Key Takeaways:
- With a wide range of programs in IT, psychology, and medicine, Australia provides international students with numerous pathways to permanent residency.
- With average annual salaries of more than US$183,000, these courses stand as beacons for international students seeking both professional fulfillment and financial success.
- Australia’s transition from education to employment shows favorable trends, with a substantial percentage of individuals with non-school qualifications securing employment, emphasizing the nation’s commitment to fostering skilled professionals.
The promise of obtaining a Permanent Residency (PR) attracts international students to Australia, where they pursue higher education and career opportunities. In 2024, amidst this diverse landscape, esteemed programs in IT, Psychology, and Medicine are sure to entice aspiring professionals with the prospect of lucrative earnings surpassing US$183,000 upon completing their studies.
Renowned for its prestigious educational establishments and state-of-the-art facilities, Australia draws in international students seeking permanent residency upon graduation. One pathway to permanent residence is the Subclass 485 visa, intended for students who have completed a two-year study program in the nation. This visa offers two streams: the Graduate Work stream, tailored to certain occupations, and the Post-Study Work stream, available to holders of bachelor’s degrees or higher, enabling a stay of up to four years without having to work in a particular skilled occupation.
Courses That May Lead to PR in Australia and Their Corresponding Salaries
According to an UpGrad Abroad report, international students aiming for permanent residency (PR) in Australia can choose from various courses. Several engineering schools provide graduates with an average annual salary of roughly $43,000, meeting high demand in sectors like manufacturing, power, energy, and construction.
The computer and information technology field offers well-paying jobs in the business sector and numerous opportunities to study at prestigious global universities in Australia. With an average annual salary of almost $60,000, it remains a favored option for international students and is rapidly growing nationwide. Additionally, accounting offers significant opportunities for future advancement.
Meanwhile, education and teaching offer an excellent pathway for students aiming to apply for permanent residency (PR) in Australia. Addressing a huge demand for qualified teachers across the education sector, this field provides an average annual salary of roughly $53,100. With an average annual salary of $41,000, nursing and midwifery are highly sought-after professions worldwide, offering promising employment prospects for healthcare professionals in the country and potentially leading to permanent residence.
Medical courses, such as MD and MBBS programs, boasting an impressive average annual salary of more than $183,000, cater to the significant demand for medical practitioners. These programs can potentially streamline the path to obtaining permanent residency in Australia. Similarly, dentistry is one of the country’s most sought-after professional degrees, offering great PR potential demand for dental professionals has increased, reflecting an average annual salary of $133,000. Furthermore, psychology is another field on the PR list. In Australia, psychology degrees can be used as a route to PR, with graduates earning an average salary of more than $96,000 annually.
Transitioning from Study to Work and Employment Trends
Those aged 15 to 74 with non-school qualifications in 2022 demonstrated encouraging employment trends in 2023. According to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 85% of people were working, compared to 5% who were unemployed but actively looking for work. 76% of school dropouts between the ages of 15 and 20 who finished year 12 in 2022 had a job; 8% studied while working a full-time job, and 35% studied part-time.
A Positive Outlook
The recent findings from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show encouraging trends in the employment landscape for individuals with non-school qualifications aged 15 to 74 last year. The noteworthy 85% employment rate among this group, as earlier mentioned, underscores the practical value of pursuing non-school qualifications, translating into tangible work opportunities.
Specifically, for year 12 completers in 2022, the data reveals a positive correlation between completing high school and entering the workforce, with a substantial proportion finding employment.
Furthermore, the data illustrates the variety of strategies people are employing to manage the education-to-job transition, such as choosing part-time employment while continuing their studies or assiduously combining full-time work into their academic journey. These patterns show a flexible and adaptable labor force that can follow a variety of paths to fulfilling professional accomplishments.
Moving Forward
Australia’s wide selection of courses leading to permanent residency and favorable employment trends demonstrate the country’s commitment to offering a supportive environment for both academic and professional development. This dedication is particularly interesting to international students considering educational and career prospects in Australia. To make well-informed judgments regarding their educational path in Australia, prospective students should stay up-to-date on specific course requirements and evolving career trends as the landscape changes. (RAGHWA GOPAL)
RAGHWA GOPAL
MSM CEO
Raghwa Gopal is a serial entrepreneur, academic, and software engineer by profession. Drawing from extensive business experience, Raghwa joined MSM from British Columbia’s Innovate BC, serving as president and CEO and helping companies start and scale to fuel technology development, commercialization, and adoption. As Accelerate Okanagan’s (AO) former CEO, he was a driving force in development of the tech sector, with a CA$1.6-billion economic contribution.
Raghwa studied at New Zealand’s Central Institute of Technology, Australia’s Collier MacMillan School, and the University of the South Pacific. He has strong ties to higher education as a former lecturer of business at UBC Okanagan, computer science at the School of Arts and Sciences, and entrepreneur-in-residence at Okanagan College School of Business.
His board memberships span across multiple organizations, such as the University of British Columbia, the India Canada Innovation Council, the Women’s Enterprise Centre, and the Province of British Columbia’s Emerging Economy Task Force.
Sources:
- Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2023, May). Education and work, Australia. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved from https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/education/education-and-work-australia/latest-release#education-and-employment
- Pruthi, K. (2023, November 2). PR courses in Australia 2024: Top universities, eligibility & salaries. upGrad Abroad. Retrieved from https://www.upgradabroad.com/articles/pr-courses-in-australia/