Only Degrees at AQF Level 7 or Higher is Eligible for Subclass 485 Post-Higher Education Work Stream

Date: 17 December 2024

The recent updates clarify the study requirements for the Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) under the Post-Higher Education Work (PHEW) stream.

Here’s everything you need to know, from new rules to credits, exemptions, and overlapping courses.

Key Changes in Study Requirements

A graduate certificate is no longer an eligible qualification for the Post-Higher Education Workstream. Only degrees at Australian Qualification Framework (AQF) Level 7 or higher (e.g., bachelor’s degree and above) are accepted.

Eligible degrees include:

Bachelor degree
Bachelor honours degree
Masters (coursework) degree
Masters (extended) degree
Masters (research) degree
Doctoral degree (research)
Doctoral degree (professional)
Higher doctoral degree.

Are Graduate Diplomas Eligible for Subclass 485 – PHEW Stream?

A graduate diploma is considered an eligible degree if:

you completed it in the same or next academic year as your successfully completed qualification (listed above) and
the study is related to that qualification.

Does Graduate Diploma alone satisfy the requirement?

No, the graduate diploma must be combined with other eligible qualifications (e.g., bachelor’s degree) to satisfy the 2 academic years (92 weeks) and 16 calendar months of study requirements. It must also meets all the standard requirements:

It is CRICOS-registered.
It was completed at an Australian educational institution.
It was taught entirely in English.
It was completed while you held a valid student visa.

How do Combining Courses Work?

If the graduate diploma is part of a package of qualifications (e.g., a bachelor’s degree combined with a graduate diploma), you can count the study periods together. The total study duration across all combined courses must equal at least:

2 academic years (92 CRICOS weeks), and
16 calendar months in total.

Example Scenario:

A bachelor’s degree registered for 78 weeks (1.5 years) + a graduate diploma registered for 26 weeks = 104 weeks (2 years).
This combined study would meet the 2 academic years requirement if successfully completed.

What if My Qualifies Overlap in Time?

If the study periods for the graduate diploma and another qualification overlap, you cannot count the overlapping period twice.

The actual study period (non-overlapping duration) is what contributes toward the 92 weeks and 16 months requirements.

Example Scenario:

You completed a Bachelor’s degree (CRICOS duration: 78 weeks) and a Graduate Diploma (CRICOS duration: 26 weeks).
The final 26 weeks of your Graduate Diploma overlapped with the last 26 weeks of your Bachelor’s degree.

Calculation:

Total registered duration = 104 weeks (78 + 26).
Overlap of 26 weeks means you can only count it once.
Adjusted duration = 78 weeks + 0 non-overlapping weeks from the Graduate Diploma.

Result: You only meet 78 weeks of the study requirement, not the full 2 academic years (92 weeks).

What if I had received a Credit or Exemption?

If you receive credit for prior learning (e.g., from an earlier course or overseas study), this may reduce the CRICOS-credited weeks.

The combined study time must still meet the 16 calendar months rule. If credits shorten the study duration below this threshold, additional courses or subjects may be required.

Example Scenario:

You enrolled in a Bachelor’s degree registered for 138 weeks (3 years) on CRICOS.
Your university granted you credits for 48 weeks of study based on prior learning (e.g., a previous diploma).

Calculation: