Don't guess what to study.
Reverse-engineer it from the shortage list.
Every Australian skilled-migration pathway begins with an occupation on a government list. We map each short, medium, long-term and regional shortage to the actual qualifications you can study, and the visa subclasses they unlock.
Pick a shortage
Start from a real, current Australian skills shortage. Not a hopeful guess about what employers want: an occupation actively endorsed for migration.
Map to study
Each occupation needs an assessing authority (ACS, AHPRA, Engineers Australia, TRA). We translate that into the qualifications and providers that satisfy them.
Migrate the right way
Your degree or trade leads to a 485 graduate visa, an employer-sponsored 482, a state-nominated 190 or (long-term) permanent residency under 186 / 189.
Six shortages, six study plans.
Registered Nurse (Aged Care)
Persistent national shortage across hospitals aged care and community settings. Strong PR pathway for graduates who complete AHPRA registration.
Software Engineer
Most-claimed ICT occupation for skilled migration. ACS requires a closely related ICT qualification or supplementary work experience.
Electrician (General)
One of the strongest skilled-migration trades. Renewables and infrastructure pipeline drives 10+ years of demand.
Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher
Acute shortage. Many states fund relocation incentives. AITSL requires IELTS 7.5 across all four components.
Civil Engineer
Infrastructure pipeline keeps demand high. Engineers Australia recognises Washington Accord degrees.
Chef
Most common VET-to-PR pathway in hospitality. Requires 3 years post-trade experience for skills assessment.
Australia replaced its short / medium / long split in late 2024. Here's what each list actually means today.
Core Skills Occupation List
The list that powers the new Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482). Replaces the legacy STSOL/MLTSSL split for employer sponsorship from December 2024.
Explore the list →Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List
Long-horizon shortages. These occupations unlock points-tested independent skilled visas (189) and the longest pathway to permanent residency.
Explore the list →Short-term Skilled Occupation List
Sponsored, time-limited shortages. Used historically for the legacy 482 short-term stream and 190 state nominations in some states.
Explore the list →Regional Occupation List
Occupations sponsored only outside major metropolitan areas — strongest pathway to a 491 provisional regional visa.
Explore the list →If you already know your destination, jump in here.
Permanent residency pathways
Occupations on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List that unlock the points-tested Skilled Independent (189) visa and the longest pathway to permanent residency in Australia.
Browse →Regional opportunities
Occupations sponsored most strongly outside major metropolitan areas — central to the 491 (provisional regional) and 494 (employer-sponsored regional) visas. Lower points thresholds, faster nomination outcomes.
Browse →Healthcare shortages
Australia's deepest, most persistent skills shortage is in clinical and allied health roles. From AHPRA-registered nurses and allied health professionals to VET-trained aged-care workers — every step of the care pipeline is in demand.
Browse →Talk to a registered migration agent. Once.
Study to Migrate is the map. A MARA-registered migration agent is the local guide. We don't take commissions or referrals; we just genuinely think one paid consultation before paying course deposits is the highest-leverage hour in this whole journey.
Goes to mara.gov.au · external
Skills lists, visa subclasses and assessing authority requirements change. We update this site periodically, but always confirm the latest with the Department of Home Affairs and a registered migration agent before committing to a course of study. This site is general guidance; it is not migration advice.