Australian study requirement explained (2026)

The Australian study requirement means you completed at least two years of study in a course registered on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS). It is a condition attached to several Australian visas — most notably the Temporary Graduate visa (Subclass 485) — and it determines whether your Australian study history qualifies you for post-study work rights or other visa benefits.

What is the Australian study requirement?

The Australian study requirement (ASR) is a threshold set by the Department of Home Affairs. To satisfy it, you must have completed at least two years of full-time study (or the equivalent part-time load) in one or more courses registered on CRICOS, while physically present in Australia and holding an eligible visa.

CRICOS is the government's official register of Australian education providers approved to deliver courses to international students. If your institution and course are not on CRICOS, that study does not count toward the requirement — regardless of the qualification level or how long you studied.

The two years are counted by the duration of your enrolment in CRICOS-registered courses, not by the number of qualifications. A three-year bachelor degree at a CRICOS-registered university, for example, clearly satisfies the requirement. Two separate one-year diplomas at the same or different CRICOS providers can also count if combined they reach the two-year threshold.

How the requirement works in practice

What study counts

Eligible study must be:

• Undertaken at a CRICOS-registered provider (check the register at cricos.teqsa.gov.au)
• Completed while you were in Australia on an eligible visa (typically a Student visa, Subclass 500)
• In a course that itself appears on the CRICOS register — the provider being registered is not enough if the specific course isn't listed
• At least two academic years in duration in total (roughly 92 weeks of actual study)

Courses that commonly satisfy the requirement include bachelor degrees, graduate certificates, graduate diplomas, master degrees, and doctoral degrees at Australian universities and registered private colleges.

What does not count

• Online-only study completed while you were outside Australia
• Study at providers that were on CRICOS during enrolment but had their registration cancelled before you completed the course (this edge case is worth checking)
• English language courses, bridging courses, and short professional development programs that are not full CRICOS-registered courses
• Study completed on a visitor visa or other non-student visa in most circumstances

How the two years are calculated

The Department counts actual study duration, not calendar time. If your course had a scheduled duration of two years but you were granted a leave of absence for six months, that period generally does not count. Conversely, if you completed an accelerated three-year program in 2.5 calendar years, you still meet the two-year study threshold based on the course's scheduled duration — the Department looks at the registered course length.

For applicants who have studied in multiple courses or at multiple institutions, the periods are added together. You will need documentation from each provider.

Who the requirement applies to

Temporary Graduate visa (Subclass 485)

The Subclass 485 is the primary visa where the Australian study requirement appears. There are two streams:

• Graduate Work stream — for graduates in an occupation on a relevant skilled occupation list. The ASR must be met, and the degree must relate to the nominated occupation.
• Post-Study Work stream — for holders of higher-level qualifications (bachelor degree or above) from an Australian institution. The ASR must be met, and the qualification must have been awarded by an Australian institution.

Without satisfying the ASR, you cannot be granted a Subclass 485 under either stream.

Other contexts

The ASR also appears as a factor in certain state nomination criteria, where states may preference applicants who studied in their jurisdiction. It can affect eligibility for some employer-sponsored pathways where Australian qualifications are relevant to the assessment. Understanding how your study history maps to occupation assessments is a separate question — see What is ANZSCO and why does it matter for your Australian visa? (2026) for how qualifications interact with the occupation classification system.

If you are weighing up skilled visa pathways that may benefit from your Australian study history, the occupation rankings on the Migrant Hub dashboard show current demand and invitation activity by occupation, which can help you prioritise.

How to prove the Australian study requirement

When lodging a Subclass 485 application, you must provide documentary evidence that your study meets the requirement. The Department typically requires:

• Completion letters or testamurs — official letters from your institution confirming you completed the course, the dates of enrolment and completion, and that the course was CRICOS-registered
• Academic transcripts — showing the subjects you completed and the dates
• CRICOS details — the CRICOS provider code and course code, which appear on enrolment documents

If you studied at more than one institution, you need documentation from each. Lost documents can sometimes be replaced by contacting the institution's student records office — plan ahead, as this can take weeks.

For the Post-Study Work stream, your award (the actual degree certificate) must also have been issued by the time you apply. Completion letters indicating you have finished study are generally accepted, but check current Department guidance at the time of your application.

Given the complexity of calculating study periods across multiple providers and courses, and the significance of a failed 485 application for your broader migration timeline, consider speaking to a MARA-registered agent for your specific circumstances. See What is a MARA migration agent and do you need one? (2026) for guidance on when professional advice is worth it.

Common questions

Does online study count toward the Australian study requirement?

Only if you were physically in Australia while completing it. Study undertaken offshore — even in a CRICOS-registered course — generally does not count toward the two-year threshold. The requirement is designed to recognise time spent studying in Australia.

Can I combine study from two different institutions to reach two years?

Yes. Study periods from different CRICOS-registered institutions and courses are combined when calculating whether you meet the two-year threshold. You will need completion documentation from each institution, and each course must be CRICOS-registered in its own right.

Does a short course or certificate count toward the two years?

It can, if the course is registered on CRICOS and runs for a sufficient duration that, when combined with other eligible study, reaches the two-year minimum. However, short courses such as English language programs and non-award bridging courses are typically not CRICOS-registered courses and do not count.

What happens if my CRICOS provider lost its registration?

This is a genuine edge case. If your provider had its CRICOS registration cancelled before you completed your course, your study in that period may not count. If you are in this situation, seek advice from a MARA-registered agent before lodging a visa application — the Department does have discretion in some cases, but outcomes vary.

Does the Australian study requirement apply to the Subclass 189 or 190 skills visas?

Not directly as a standalone criterion. The 189 and 190 are points-tested visas where Australian qualifications can earn extra points, but there is no separate "Australian study requirement" condition the way there is for the Subclass 485. Your qualifications still need to satisfy the relevant skills assessing authority for your occupation.

Where to go next

If you are planning your visa pathway and want to see how your Australian study history maps to in-demand occupations, check the Migrant Hub occupation rankings dashboard for current invitation activity and occupation demand data.