Skills assessment after graduating in Australia: the advantages

How does graduating in Australia help your skills assessment?

If you have studied and graduated in Australia, the skills assessment process carries some advantages compared with holding a foreign qualification:

Automatic recognition at some authorities: ACS (for IT) and Engineers Australia (EA) recognise degrees from Australian universities without the detailed unit-by-unit course assessment they apply to foreign qualifications. This can shorten the process considerably and reduce the chance of refusal for a curriculum mismatch.

Lower “not suitable” risk: A foreign qualification is sometimes refused because its course of study does not meet Australian standards — something that happens less often with a recognised Australian university degree.

EOI bonus points: A recognised Australian university degree earns bonus points in the EOI through the Australian Study Requirement (ASR). Check the specific points at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au — they are a meaningful boost given that EOI cut-offs often move little at the higher end.

The best time to lodge your skills assessment

Do not wait until you have plenty of experience. Lodge your skills assessment as soon as you are eligible:

• ACS: You may be able to lodge as soon as you graduate (for a recognised Australian degree, no additional experience is required in some cases — check the specifics with ACS)
• Engineers Australia: Similarly, an Australian degree recognised by EA lets you lodge right after you graduate
• VETASSESS: Requires 1 year of experience within the most recent 5 years — lodge after you have worked 1 year in Australia

Lodge early so that:

1. You know the outcome and can plan your EOI
2. If you are refused, you have time to fix things while still on your 485 visa
3. Some authorities take 2-6 months to process — start early so the result arrives at the right time

The skills assessment process with an Australian degree — comparing authorities

ACS (Australian Computer Society) — for IT

With a degree from an Australian university:

• Many Australian university IT programs are ACS-accredited — if your program is on that list, the process is considerably simpler
• Lodge online through the ACS website and upload your transcript and qualification
• Detailed course descriptions are usually not required (unlike with a foreign qualification)
• Outcome: “Suitable” for a specific ANZSCO code

Note: Not every Australian IT degree is ACS-accredited. If your institution is not on the list, the process is similar to a foreign qualification.

Engineers Australia — for engineering

With an Australian engineering degree:

• Most engineering degrees from Australian universities fall under the Washington Accord — recognised automatically by EA
• Lodge through the EA portal, providing your transcript and degree
• No detailed competency assessment as required for a foreign qualification
• A considerably faster result

VETASSESS — for many other professional occupations

With an Australian degree: VETASSESS still requires you to meet the experience criteria (1 year within the most recent 5 years for a Professional Assessment). An Australian degree makes the qualification side easier to recognise, but the experience remains mandatory.

TRA (Trades Recognition Australia) — for trades

TRA has its own process — with an Australian TAFE qualification and Australian apprenticeship experience, TRA often recognises trades faster. Check the trade-specific pathway on the TRA website.

ASR points in the EOI — how are they calculated?

The Australian Study Requirement (ASR) in the EOI: the Department awards points if you have studied for the required period at a CRICOS-registered institution in Australia within the past 5 years. Check the specific points and minimum study duration at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au.

General conditions:

• Study in Australia (not online from overseas)
• A total study duration that meets the Department’s rule (around 2 years of study)
• Within the 5 years counted from when you lodge your EOI

Most students who complete a 3-year Bachelor in Australia meet the ASR. A student on a 1-year Master may not — check the total duration, including any earlier study (for example, an Advanced Diploma plus a Bachelor).

After you have your skills assessment result

Create your EOI in SkillSelect as soon as you receive a Positive/Suitable result from the assessing authority. An EOI with a skills assessment plus Australian work experience plus an Australian degree (ASR) will score considerably better than one without those elements.