Study. Work. Migrate.

Education

A Doctorate from an Australian educational institution or a Doctorate from another educational institution, that is of a recognised standard.	20 points
At least a Bachelor degree from an Australian educational institution or at least a Bachelor qualification, from another educational institution, that is of a recognised standard.	15 points
A diploma or trade qualification from an Australian educational institution.	10 points
Attained a qualification or award recognised by the relevant assessing authority for your nominated skilled occupation as being suitable for that occupation	10 points

For points based migration you will receive points for your highest qualification only.

Recognition of your qualifications

The authority undertaking your skills assessment may determine if your qualifications are comparable to the relevant Australian qualification. Assessing authorities are listed against your occupation in the relevant list of eligible skilled occupations. You must have obtained this recognition at the time you are invited to apply for a visa.

If you hold an overseas qualification at bachelor level or above and your skills assessing authority did not offer an opinion on that qualification then it is open to you to contact Vocational Education Training and Assessment Services (VETASSESS) for advice.

VETASSESS can provide an assessment of the comparative educational level of these qualifications against the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). Advice from VETASSESS should be provided with your application to support your claim for these points.

To obtain an assessment contact Vocational Education Training and Assessment Services.

Doctoral requirements (PhD)

You can only be awarded points for a doctoral degree if you have completed a qualification at the relevant level, that is, a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). You cannot claim these points for the award of other qualifications that give you the right to use to the title of Doctor (that is, general practitioner, dentist, vet).

Specialist education qualification

Requirement	Points
A Masters degree by research or a Doctorate degree from an Australian educational institution that included at least academic years study in a relevant field.	10 Points

The postgraduate degree by research (doctorate or masters) must be awarded from an Australian education institution after at least 2 academic years of study in the following science, technology, engineering, mathematics or specified information and communication technology (ICT) fields:

Natural and physical sciences

• biological sciences
• chemical sciences
• earth sciences
• mathematical sciences
• natural and physical sciences
• other natural and physical sciences
• physics and astronomy

Information technology

• computer science
• information systems
• information technology
• other information technology

Engineering and related technologies

• aerospace engineering and technology
• civil engineering
• electrical and electronic engineering and technology
• engineering and related technologies
• geomatics engineering
• manufacturing engineering and technology
• maritime engineering and technology
• mechanical and industrial engineering and technology
• other engineering and related technologies
• process and resources engineering.

To determine whether your qualification is eligible, see the CRICOS website.

Australian study requirement

Requirement	Points
Meet the Australian study requirement	5 Points

You must have at least 1 degree, diploma or trade qualification from an Australian educational institution that meets the Australian study requirement.

Professional Year in Australia

Requirement	Points
Completion of a Professional Year in Australia	5 Points

At the time of invitation to apply, you had completed a Professional Year. To be eligible for the award of these points your Professional Year must have been in Accounting, ICT/Computing or Engineering, and:

• in your nominated occupation or a closely related occupation
• completed over a period of at least 12 months
• completed in Australia in the four years before you are invited to apply for a visa
• provided by one of these organisations:
  • the Australian Computer Society
  • CPA Australia
  • Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand
  • the Institute of Public Accountants (formerly the National Institute of Accountants)
  • Engineers Australia.

Credentialled community language

Requirement	Points
Hold a recognised qualification in a credentialled community language	5 Points

To be credentialled in a community language and eligible for the award of points you must have been accredited at the paraprofessional level or above, certified at the certified provisional level or above, or have a community language credential for interpreting or translating by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters.

Study in regional Australia

Requirement	Points
You must have at least 1 degree, diploma or trade qualification from an Australian educational institution that satisfies the Australian study requirement obtained while living and studying in an eligible area of regional Australia	5 Points

To be eligible for the award of points your educational qualification:

• must meet the Australian study requirement
• have been obtained while you lived in, and studied at a campus in, a designated regional area
• not include study undertaken by distance education

Partner skills

Requirement	Points
Your spouse or de facto partner must also be an applicant for this visa and meet age, English and skill criteria For you to be eligible for the award of these points your partner must be an applicant for the same visa subclass and must not be an Australian permanent resident or an Australian citizen. Additionally, you will need to provide evidence that when you were invited to apply for this visa that they: were under 45 years old had competent English had nominated a skilled occupation that is on the same skilled occupation list as your nominated skilled occupation had a suitable skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for their nominated skilled occupation, and the assessment wasn’t for a Subclass 485 visa.	10 Points
Your spouse or de facto partner must also be an applicant for this visa and has competent English For you to be eligible for the award of these points your partner must be an applicant for the same visa subclass and must not be an Australian permanent resident or an Australian citizen.	5 Points
You are single or your partner is an Australian citizen or permanent resident	10 Points

Sponsorships and Nominations

State or territory government (only visa subclass 190)	5 points
Nomination by a state or Territory government or sponsorship by an eligible family member (only visa subclass 491)	10 points

Other Essential Information

• The following are the visa sub classes and the required points to be scored under each category
  • Skilled – Independent (subclass 189) – 65 points
  • Skilled – Sponsored (subclass 190) – 65 points
  • Skilled – Regional Sponsored (subclass 489) – 65 points
  • Skilled – Skilled Work Regional Sponsored (subclass 491) – 65 points
• Note that the maximum points an Australian skilled immigrant can score in the Australia PR Point Calculator System for any combination of overseas and Australian skilled employment is 20 points.