Which Australian qualifications make you eligible for Subclass 485?

The Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate Visa opens a post-study pathway in Australia, but not every Australian qualification makes you eligible. Your education must be CRICOS-registered, recognised through the Australian Study Requirement (ASR), or meet specific vocational criteria. Understanding which qualifications count, and which do not, is the first gate-keeper step to planning your post-study stay.

The core rule: CRICOS registration

The single most important rule is that your principal course (the main degree or qualification you completed) must have been delivered by a CRICOS-registered (Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Student) provider.

CRICOS registration means the Australian Education Minister has approved the institution and course as meeting Australian educational standards and is suitable for international students. If your course or institution is not CRICOS-registered, you cannot apply for Subclass 485 — it does not matter how prestigious the institution or well-known the qualification.

How to check if your course is CRICOS-registered

Visit the CRICOS Provider Registration database and search for:

1. Your institution name.
2. Your course name (exactly or close match).
3. The start and end dates of your enrolment.

If your course appears in CRICOS with your enrolment dates, it is registered. If it does not appear, or appears only for later cohorts (after you finished), your course may not have been registered during your study — and you would be ineligible.

Note: Some Australian institutions, especially small private colleges or non-university providers, may not be CRICOS-registered. Always check CRICOS before enrolling.

PHEW-eligible qualifications (university degrees)

Degrees that qualify for PHEW

The Subclass 485 PHEW stream is available for these university qualifications:

All of these must be completed at a CRICOS-registered university.

Degrees that do NOT qualify for PHEW

• Diploma or Advanced Diploma from a university: Some Australian universities offer VET (vocational) qualifications (Diplomas). These typically do not qualify for PHEW; you may instead be eligible for PVEW if the Diploma is on the vocational skills list.
• Non-CRICOS university qualifications: If you completed a degree at an unregistered institution, you are ineligible.
• Undergraduate diplomas or sub-degree qualifications: For example, an Associate Diploma at a university does not qualify for PHEW.
• Degrees from overseas universities: Your principal qualification must have been awarded by an Australian institution.
• Online-only degrees completed entirely overseas: If you undertook the entire degree online from overseas during COVID or otherwise, the 485 Department may not recognise it without verification of the Australian Study Requirement.

Common PHEW scenario: combined or double degrees

If you completed a combined degree (e.g. Bachelor of Science / Bachelor of Commerce over 4 years), or a double degree, the principal qualification is the one conferred at graduation. As long as it is CRICOS-registered and meets the ASR (16 months + 92 weeks in Australia), you qualify for PHEW.

If you completed two separate degrees at different times (e.g. first a Bachelor, then a Master), you can only claim one principal qualification for 485 purposes — typically the most recent degree. However, you can count the earlier degree toward your ASR (if it was also in Australia).

PVEW-eligible qualifications (vocational / TAFE)

Qualifications that qualify for PVEW

The Subclass 485 PVEW stream is for vocational education qualifications, which must meet two criteria:

1. CRICOS-registered (or state-approved): The course is on a CRICOS register or a state-based VET register (relevant primarily for courses delivered under state VET funding agreements).
2. Listed on the skills list: The qualification must appear on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL).

Examples of PVEW-eligible qualifications:

• Certificate IV in Accounting (if the occupation is listed on CSOL).
• Diploma of Nursing (if listed on CSOL).
• Diploma of Information Technology (if listed on CSOL).
• Diploma of Hospitality Management (if listed on CSOL).

Important: Not all TAFE qualifications are PVEW-eligible. Your specific qualification must be listed on the CSOL. For example, a Diploma in Hospitality may qualify, but only if the related occupation (e.g. Hospitality Manager, Chef) is on the CSOL.

Qualifications that do NOT qualify for PVEW

• Non-CRICOS TAFE qualifications: If your TAFE course was not CRICOS-registered (rare in Australia, as most TAFE is registered), you cannot apply for PVEW.
• Non-CSOL qualifications: If your TAFE qualification is not listed on the CSOL, you are ineligible for PVEW. For example, a Diploma in Fashion Design may not have a corresponding occupation on the CSOL.
• Undergraduate diplomas from universities: These are typically under PHEW (if the university also confers a degree), not PVEW.
• Overseas vocational qualifications: Your TAFE qualification must have been awarded by an Australian registered provider.

How to check if your TAFE qualification is on the CSOL

1. Go to the Core Skills Occupation List.
2. Search for your occupation or qualification type (e.g. “Nurse”, “Chef”, “Accountant”).
3. If your occupation appears on the CSOL, check the “qualification” column to see the recognised qualifications.
4. Match your actual qualification to the listed requirements.

If your TAFE qualification is not on the CSOL, you may still be eligible for other skilled migration pathways (e.g. if you later complete a Bachelor degree and pursue a sponsorship or points-based visa), but you are not eligible for PVEW.

Australian Study Requirement (ASR): the 16-month + 92-week rule

Both PHEW and PVEW require you to meet the Australian Study Requirement. This is a crucial eligibility gate and often where applicants stumble.

What is the ASR?

You must have completed at least:

• 16 calendar months of your principal course in Australia, AND
• 92 weeks of actual study (including lectures, practicals, seminars, research, and assessed assignments).

The 16 calendar months is the duration from the course start date to the course end date (as listed on your CoE — Confirmation of Enrolment). It is a calendar measure, not a measure of study intensity.

The 92 weeks is the total number of weeks of actual study contact or assessment. This is typically determined by adding up all the weeks of the course across your entire enrolment, excluding holidays and breaks.

How ASR is calculated

Example 1: 3-year Bachelor of Science, studied entirely in Australia

• Start date: 1 March 2021.
• End date: 30 November 2023.
• Calendar months: ~33 months (exceeds 16-month requirement).
• Study weeks: Typically 36–40 weeks per year × 3 years = 108–120 weeks (exceeds 92-week requirement).
• Result: ASR met.

Example 2: 2-year Master by Research, partly overseas

• Start date: 1 February 2023 (in Australia).
• 6 months in Australia (February–July 2023).
• Semester abroad (August 2023 – January 2024) — study overseas does not count toward ASR.
• 6 months back in Australia (February–July 2024).
• End date: 31 July 2024.
• Calendar months: ~18 months (meets 16-month requirement).
• Study weeks in Australia: ~26 weeks (February–July 2023) + ~26 weeks (February–July 2024) = ~52 weeks (falls short of 92-week requirement).
• Result: ASR not met. Ineligible for 485.

Common ASR traps

1. Overseas study: If you did an exchange semester, studied abroad, or undertook part of your degree overseas, that study time does NOT count toward the 92-week requirement. Only study in Australia counts.
2. Online study during COVID: Study delivered online to you while you were overseas (during lockdowns, for example) may not be counted, depending on when it occurred and the Department’s assessment. If you were in Australia but studying online, it typically counts. Check with the Department if you are uncertain.
3. Short intensive courses: A 12-month Diploma delivered intensively (e.g. 4 days per week) may meet the calendar-month requirement but fall short of 92 weeks if only 40 weeks of actual study are counted.
4. Study before immigration: If you studied at the same institution as a non-international student (e.g. on a visitor visa or before obtaining a student visa), that study may not be counted. You must typically be enrolled as an international student.
5. Placement or internship: Work placements and internships do not count as “study weeks” unless they are formally assessed as part of your course.

Requesting ASR confirmation

Before applying for 485, request written confirmation from your education provider (the student services or registrar office) that you have met the ASR. The Department may request this evidence, and having it in advance speeds up processing.

Your education provider should confirm:

• The course start and end dates (calendar months).
• The total number of weeks of study.
• That the entire study (or majority) was completed in Australia.

Special cases: combined qualifications and articulation

Bachelor + Master combination

If you completed a Bachelor and then a Master at different times, you have two qualifications:

• You can claim PHEW based on your Master (the more recent degree), which will grant 2–3 years.
• Your Bachelor study counts toward the ASR if it was in Australia, even if you use the Master as your principal qualification for 485 purposes.

Articulation from Diploma to Bachelor

If you completed a TAFE Diploma and then progressed to a Bachelor (e.g. Diploma of Nursing, then Bachelor of Nursing), you have two qualifications:

• You can claim PHEW based on your Bachelor, which grants 2 years.
• Your Diploma study counts toward ASR (as long as it was in Australia), even though the Bachelor is your principal qualification.

In this scenario, your total Australian study might be 3–4 years (Diploma + Bachelor), which easily exceeds the 16-month + 92-week requirement.

Verify before applying

Verify before lodging: Confirm your qualification is CRICOS-registered and eligible before lodging your 485 application.

• CRICOS check: Search the CRICOS Provider Registration database for your course.
• CSOL check (for PVEW): Search the Core Skills Occupation List for your occupation.
• ASR confirmation: Request written confirmation from your education provider.
• Department advice: If you are uncertain, contact the Department on the Subclass 485 page or via ImmiAccount before lodging.

FAQ

Q: I completed a Bachelor degree at a non-CRICOS-registered university in Australia. Can I apply for 485? A: No. CRICOS registration is a core requirement. If your institution or course was not CRICOS-registered during your study, you are ineligible for 485.

Q: My Master’s degree was delivered partially online while I was overseas. Does that count toward ASR? A: Possibly, but it depends on the exact timing and the Department’s assessment. Study undertaken while you were physically in Australia typically counts; study undertaken while you were overseas may not. Request written confirmation from your institution about what counts, and be prepared to provide evidence (visa records, residency proof) if the Department requests it.

Q: I completed a 1-year intensive Diploma. Does it meet the 16-month calendar requirement? A: If the Diploma ran from, say, 1 January to 31 December (12 calendar months), it falls short of the 16-month requirement. You would be ineligible for PVEW unless you can combine it with another qualification (e.g. a Certificate IV or subsequent degree).

Q: Can I use a qualification that is not my principal degree to apply for 485? A: No. You must have completed an eligible principal qualification (a Bachelor or higher for PHEW, or a CSOL-listed vocational qualification for PVEW). You cannot apply based on a non-qualifying degree.

Q: If I changed my course halfway through (e.g. switched from Bachelor of Arts to Bachelor of Science), what counts? A: Only the qualification conferred at graduation counts as your principal qualification. However, study in both streams typically counts toward ASR (as long as both were at the same institution and in Australia).

Q: I completed my degree just over 16 months ago and am now unsure if I still qualify. Is there a time limit on when I can apply? A: There is no published time limit on when you must apply after graduation. However, the Department may question applications lodged years after graduation, especially if your student visa has long since expired. It is advisable to apply within 3–6 months of graduation.

Sources

• CRICOS Provider Registration
• Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate Visa
• Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL)
• Australian Study Requirement — Department of Home Affairs

Last reviewed: April 2026. Migration rules and occupation lists change frequently — always verify on immi.homeaffairs.gov.au and the relevant assessing body before acting.