Two Year Study Rule

To meet the two year study requirement for a Skilled Migration visa you will have to complete one or more degrees, diplomas or trade qualifications at an Australian educational institute.

The course or courses must be registered on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS and all instruction must be conducted in English in Australia. You may be able to count online study (up to 25%) providing you were in Australia for the duration of that period of study.

As the visa applicant you must;

• be physically present in Australia for your study and hold a student visa
• not breach the conditions of your visa
• gain your award as a result of at least two academic years’ study or have completed in a total of
• no less than 16 calendar months
  • be able to show that you have completed the equivalent of two years study at 100% of a full-time load. Any credits from prior learning will reduce the amount of study you have completed.

A course that has a CRICOS registered duration of 92 weeks is considered to be a two year course.

Department of Immigration examples are:

• Example 1: If a course is CRICOS registered for 138 weeks (3 years) and consists of 24 units, 100% of full-time enrolment would equate to 8 units per year. In that course, a student will have completed two academic years when they have successfully completed 16 units. That means a student enrolled in that course can be given credit for prior learning for up to 8 units and still complete two academic years study.
• Example 2: If a course is CRICOS registered for 92 weeks (2 years) and consists of 12 units, 100% of full-time enrolment would equate to 6 units per year. Students would be required to complete all 12 units to meet the two year study requirement. A student enrolled in this course who is given any credit for prior learning will not have completed two academic years study and may have to complete an additional degree, diploma or trade qualification to meet the two year study requirement.

You must be able to produce a letter of completion from your educational institution which shows:

• the date that the course started and ended
• the date that course requirements were met
• location of campus where the study was undertaken
• whether the study involved any distance learning
• the language in which instruction was given

You will also need to provide your course transcripts.