PR Courses in Australia

PR courses in Australia are academic or vocational programs linked to occupations used in the country’s skilled migration system. Popular fields include Nursing, IT, Engineering, Early Childhood Teaching, Social Work, and skilled trades. Choosing an eligible 2-year CRICOS-registered course can help students meet the Australian study requirement, while studying in an eligible regional area may also add migration points. 

In Australia’s 2025 Occupation Shortage List, nearly half of trade occupations and around 2 in 5 professional occupations were still in shortage, with demand seen across health, education, construction, and other fields. Tuition for university-level PR-related courses can be around AUD 30,000–50,000 (INR 20.3–33.8 lakh) per year, while some vocational courses can cost less. 

In the sections below, we’ll cover the PR courses list in Australia 2026, undergraduate and master’s courses, universities, eligibility, fees, PR pathways, and how to choose the right course. 

PR Courses List in Australia 2026 

Australia does not have a fixed list of courses that directly give you PR. What matters more is the occupation your course leads to and whether that occupation is relevant to Australia’s skilled migration pathways. 

Courses linked to areas like nursing, teaching, engineering, IT, social work, construction, and skilled trades are often considered because these fields have had demand for workers in Australia. 

Here are some best courses for PR in Australia:  

Course Name	Common Job Options	Annual Tuition Fees (AUD/INR)
Nursing	Registered Nurse	Around AUD 40K–50K/year (INR 27.1L–33.8L)
Teaching	Early Childhood Teacher, School Teacher	Around AUD 30K–45K/year (INR 20.3L–30.5L)
Engineering	Civil Engineer, Mechanical Engineer, Electrical Engineer	Around AUD 40K–50K/year (INR 27.1L–33.8L)
Information Technology	Software Developer, Software Engineer, ICT Analyst	Around AUD 35K–45K/year (INR 23.7L–30.5L)
Social Work	Social Worker	Around AUD 39K–45K/year (INR 26.4L–30.5L)
Construction	Construction Manager, Quantity Surveyor	Around AUD 40K–50K/year (INR 27.1L–33.8L)
Trades	Carpenter, Chef, other skilled trade jobs	Around AUD 18K–29K total (INR 12.2L–19.6L)

The best courses for PR in Australia can differ from one student to another. A nursing course may make sense for one person, while engineering, teaching, or a trade course may fit someone else better. 

Completing one of these courses does not mean you will automatically get PR.  

You have to meet the requirements for the occupation and visa that you are applying for, since your work experience, your English language score, the skills assessment and your points all have an impact on the result. 

PR Courses in Australia by Study Level 

Best courses for PR in Australia are available at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. If you’re applying after Class 12, you’ll usually look at bachelor’s courses. If you already have a degree, a master’s may be the better fit. 

The level you choose matters, but the occupation linked to your course matters too. 

Here are some undergraduate and postgraduate courses students can consider: 

Top Undergraduate Courses for PR in Australia 

Most bachelor’s courses take about 3–4 years to complete. Students often choose fields like nursing, engineering, IT, teaching, and social work because these can lead to jobs that fall under Australia’s skilled occupation pathways. 

• Bachelor of Nursing: Usually takes around 3 years. Tuition can be around AUD 40K–50K (INR 27.1L–33.8L) per year. 
• Bachelor of Engineering: Usually takes around 4 years. Common areas include civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering, with fees around AUD 40K–50K (INR 27.1L–33.8L) per year. 
• Bachelor of Information Technology: Usually takes around 3 years. Tuition can be around AUD 35K–45K (INR 23.7L–30.5L) per year. 
• Bachelor of Social Work: Usually takes around 4 years, with tuition around AUD 39K–45K (INR 26.4L–30.5L) per year. 
• Bachelor of Education: Depending on the program, it can take around 3–4 years. Fees can be around AUD 30K–45K (INR 20.3L–30.5L) per year. 

Top Masters Courses for PR in Australia 

Masters programs are usually shorter, often around 1.5–2 years. The course you choose should still match the kind of occupation you want to work in later. 

• Master of Teaching: Usually takes around 1.5–2 years, with tuition starting from around AUD 30K (INR 20.3L) per year. 
• Master of Information Technology: Usually takes around 2 years. Fees can be around AUD 35K–45K (INR 23.7L–30.5L) per year. 
• Master of Engineering: Often takes around 2 years, depending on your previous degree and specialisation. Tuition can be around AUD 40K–50K (INR 27.1L–33.8L) per year. 
• Master of Social Work: Usually takes around 2 years and can cost around AUD 39K–45K (INR 26.4L–30.5L) per year. 
• Master of Nursing: Depending on the program, it can take around 2 years, with fees commonly around AUD 40K–50K (INR 27.1L–33.8L) per year. 

Universities Offering PR-Related Courses in Australia 

Universities in Australia offer courses linked to jobs where worker shortages still exist. In the 2025 Occupation Shortage List, nearly half of trade occupations and about 2 in 5 professional occupations were still in shortage, with gaps especially visible in health, education, and construction. 

The university matters, but the course and the occupation it can lead to matter more. 

Here are some universities offering PR courses in Australia and the careers these courses may lead to: 

University Name	Top PR-Related Courses	Career/Occupation It May Lead To
Deakin University	Nursing, Social Work	Registered Nurse, Social Worker
Monash University	Engineering, Information Technology, Teaching	Engineer, Software Engineer, Secondary School Teacher
University of Technology Sydney	Information Technology, Engineering	Software Engineer, ICT Business Analyst, Civil/Mechanical Engineer
University of Tasmania	Nursing, Social Work	Registered Nurse, Social Worker
Curtin University	Nursing, Engineering, Information Technology	Registered Nurse, Civil/Mechanical Engineer, Software Engineer

Note: A course from one of these universities won’t automatically lead to PR. You’ll still need to meet the requirements linked to the occupation and visa pathway you apply for. 

Eligibility Criteria for PR Courses in Australia 

Eligibility depends on the course and study level you choose. For most UG programs, students need Class 12, while a masters course usually require a bachelor’s degree.  

English requirements also vary quite a bit, with IELTS scores often starting around 6.0–6.5, and some professional courses asking for 7.0 or higher. 

Here’s what students usually need for PR courses in Australia:  

Academic Requirements 

For undergraduate courses: 

• Complete Class 12 or an equivalent qualification 
• Meet the minimum marks set by the university 
• Have the required subjects, if the course asks for them 
• Engineering courses may require Mathematics and Science 
• Nursing and health-related courses may have separate subject requirements 

For postgraduate courses: 

• Hold a recognised bachelor’s degree 
• Some courses may ask for a degree in the same or a related field 
• A few programs may also look at previous work or academic experience 

The exact requirement isn't fixed. It changes by university and course. 

English Language Requirements 

In most cases, there is a requirement of having a IELTS score ranging between 6.0-6.5. In some cases, PTE Academic and TOEFL scores may also suffice.  

Some courses have higher requirements.  

• Undergraduate general courses: Generally a range of 6.0 IELTS+ 
• Postgraduate general courses: Generally a range of 6.5 IELTS+  
• Nursing and Social Work: Some universities may require a minimum of 7.0 IELTS 

Documents Required 

Students are usually asked to submit: 

• Academic transcripts and certificates 
• Valid passport 
• English language test score 
• Bachelor’s degree documents for postgraduate courses 
• CV or resume, if required 
• Any course-specific documents asked by the university 

If your documents are not in English, the institution may require that you provide certified English translation of the documents as well. 

These will help you gain entry into the program. As regards the PR qualification criteria, those will be addressed separately. 

Cost of PR Courses in Australia 

Tuition for PR-related courses in Australia can usually range from around AUD 30K–50K (INR 20.3L–33.8L) per year for university programs.  

Trade and vocational courses can cost less, with some programs starting from around AUD 18K (INR 12.2L). 

Here’s a quick look at the usual fee ranges for PR courses in Australia:  

PR Course/Field in Australia	Approx. Tuition Fee (AUD/INR)
Nursing	AUD 40K–50K/year (INR 27.1L–33.8L)
Teaching & Education	AUD 30K–45K/year (INR 20.3L–30.5L)
Engineering	AUD 40K–50K/year (INR 27.1L–33.8L)
Information Technology	AUD 35K–45K/year (INR 23.7L–30.5L)
Social Work	AUD 39K–45K/year (INR 26.4L–30.5L)
Construction & Built Environment	AUD 40K–50K/year (INR 27.1L–33.8L)
Trades & Vocational Courses	AUD 18K–29K total (INR 12.2L–19.6L)

These are tuition estimates. The amount you actually pay can go up or down depending on the university, course, and number of units you take. 

PR Pathways After Completing a Course in Australia 

PR does not begin immediately after the end of your course. After you complete your course, first you have to see if the job related to your qualification is available in the list of skilled occupations of your chosen visa. 

For Subclass 189, 190 and 491, the minimum points requirement is 65. But 65 is only the starting mark. It doesn’t guarantee that you’ll receive an invitation. 

Skills Assessment 

In order to apply for a skilled visa, you will have to do a skills assessment for your nominated position.  

What you should do is:  

• Select the occupation which you wish to nominate. 
• Check which authority assesses that occupation.  
• Apply for the skills assessment.  
• Get a suitable assessment before you’re invited to apply for a points-tested skilled visa. 

Expression of Interest and Points 

Then comes the Expression of Interest (EOI). You fill it via SkillSelect and provide information on your education, working experience, and other information relevant in computing your points. 

The following are some of the facts that you should keep in mind: 

• 189, 190 and 491 are points-based visas. 
• You must have at least 65 points to be considered. 
• SkillSelect computes your score using the provided information. 

Skilled Migration Visa Options 

The type of visa that you could be eligible for depends on your profession, points, and if there is any nomination from any Australian State/Region. 

There are various types of visas: 

• Subclass 189: It is for skilled persons who receive an invitation to lodge an application. You do not need any state nomination. 
• Subclass 190: You need state nomination. 
• Subclass 491: It is for skilled persons who want to live and work in regional Australia. 

Therefore, each student may have a different route based on his/her profile and current visa requirements. 

How to Choose the Right Course for PR in Australia? 

Don’t choose a course just because it is called a “PR course.” Start by checking the job it can lead to and whether that occupation is part of Australia’s skilled migration pathway. 

Job demand matters too. In the 2025 Occupation Shortage List, worker shortages were still seen in areas like health, education, construction and trades, so courses linked to these fields can be worth checking. 

Here are a few things to look at before choosing a PR courses in Australia:  

• Check the occupation first: See which jobs the course can lead to and whether those occupations are eligible under the skilled migration route you are looking at. 
• Look at job demand: Some fields may have better demand than others. This can change with time, so don’t depend on an old occupation list while choosing your course. 
• Check the skills assessment rules: Different occupations have different assessing authorities. Make sure the qualification you choose can meet the requirements for the job you want later. 
• Check state nomination options: If you are looking at the Subclass 190 or 491 visa, state and territory rules matter too. These can be different across Australia. 
• Compare the full course cost: Look at the total fee for the whole course, not just the first year. A longer program can cost much more even if the yearly fee looks manageable. 
• Choose a field you like: You may work in the same area after graduation, so don’t pick a course only because it seems useful for PR. 

Before finalising anything, check the latest occupation list, skills assessment rules and state requirements. These can change while you are studying. 

Conclusion 

PR courses in Australia usually include fields like nursing, teaching, engineering, IT, social work, construction and trades because these can lead to skilled occupations. University tuition for these courses can be around AUD 30K–50K (INR 20.3L–33.8L) per year, while some vocational courses can cost less. 

Still, the course is only one part of the plan. Check the job it leads to, current occupation demand, skills assessment rules, visa options and state requirements before you decide. PR rules can change, so it’s always better to work with the latest information rather than choosing a course only because it is labelled “PR-friendly.” 

Need help choosing a course that fits your study plans and long-term goals in Australia? Book a free 1:1 session with upGrad experts to explore your options.