Back in September 2022, the Australian Government’s Jobs and Skills Summit’s key outcome aimed at increasing the work permit extension for Immigrant students who have graduated from Australian Universities. These extensions, as you guessed it, are for selected degrees only and are strictly placed to counter the major skill shortage Australia is facing.
According to the Australian Government’s Department of Education, the below-mentioned extensions will be added to eligible graduates’ Temporary Graduate Visas (subclass 485). This will also be applicable to eligible graduates who are looking to extend their Subclass 485 for an additional 2 years.
Post-study work rights for employees in the country will now be increased from
- 2 to 4 years for selected bachelor’s graduates.
- 3 to 5 years for selected master’s graduates
- 4 to 6 years for all doctorate/ph.d. degrees
*It should be noted that graduate certificates and graduate diplomas have been excluded from any kind of extension.
**Another thing to be noted is that all doctoral degree holders will be eligible for an extension no matter what their skill set is. The Australian Government considers Ph.D. holders as people will significant potential.
This measure will be applicable from July 1, 2023. So stay tuned for further information. The list of eligible master’s and bachelor’s degrees can be found on the Australian government’s official website.
Our review of the lists suggests that all the degrees that are eligible are already very famous domains for immigration, It should be kept in mind that preference has been given to science, mathematics, engineering, and technological fields as there is a major skill shortage in these sectors.
Another thing to be noted is that the list will keep on changing every year depending on the shortage. So there is a chance that the degree you start pursuing now will be removed (based on the skill requirements of the year) from the Eligibility lists by the time you graduate. But worry not as you will be given an extension if you graduate with a degree that was listed in the Eligibility Lists when your program started.
Change in working hours cap for international students
If you think the other news was a positive one, just wait because we have another. The Australian Government has also increased the working hours for international students from 40 hours a week to 48 hours a week for all occupations. This will also be applicable from July 1, 2023.
The Australian government has given a major green light to immigrant workers and students who wish to contribute to the Australian Economy. These extensions will result in so many immigrants applying to various incredibly world-renowned Australian Universities.
All these measures will make sure that the immigrants stay and contribute to the Australian Labour force even more than they used to. There is a large possibility that Australia will become an Immigration favorite just like Canada and the USA.
If you wish to get your Australian Immigration dream sorted, just contact Beyond Immigration. Our expert team of professionals will help you with all the necessary guidance and university consultation along with professional SOP writing and GTE assessment. Feel free to contact us at B-imm.com.