01 SEPTEMBER 2007: -- Is the two year study requirement changing? YES, the two year study requirement was introduced in recognition of the value of Australian study in equipping visa holders to find skilled employment and settle easily in Australia. The value arises not only from having an Australian qualification but from having substantial exposure to Australian society and culture. The current two year study requirements have resulted in some confusion for applicants. From 1 September 2007, to meet the two year study requirement, applicants will have to complete one or more degrees, diplomas or trade qualifications for award by an Australian educational institute as a result of a course or courses: • registered on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) • completed as a result of at least two academic years’ study or completed in a total of no less than 16 calendar months • that the applicant studied in Australia, while holding a visa that allowed study and for which all instruction was conducted in English. These changes benefit students because they allow more flexibility. Students will not be penalised for changing education providers provided they obtain credit for their previous study and this study was in a CRICOS registered course undertaken in an Australian institute while physically present in Australia and in accordance with any visa conditions. They will also be able to count study undertaken online towards meeting the two year study requirement (up to 25%), if they were in Australia for the duration of that period of study. What is two academic years? To demonstrate that you have studied for at least two academic years, you must show that you have completed the equivalent of two years study at 100% of a full-time load. If you are given credit from prior learning it will reduce the amount of study you have completed. The department will use CRICOS to determine the standard duration of a course. A course that has a registered duration of 104 weeks is considered to be a two year course. Examples: • If a course is CRICOS registered for 156 weeks (3 years) and consists of 24 subjects, 100% of full-time enrolment would equate to 4 units per semester. In that course, a student will have completed two academic years when they have successfully completed 16 subjects. That means a student enrolled in that course can be given credit for prior learning for up to 8 subjects and still complete two academic years study. • If a course is CRICOS registered for 104 weeks (2 years) and consists of 12 subjects, 100% of full-time enrolment would equate to 3 units per semester. Students would be required to complete all 12 subjects to meet the two year study requirement. A student enrolled in this course who is given any credit for prior learning will not have completed two academic years study and may have to complete an additional degree, diploma or trade qualification to meet the two year study requirement.
All of the following is true until 01 September 2007 -- then all is changed to the new rules.
This visa is only for applications made while legally inside Australia for overseas students currently studying in Australia and would like to apply for an Australian Permanent residence and which allows them to remain in Australia and apply for Onshore Skilled Migration. To be eligible, the students must apply within six months of completion of their course of study. This category is for people who are under 45 years of age, have skills, qualifications, and a level of employability that will contribute to the Australian economy.
To apply for this category you must: meet the basic requirements; nominate a skilled occupation from the Skilled Occupations List; pass the points test; and hold a positive assessment in a 60 point skill level occupation, or if you have completed an Australian doctorate degree, a 50 point skill level occupation.
In April of 2004, this visa was altered slightly so that students may find meeting the requirements more difficult than in the past. DIMIA announced changes to the pass mark for the General Skilled Migration Program.
These changes apply to the following independent visa subclasses:
Skilled Independent (subclass 136)
Skilled Independent Overseas Student (subclass 880), and
Skilled Onshore Independent New Zealand Citizen (subclass 861).
Skilled Independent Overseas Student (Subclass 880) applicants whose visa applications are lodged on or after 1 April 2005 will have to meet a Pass Mark of 120 points.
Moreover, the points awarded for various qualifications have been changed.
- To receive 15 points for your qualification, you will have to have completed an Australian doctorate at an Australian educational institution after a period of at least two years full time (two academic years) while in Australia;
- To receive 10 points, you will have to have completed an Australian Masters or Honours degree (at least upper second class level) at an Australian educational institution while in Australia, and, prior to completing the Masters or Honours degree, you will have to have been awarded an Australian bachelors degree as a result of at least one year full time study while in Australia.
- If you have completed full time study in Australia for a total of at least two years (two academic years) towards the award of a degree, diploma or trade qualification, you will be awarded only 5 points.
- An additional 5 points is awarded to students who lived and studied for at least two years in one or more areas in regional Australia or low population growth metropolitan areas. These are defined by the new rules and subject to change.
For the Skilled Occupations List, check our updates.
ASSISTANCE WITH THIS VISA OR VISAS?
This is no longer an easy visa to apply for, and the help of a migration agent is advisable. Here is our general link to the Migration Agents Registration Authority so that you can better understand what migration agents do with regard to visas, their responsibilities and your rights as a member of the public in regard to Australian Visas and Citizenship.
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