From 10 September 2016, Australia updated its skilled migration points test to hand out an extra 5 points to applicants holding a specialist research qualification, such as a research masters or doctorate involving at least two years of study in designated fields. The change targets STEM and ICT graduates and applies to the 189, 190, and 489 skilled visas, potentially giving qualified candidates an edge in the selection process.
Changes to the Points System
We’ve got news! The points test is undergoing some changes. Effective 10 September 2016, an additional 5 points will be awarded to those with ‘specialist educational qualifications’.
The amendment is as follows:
(5A) For Schedule 6D, a person meets the requirements for the award of a specialist educational qualification if the person satisfies the Minister that:
(a) The person has met the requirements for the award, by an Australian educational institution, of:
(i) a Masters degree by research; or
(ii) a Doctoral degree; and
(b) the degree included study for at least 2 academic years at the instituion in a field of education specified in an instrument under subregulation (5B)
(5B) The Minister may, by legislative instrument, specify a field or fields of education for the purposes of paragraph (5A)(b)
The instrument, and therefore exact fields of study have not yet been released, but it is “intended that initially the specified fields will be science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or information and communication technology”.
This will affect General Skilled Migration (GSM) visas:
Currently, the points test looks like this:
Qualifications Doctorate from an Australian education institution (20 points) or other doctorate of a recognised standard At least a Bachelor degree from an Australian institute (15 points) or other degree of a recognised standard Australian Study Requirement One or more degrees, diplomas or trade qualifications (5 points) awarded by an Australian educational institution and meet the Australian Study Requirement |
To be eligible for the 5 points for specialist educational qualifications, you will need to:
This means that if you have a Doctorate in one of the specified fields and satisfy all other requirements, you would receive a total of 30 points! Those with Masters by research in one of the specified fields, fulfilling all other requirements, would be awarded a total of 25 points.
For example, if you have a PhD in Science, and completed this qualification over at least 2 years in the University of New South Wales (UNSW), you would have a total of 30 points – 20 from your PhD, 5 for satisfying the Australian study requirement (ASR) and another 5 for have done so in an Australian educational institution