From 1 July 2023, international higher education graduates with eligible qualifications in industries with skill shortages will be granted an extra 2 years of post-study work rights. Depending on their studies, those who are bachelor’s degree graduates will be able to stay in Australia for four years, a master’s degree for five years, and those with a PhD degree will be able to stay for six years.
This is a positive step in encouraging more international students to move into permanent migration pathways but is limited to those who graduated from an area of skill shortages such as nursing, teaching, IT, and engineering. The Government has now confirmed the list of eligible occupations and qualifications for the extended post-study work rights.
International graduates who hold a valid Temporary Graduate Visa on 1 July 2023 or who apply for a Temporary Graduate Visa after 1 July 2023 will be considered for the two year extension if they graduated from an eligible course from an Australian higher education provider.
It has also been confirmed that work hours for international students will be increased from 40 hours per fortnight to 48 hours per fortnight to balance work and study, which comes into effect from 1 July 2023.
Currently, only 16% of international students stay in Australia after their studies end. The extended work rights will provide more opportunities for international students to remain in the country after graduating in order to find a job in their field.
Furthermore, the premier of Victoria, Daniel Andrews, confirmed that thousands of students in Victoria would be able to study for free to become a nurse or a midwife in the state.
As part of its efforts to address the skills shortage and help more students from international backgrounds study in Australian universities, the Australian government is planning to allocate 20,000 university places between 2023 and 2024.
Talk to our experienced student advisors to discover how to enrol in one of the high-demand courses. We will guide you through all the necessary steps to permanent migration pathways.
