Australia makes it easier for foreign students of STEM, ICT to get skilled worker visas

Foreign students at doctorate and masters levels studying in the STEM (science, technology, engineering or mathematics) or specified ICT (information and communication technology) at educational institutions in Australia and wanting to stay and work there would be granted extra points, paving a way for them to obtain a skilled worker visa.

This is said to be a part of the government’s policy to encourage more top level immigrants as it was announced that changes to the points test have been carried out.

Henceforth, five more points would be granted to graduates from institutions in Australia with masters or doctorate level by research qualifications in the STEM and ICT spheres.

Australiaforum.com quotes said a DIBP (Department if Immigration and Border Protection)  spokesman as saying that the changes to the points test would improve the route to a permanent residence in Australia for students passing out of doctoral or masters programmes in the STEM or ICT related fields.

Under this new plan, extensive fields of education qualifications are considered to be accepted. They would be determined by the CRICOS (Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students).

Included among them would be biological sciences, computer science, chemical sciences, earth sciences, mathematics, physics and astronomy, information technology, aerospace engineering and technology, among others.

Graduates wanting to check if their qualification is eligible can search the CRICOS website. If they have graduated at the doctoral level or masters by research level and their education field is listed, then they will be entitled to five more points for their points test.

The government is said to be plugging the skills’ shortages identified by the StartupAUS Crossroads report. The report is said to have revealed that though the demand for ICT workers doubled during 1999-2012, there was a substantial fall in the number of students choosing ancillary ICT programmes.

This measure is a component of broader changes being carried out within the National Innovation and Science Agenda in a bid to lure the crème-de-la-crème to Australia. Included the changes also is a new entrepreneur visa’s introduction.

If you are looking to migrate to Australia, approach Y-Axis to avail help and assistance to file for a visa at one of our 19 offices located in eight major cities of India.