Best PR Courses in Australia for International Students 2026

Australia is one of the top three study-abroad destinations for Indians and international students and this is the reason why more and more international students take up PR (permanent residency) courses in Australia. These courses are specialised and open good employability options with PR in Australia.

Many students prefer studying in Australia because of its PR courses. To get PR, applicants can first take up part-time work options and post-study work permits and other benefits offered by the Government of Australia, making studying in Australia a preferred study-abroad destination among international students. Getting a degree in a PR related course in Australia can help applicants gain PR easily after graduation.

Most applicants going to study abroad opt for courses that have a bright future in the country of study and allow them to apply for a position eventually and for permanent residency. Australia’s strong and constantly improving economy has given rise to a thriving job market in the country. Students looking to settle in Australia are required to select the right course which has the highest 'Australia PR' prospects and continues to be in demand in the near future. If you also want to get more details about what are PR courses in Australia and how is PR granted further, then you can check this article. 

Why Study PR Courses in Australia?

There are various reasons why students should consider pursuing PR courses in Australia. These courses are usually specialised and can get applicants jobs across industries in Australia. Some reasons to study PR courses in Australia are:

• If applicants graduate with a CRICOS registered course from any Australian university, they can apply for a PR later on.
• PR courses in Australia can get students a skilled migration pathway for getting citizenship and working in Australia.
• Since these courses in Australia are specialised, there are high chances of getting highest paying jobs in Australia.
• Degrees are recognised globally, so employers outside Australia but having headquarters in Australia can still accept students for jobs.
• Points are awarded for factors like your occupation, age, and English score. Picking a course tied to an in-demand occupation simply makes it easier to clear the point bar.

PR Courses in Australia

Students who aim to pursue studies in Australia and settle there have to apply for an Australia PR. There is no hard and fast rule that applicants with a certain knowledge of a particular subject are only eligible for permanent residency in Australia. However, after the lockdown and pandemic, a lot of labour force vacancies have opened up in Australia. These are also those occupations which require skilled people in their skill-shortage areas. The following are the Australia PR courses in the country which can prove beneficial for obtaining permanent residency:

• Engineering courses
• Trade-related courses
• Medical courses
• Accountancy courses
• Courses in Education and/or Teaching
• Nursing courses

This is an ideal list of PR courses in Australia, there can be other PR courses in Australia too which can be considered by keen applicants. 

Permanent Residency Course List in Australia

The PR courses in Australia that are popular include Engineering, IT, Nursing and Accounting. The following is the list of the top PR courses in Australia along with average cost of studying and prospective job opportunities available after graduating:

These courses are eligible for getting a PR in Australia. Each job has a unique code. These courses are in demand for those where skilled labour is in demand in Australia. Applicants planning to apply for a PR in Australia after studying at Australian universities can choose from the above given options.

Eligibility for PR Courses in Australia

International students thinking of staying back in Australia after they complete their higher education must be able to fulfil the following criteria:

• Applicants studying under the Subclass 500 Visa are eligible to apply after they complete their course.
• The minimum duration of a course must not be less than two years in Australia, and the course must be registered under CRICOS.
• The IELTS score for Australian PR is a minimum of 8.0
• The occupations that the applicant would choose after completing their graduation must be listed in the ANZSCO job list.
• Also the minimum duration of a course under CRICOS should not be less than two years. 

IELTS Band Score for Australia PR

The IELTS overall band score of 8.0 is important so that Australian officials can assess that the applicants have a good command of the language and that they wouldn't face any issues pertaining to the English language during their stay in Australia. The following table shows how the IELTS band score for Australian PR is assessed:

Skilled Migration, State Nomination or Employer Nomination Scheme are the various pathways leading to permanent residency status in Australia. In order to live and work in Australia as a permanent resident (PR), aspirants must be able to complete these proposed courses, which come with PR prospects in Australia and fulfilment of the above-given eligibility criteria as well. Plus also remember to apply six months before course completion.

The Points Test in 2026: What's Actually Changed

Australia's skilled visas - Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent), Subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated), and Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional) run through the same points-tested system via SkillSelect. The number most people quote is 65 points, and that's still technically accurate: 65 - minimum score needed to even lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI).

Where things get more nuanced in 2026 is what happens after that. 65 points gets you into the pool. It doesn't get you an invitation. In practice, invitation rounds for competitive occupations under the 189 have been clearing well above that, with many applicants needing scores in the 85–95+ range depending on their occupation and how oversubscribed it is. Subclass 190 and 491 scores vary more by state, since they depend on individual state nomination criteria as well.

There's also a broader reform underway: the 2026 Federal Budget flagged the first ground-up rewrite of the points test since 2012, with consultation opening through the year and changes expected to touch age scoring, English proficiency weighting, education points, partner skills, and possibly the 65-point floor itself. None of this is finalised as we publish this, so if you're timing an EOI.

Under current settings, applicants can also apply through skilled migration pathways beyond the pure points test:

• Family stream,
• Work stream (including employer-sponsored routes), or
• Business investment stream visas.

If you're on a Temporary Graduate visa (Subclass 485), you typically get 18 months to four years of work rights in Australia depending on your qualification, which is often when students start building the work experience that counts toward a points-tested PR application.

How to get PR in Australia on a Student Visa?

Students holding a student visa can apply for PR in Australia. In order to get PR in Australia, it's not mandatory to have employer sponsorship, and a minimum of 65 points is mandatory for approval. Applicants can apply online for PR in Australia through three options - family stream permanent residence visas, work stream permanent residence visas or business investment permanent residence visas. Since international students studying in Australia have to have a Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485), they are allowed to live and work in Australia for 18 months to four years.

However, in order to apply for a PR in Australia, international students must apply for a Skilled Independent Visa while studying and obtain PR before their studies are complete. Students' PR applications will be assessed based on the points system followed for granting an Australian PR. The minimum score to obtain permanent residency in Australia for international students is also 65 points. Applications are accepted online through the Home Affairs website of Australia. 

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