We’ve got news! The points test is undergoing some changes. Effective 10 September 2016, an additional 5 points will be awarded to those with ‘specialist educational qualifications’.

The amendment is as follows:

(5A) For Schedule 6D, a person meets the requirements for the award of a specialist educational qualification if the person satisfies the Minister that:

(i) a Masters degree by research; or

(ii) a Doctoral degree; and

(b) the degree included study for at least 2 academic years at the instituion in a field of education specified in an instrument under subregulation (5B)

(5B) The Minister may, by legislative instrument, specify a field or fields of education for the purposes of paragraph (5A)(b)

The instrument, and therefore exact fields of study have not yet been released, but it is “intended that initially the specified fields  will be science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or information and communication technology”. This will affect General Skilled Migration (GSM) visas:

• Skilled Independent (subclass 189) visa
• Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) visa
• Skilled Regional (Provisional) (subclass 489) visa

Currently, the points test looks like this:

Qualifications Doctorate from an Australian education institution                             (20 points) or other doctorate of a recognised standard At least a Bachelor degree from an Australian institute                       (15 points) or other degree of a recognised standard Australian Study Requirement One or more degrees, diplomas or trade qualifications                       (5 points) awarded by an Australian educational institution and meet the Australian Study Requirement

1. Have a Masters by research degree or Doctoral degree, AND
2. Studied at an Australian educational institution, AND
3. Studied at least 2 academic years at the Australian educational institution in one of the specified fields.

For example, if you have a PhD in Science, and completed this qualification over at least 2 years in the University of New South Wales (UNSW), you would have a total of 30 points – 20 from your PhD, 5 for satisfying the Australian study requirement (ASR) and another 5 for have done so in an Australian educational institution.