Australia released big news this week that has the potential to dramatically boost the country’s competitiveness as a study abroad destination. The government has announced that post-study work rights for international students have been extended for holders of certain degrees connected to skills shortages in the Australian economy.

Two extra years

• Select bachelor’s degrees will offer international students four-year post-study work permission – up from the present limit of two years.


• Select master’s degrees will now afford students up to five years of work experience after graduation – up from the present limit of three years.


• And graduates of select Ph.D. degrees can work for up to six years – up from the present limit of four years.


• The extensions should help Australia to expand the stay rate of the international students the country’s economy requires the most. Jason Clare, Minister for Education, stated that only 16% of international students stay on after their studies end. He says the longer work permits will mean they can stay on longer and use the talents they’ve gained in Australia to help fill some of the chronic skills lacks we have right now.

They also formed a working group to advise the Department of Home Affairs on which degrees will lead to extended work permits. The group will also involve representatives from the Council of International Education, National Tertiary Education Union, Universities Australia, and the Departments of Home Affairs and Education- their input is due by 28 October 2022.

Universities sector welcomes the news

Catriona Jackson, Universities Australia CEO, welcomed the government's news and commented that extending post-study work rights sends a valid signal to international students who want to use their Australian education in regions and cities of Australia, when and where there is a need for their skills.

Miss Jackson pointed out the potential influence that the forthcoming policy will have. She said that allowing more international students to stay in Australia could see thousands more nurses and doctors functioning in hospitals from Geelong to Geraldton and Cooma to Cairns. That is not to mention the skills gaps international students will plug across our information technology, engineering, and teaching sectors.

Importance of Career Services

The government’s direct linking of study programmes to skills shortages suggests that career services and educator-employer collaboration will be essential to assure that students graduate with job-ready skills. Skills shortages are especially acute in Australia’s healthcare system, for example. International graduates who can hit the ground running will be essential to the recovery of this public service sector. The haste of the pressures facing the healthcare system was made crystal clear in an announcement this month by Premier of Victoria Daniel Andrews, who said that thousands of students in Victoria would be able to study free of cost to become a nurse or a midwife in the state.

The government also announced that it would channel AUS$36.1 million into visa processing in order to support 500 surge staff over the next nine months. The idea is to decline the time students must wait for visa processing and decisions. Delays in this area have bothered many international students over the past few months, and some students have switched their study destinations.

Visa processing delays are not unique to Australia: the issue has also been problematic in the UK, Canada, and the US. Anecdotal reports reveal that some students research visa processing times when deciding where they will choose to study, and agents have reported that visa processing has been a significant challenge for students throughout the pandemic.

Earlier this year, the government terminated caps on the number of hours international students could work in any sector of the Australian economy while studying. This policy has been under review – amid some consideration about whether students could maintain a healthy balance between studying and working. Clare O’Neil, Home Affairs Minister, announced in June 2023 that the limits will be reintroduced on the number of hours that international students can work while studying. Work hours for international students will be limited again in June next year following feedback from stakeholders.