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au); AITSL (aitsl.edu.au).
Why teaching is rising: Teaching has lower competition for PR invitations compared to IT and accounting. The high English requirement (IELTS 7.5/8.0 in speaking and listening) acts as a natural filter. Secondary teachers in STEM subjects and early childhood teachers are particularly in demand.
Trade courses offer an often-overlooked but highly effective PR pathway, especially through regional migration. Many trade occupations appear on the MLTSSL, and Australia has a critical shortage of skilled tradespeople.
| Trade | ANZSCO | Duration | Tuition/yr (AUD) | Salary (AUD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrician | 341111 | 2–4 yrs | 8,000–15,000 | 70,000–95,000 |
| Plumber | 334111 | 2–4 yrs | 8,000–15,000 | 65,000–90,000 |
| Carpenter | 331212 | 2–3 yrs | 8,000–15,000 | 60,000–85,000 |
| Chef | 351311 | 1.5–2 yrs | 10,000–18,000 | 55,000–75,000 |
| Motor Mechanic | 321211 | 2–3 yrs | 8,000–15,000 | 60,000–85,000 |
| Bricklayer | 331111 | 2 yrs | 8,000–12,000 | 60,000–90,000 |
Source: Department of Home Affairs (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au); TRA (tradesrecognitionaustralia.gov.au).
Important — Job Ready Program (JRP): Most trade occupations require completion of the Job Ready Program through TRA. The JRP is a four-step employment-based assessment that requires 12 months of full-time paid work in your trade after graduation. The advantage of trades is significantly lower tuition costs and strong employment demand, particularly in regional Australia where the 491 visa (+15 points) is available.
Social Work (ANZSCO 272511) appears on the MLTSSL and has relatively lower competition compared to IT and accounting. Allied health professions including Occupational Therapy (252411) and Speech Pathology (252712) also offer viable PR pathways with growing demand.
Course details: Bachelor of Social Work (4 years) or Master of Social Work (Qualifying) (2 years). Tuition: AUD 25,000–38,000 per year. Skills assessment through AASW (Australian Association of Social Workers). Social workers are in particular demand in regional areas, child protection, and aged care sectors.
| Field | Tuition/yr (AUD) | Duration | Assessment Body | PR Competition | Salary (AUD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nursing | 24,000–52,000 | 2–3 yrs | ANMAC | Low–Medium | 75,000–95,000 |
| Engineering | 30,000–45,000 | 2–4 yrs | Engineers Australia | Medium | 85,000–150,000 |
| IT | 30,000–42,000 | 2–3 yrs | ACS | Very High | 80,000–120,000 |
| Accounting | 28,000–42,000 | 1.5–3 yrs | CPA / CA ANZ / IPA | Very High | 65,000–90,000 |
| Teaching | 25,000–38,000 | 2–4 yrs | AITSL | Low–Medium | 75,000–100,000 |
| Trades | 8,000–18,000 | 1.5–4 yrs | TRA | Low (regional) | 55,000–95,000 |
| Social Work | 25,000–38,000 | 2–4 yrs | AASW | Low–Medium | 70,000–90,000 |
Source: Department of Home Affairs (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au — Skilled occupation list). Tuition and salary figures are indicative ranges.
Check the occupation list first: Before enrolling, verify that your target occupation appears on the MLTSSL (for 189) or at minimum the STSOL (for 190/491). Use the official occupation list search at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au.
Consider the full cost, not just tuition: Trade courses cost AUD 8,000–18,000/year versus university degrees at AUD 25,000–50,000/year. Over a 2-year course, the difference can be AUD 40,000–60,000.
Look at points competitiveness: If your realistic points total is 70–85, choose a field with lower cutoffs (nursing, teaching, trades via regional) rather than highly competitive fields (IT, accounting) where you may need 95+ points.
Think about the 485 period: Choose a field where you can realistically find skilled employment during your post-study work visa period. Australian work experience is worth 5–20 points.
Regional advantages: Studying in regional Australia adds 5 points, and the 491 visa adds 15 nomination points. Courses at universities in Adelaide, Hobart, Canberra, Gold Coast, Perth, and other regional centres significantly boost your total score.
Most popular pathways: Nepali students in Australia most commonly pursue accounting, IT, nursing, cooking/hospitality, and engineering. Among these, nursing and trades offer the strongest PR outcomes due to lower competition.
Cooking/Chef pathway: Chef (351311) on the MLTSSL is popular with Nepali students. Commercial Cookery courses (Certificate III + IV + Diploma) cost AUD 10,000–18,000/year and take about 2 years. The TRA Job Ready Program requires 12 months of post-graduation paid work.
NAATI CCL advantage: Nepali speakers can earn 5 bonus points through the NAATI CCL test in Nepali (~AUD 800). Combined with a regional pathway, this can significantly boost competitiveness.
Avoid choosing solely based on PR: Choose a course you can genuinely succeed in and enjoy. The Genuine Student (GS) requirement evaluates whether your course choice aligns with your background and career goals. A mismatched course choice can lead to visa refusal at the student visa stage itself.
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Nursing consistently offers the strongest PR outcomes due to high labour demand and lower points cutoffs. Teaching (especially secondary STEM and early childhood) and trades (electrician, plumber, chef) are also strong pathways with lower competition than IT and accounting. (Source: Department of Home Affairs — immi.homeaffairs.gov.au)
Yes. Chef (ANZSCO 351311) is on the MLTSSL and eligible for 189, 190, and 491 visas. You typically need a Certificate III + Certificate IV in Commercial Cookery (about 2 years), followed by the TRA Job Ready Program (12 months of paid work).
IT occupations remain on the MLTSSL, so the pathway exists. However, IT is extremely competitive — invitation cutoffs often reach 90–100+ points. Cyber Security is slightly less competitive than general software engineering.
Trade courses (electrician, plumber, carpenter, chef) are the most affordable at AUD 8,000–18,000 per year, compared to AUD 25,000–50,000 for university degrees. Trades also have strong PR pathways, especially through regional migration (491 visa).
No. PR eligibility depends on your occupation being on the skilled occupation list and passing a skills assessment — not on which university you attended. However, studying at a regional campus adds 5 bonus points.
Typically 4–7 years: 2–4 years of study + 1–4 years on a Graduate Visa (485) building experience and points + 6–15 months visa processing. Trade pathways may be shorter for study but require the 12-month Job Ready Program.
Official Sources Referenced:
Department of Home Affairs — Skilled Occupation List: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au
Department of Home Affairs — Skills Assessment: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au
Department of Home Affairs — Subclass 189: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au
Australian Computer Society: acs.org.au
ANMAC: anmac.org.au
Engineers Australia: engineersaustralia.org.au
