Live
✓ Registered Nurse · SA 190 · 75 pts · granted 3 days ago📡 TAS ran a 491 round · Chefs invited · cutoff 65 pts · March 18⏱ 190 visa processing · NSW · now averaging 11 months📊 Accountant EOI pool · 15,240 active EOIs · up 340 this month⚠️ SA Talent stream · reopened March 20 · limited places✓ Software Engineer · ACT 491 · 80 pts · granted 5 days ago📡 189 Round 3 · 2026 · expected Jan-Mar 2026⏱ 485 visa fee · $4,600 from 1 March 2026✓ Electrician · QLD 190 · 65 pts · granted 1 week ago📊 Registered Nurse EOI pool · 2,100 active EOIs · Tier 1✓ Registered Nurse · SA 190 · 75 pts · granted 3 days ago📡 TAS ran a 491 round · Chefs invited · cutoff 65 pts · March 18⏱ 190 visa processing · NSW · now averaging 11 months📊 Accountant EOI pool · 15,240 active EOIs · up 340 this month⚠️ SA Talent stream · reopened March 20 · limited places✓ Software Engineer · ACT 491 · 80 pts · granted 5 days ago📡 189 Round 3 · 2026 · expected Jan-Mar 2026⏱ 485 visa fee · $4,600 from 1 March 2026✓ Electrician · QLD 190 · 65 pts · granted 1 week ago📊 Registered Nurse EOI pool · 2,100 active EOIs · Tier 1

Best Degrees for
Australian PR

Not all Australian degrees lead to permanent residency. Some put you in a 15,000-person queue at 95 points. Others get you PR at 75 points with every state wanting you. Know before you enrol.

VisaIQ provides data-informed research. This is not migration advice. Consult a MARA-registered agent for your specific circumstances.
Top 5 Degrees for PR — 2026 Ranking

Ranked by: invitation cutoff points, 189 tier priority, state nomination access, and time to PR. Based on JSA 2025 shortage data and DHA SkillSelect Nov 2025 results.

#Degree / Field189 CutoffTierEst. Time to PRWhy it's #1
1 Nursing / Midwifery
Bachelor of Nursing — 3 years		 75 pts Tier 1 3–4 years from enrolment Every state. Lowest cutoff for professionals. AHPRA assessment fast. National critical shortage.
2 Allied Health (Physio / OT)
Bachelor — 4 years		 75 pts Tier 1 4–5 years from enrolment NDIS driving extreme demand. 75 pt cutoff. All 8 states accepting.
3 Early Childhood Education
Bachelor of ECE — 4 years		 80 pts Tier 2 4–5 years from enrolment Most undersupplied education occupation. Government actively recruiting. Lower competition than STEM teaching.
4 Civil / Structural Engineering
Bachelor of Engineering — 4 years		 85 pts Tier 3 5–6 years from enrolment Olympics and housing construction driving sustained demand. All states + QLD/SA priority.
5 Social Work / Psychology
Bachelor — 4 years		 80 pts Tier 2 4–5 years from enrolment NDIS and mental health investment. ACT, WA, SA actively inviting. Steady invitation rates.
All Fields — Click to Expand
What to do if your degree is in the "Difficult" category
Option 1 — SA state nomination (most practical)
South Australia accepts accounting, IT and business graduates at 65 base points for 190/491 nomination — where NSW and VIC will not. Adelaide is liveable, affordable and has a large South Asian community. SA is the most practical answer for most accountants and ICT managers.
Option 2 — Employer sponsorship (482 → 186)
For ICT, accounting and business graduates, finding an employer who will sponsor a 482 visa and then nominate for 186 after 2 years is often more realistic than competing in the 189 queue. Build the relationship during your 485 period.
Option 3 — Postgraduate in a high-demand field
A postgrad qualification in nursing, allied health or education combined with your existing degree can significantly improve your visa options. Graduate Diploma of Education (Secondary) for example opens Tier 2 pathways if you have a relevant bachelor's.
Option 4 — NAATI CCL + Superior English + 491 regional
For accountants and ICT professionals: NAATI CCL (+5 pts) + Superior English (+10 pts vs proficient) + 491 regional (+15 pts) = potentially 30 extra points on a difficult profile. This combination can turn an uncompetitive 189 profile into a viable 491 SA pathway.
See the full picture for your specific profile

The student pathway tool shows your projected points at graduation, PR pipeline and personalised action plan.

Student Pathway Tool → Regional Study Bonus (+20 pts) →
Last updated: April 2026