Goal-Focused Course Selection

Australia’s Permanent Residency system is points-based. To receive a PR invitation through SkillSelect, you need your occupation to appear on one of Australia’s skilled occupation lists — the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL) or the Regional Occupation List (ROL). Your course must lead to a qualification that is recognised by a relevant skills assessment body for your target occupation.

Matching Your Course to an In-Demand Occupation

Not all occupations on the skilled list are equal. Some occupations receive PR invitations regularly at relatively low points scores; others are highly competitive. Before selecting a course, we recommend checking the current SkillSelect invitation rounds to understand points cutoffs for your target occupation — this affects whether a Diploma, Bachelor or Masters degree is the right level to study at.

• Diploma (AQF Level 5–6): May qualify for some occupations but often earns fewer qualification points
• Bachelor Degree (AQF Level 7): Standard pathway for most skilled occupations
• Masters Degree (AQF Level 9): Earns additional points and may open additional PR streams

CRICOS-Registered Providers — Why It Matters

Your course must be delivered by a CRICOS-registered provider in a CRICOS-registered course. This is not optional — it is a legal requirement for your Student Visa 500. Studying at a non-CRICOS provider or in a non-CRICOS course can jeopardise your visa. We always verify CRICOS registration as part of our course recommendation process.

Skills Assessment Body Alignment

Each occupation on the skilled list has a nominated skills assessment authority. For IT, it’s the Australian Computer Society (ACS). For Engineering, it’s Engineers Australia (EA). For most other professional occupations, it’s Vetassess. Your course must produce a qualification recognised by the relevant body — the course title alone does not guarantee assessment success.

Regional vs Metro Study Advantages

Studying in a designated regional area of Australia earns you 5 additional PR points — but only if you study and live in the regional area for at least two years after 1 November 2019. Not all courses are available in regional areas, and not all regional areas are equally well-served by quality CRICOS providers. We help identify the right regional course and location for your occupation and lifestyle needs.