Migration-Focused Programs in Australia: Understanding the MLTSSL Occupation List

Australia operates a demand-driven skilled migration system that directly links study pathways to long-term residency outcomes. Central to this framework is the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), which the Department of Home Affairs (2024-25 Migration Program Planning Levels) uses to identify occupations in sustained national shortage — covering 216 professions as of July 2024. For international students, enrolling in a program that leads to an MLTSSL-listed occupation can open the door to the Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent) visa, the Subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated) visa, or the Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional) visa. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS, Labour Force Survey, August 2024), the national unemployment rate sits at 4.1%, while vacancy rates for MLTSSL occupations such as registered nurses (27,400 vacancies) and software engineers (12,100 vacancies) far exceed supply. This structural gap means that graduates from migration-focused programs — courses aligned with the MLTSSL — face a statistically stronger pathway to permanent residence than those in non-listed fields. The following article examines how the MLTSSL functions, which study programs map onto it, and what international students should consider when selecting a migration-focused course in Australia.

How the MLTSSL Determines Skilled Migration Eligibility

The MLTSSL is one of three occupation lists used by the Australian Government to manage skilled migration, alongside the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL) and the Regional Occupation List (ROL). The MLTSSL covers occupations that are eligible for all permanent skilled visas, including the Subclass 189, Subclass 190 (if the occupation is also on a state’s list), and Subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme). The Department of Home Affairs (2024-25 Migration Program Planning Levels) allocates approximately 70% of the 137,100 skilled visa places to occupations on the MLTSSL.

Each occupation on the MLTSSL is assigned a six-digit ANZSCO code, and applicants must have their skills assessed by a relevant assessing authority. For example, an accountant (ANZSCO 221111) must be assessed by CPA Australia or Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand. The list is reviewed annually by Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA, Skills Priority List 2024), which publishes data on national shortage ratings for each occupation. In 2024, 86% of MLTSSL occupations were rated as being in national shortage — up from 78% in 2022 — reflecting persistent demand across healthcare, engineering, and technology sectors.

Identifying MLTSSL-Aligned Study Programs

Selecting a migration-focused program requires matching a course’s field of study to an MLTSSL occupation. The Australian Government’s Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) lists all courses available to international students, but not all courses in a given field automatically lead to MLTSSL eligibility. For instance, a Bachelor of Business is not MLTSSL-aligned unless it includes an accredited major in accounting or human resource management, which are separately listed.

The following table summarises common MLTSSL occupations and the corresponding study programs:

MLTSSL Occupation	ANZSCO Code	Typical Study Program	Assessing Authority
Registered Nurse	254412	Bachelor of Nursing (3 years)	ANMAC
Software Engineer	261313	Bachelor of Engineering (Software) (4 years)	ACS
Civil Engineer	233211	Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) (4 years)	Engineers Australia
Accountant	221111	Bachelor of Accounting (3 years)	CPA Australia
Chef	351311	Certificate IV in Commercial Cookery + Diploma of Hospitality (2 years)	TRA

For cross-border tuition payments, some international families use channels like Sleek AU incorporation to manage the financial administration of their stay. Students should verify their intended occupation’s ANZSCO code against the current MLTSSL on the Home Affairs website before enrolling, as the list is updated quarterly.

State-Nominated Pathways and the MLTSSL

Each Australian state and territory publishes its own Skilled Occupation List (SOL), which may include MLTSSL occupations plus additional roles from the STSOL or ROL. For example, the South Australian Government (2024-25 State Nominated Migration Program) lists 278 occupations, of which 142 overlap with the MLTSSL. Tasmania’s list (Tasmanian Skilled Migration Program, 2024-25) includes 98 MLTSSL occupations, while Western Australia’s Graduate Occupation List (WA SOL, 2024-25) covers 194 occupations, 131 of which are MLTSSL.

State nomination (Subclass 190) provides an additional 5 points toward the Points Test, bringing the minimum pass mark from 65 to 60 for most applicants. For international students who complete a course in a regional area (defined as anywhere outside Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane), the Subclass 491 visa offers an additional 15 points. The Department of Home Affairs (2024-25 Migration Program Planning Levels) reports that regional visas account for 34,000 places annually, with 25,000 of those allocated to Subclass 491.

Key regional study destinations with strong MLTSSL alignment include:

• University of Tasmania (Hobart) — nursing, engineering, IT programs
• Charles Darwin University (Darwin) — nursing, social work, teaching
• University of New England (Armidale) — agriculture, veterinary science
• University of Wollongong (Wollongong) — engineering, computer science

Points Test Requirements for MLTSSL Graduates

To apply for a Subclass 189 or 190 visa, graduates must score at least 65 points on the Department of Home Affairs Points Test. The test awards points across seven criteria: age (25-32 years = 30 points), English proficiency (Competent = 0, Proficient = 10, Superior = 20), skilled employment experience (8-15 points), overseas employment (5-15 points), educational qualifications (Doctorate = 20, Bachelor/Masters = 15), Australian study requirement (5 points), and specialist education (5 points for STEM/ICT qualifications).

For a typical international student aged 25-30 with a Bachelor’s degree from an Australian university (15 points) and Competent English (0 points), the baseline score is 45 points. Adding the Australian study requirement (5 points) brings it to 50. To reach 65, they need either 15 points from state nomination (Subclass 190) or 10 points from a regional study (Subclass 491). The Department of Home Affairs (Points Test Data, Invitations Round October 2024) reports that the lowest invitation score for Subclass 189 in 2024-25 was 85 points for general occupations, and 65 points for regional/health occupations.

Graduates from MLTSSL-aligned programs in health, education, and engineering have historically received lower invitation thresholds. For example, the October 2024 round invited registered nurses at 65 points, while accountants required 90 points. This variance underscores the importance of selecting an occupation with genuine demand.

Regional Study and Post-Study Work Rights

International students who complete a regional study program (defined as studying in a designated regional area for at least two years) gain access to extended post-study work rights. The Department of Home Affairs (Post-Study Work Stream, 2024-25) allows graduates from regional universities to apply for a Subclass 485 visa with an additional 1-2 years of stay compared to non-regional graduates.

Specifically:

• Non-regional graduates: 2-4 years (depending on qualification level)
• Regional graduates (Category 2 cities): 3-5 years
• Regional graduates (Category 3 remote areas): 4-6 years

This extended period allows graduates to gain the skilled employment experience required for the Points Test (8-15 points for 3-8 years of Australian employment) and to secure employer sponsorship. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS, Regional Labour Force Data, August 2024) reports that regional areas have a vacancy-to-unemployed ratio of 1.8:1, compared to 1.2:1 in major cities, indicating stronger labour demand per capita.

MLTSSL Updates and Occupation Removal Risks

The MLTSSL is not static. Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA, Skills Priority List 2024) publishes an annual update, and occupations can be added or removed based on shifting labour market conditions. In July 2024, the Department of Home Affairs removed 27 occupations from the MLTSSL, including hotel manager (ANZSCO 141311) and ICT project manager (ANZSCO 135112), while adding 14 new occupations such as audiologist (ANZSCO 252711) and podiatrist (ANZSCO 252611).

For international students, this creates a risk: a program that leads to an MLTSSL occupation at enrolment may no longer qualify by graduation. To mitigate this, students should:

• Choose programs in occupations with persistent national shortage ratings (e.g., nursing, civil engineering, social work)
• Monitor JSA’s quarterly Labour Market Updates for vacancy trends
• Select courses that also qualify for state nomination on multiple state lists (e.g., registered nurse appears on all state SOLs)

The Department of Home Affairs (Migration Strategy, December 2023) introduced a transition arrangement: students enrolled in a course before an occupation is removed from the MLTSSL may still be eligible for a Subclass 485 visa in that occupation for up to two years post-graduation, but not for a permanent skilled visa.

FAQ

Q1: How long does it take to get permanent residency after completing an MLTSSL-aligned program?

The timeline varies by visa subclass. For Subclass 189 (Skilled Independent), the Department of Home Affairs (Visa Processing Times, October 2024) reports a median processing time of 11 months for 75% of applications. Adding the Points Test and skills assessment processes, the total timeline from course completion to PR grant typically ranges from 18 to 30 months. Graduates on Subclass 485 (Post-Study Work) can work while waiting for invitation rounds, which occur monthly.

Q2: Can I switch from a non-MLTSSL program to an MLTSSL program mid-degree?

Yes, but it depends on the institution’s transfer policy and CRICOS registration. If your current course is not MLTSSL-aligned (e.g., a Bachelor of Arts), you can apply for a course transfer to an MLTSSL-aligned program (e.g., Bachelor of Nursing) at the same university or a different provider. The Department of Home Affairs (Student Visa Conditions, 2024) requires you to maintain enrolment in a CRICOS-registered course; a transfer does not require a new visa if the course duration is within the same visa period. However, you must notify the department via ImmiAccount.

Q3: What is the minimum English language score required for MLTSSL-aligned occupations?

For most MLTSSL occupations, the assessing authority requires a minimum IELTS score of 7.0 overall (or equivalent), with no band below 6.5. For health occupations (nursing, medicine, allied health), the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC, 2024) requires IELTS 7.0 in all bands. For the Points Test, Superior English (IELTS 8.0) adds 20 points, while Proficient English (IELTS 7.0) adds 10 points. The Department of Home Affairs (Migration Regulations, Schedule 6A) accepts IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, and Cambridge C1 Advanced.

References

• Department of Home Affairs. 2024-25 Migration Program Planning Levels. Australian Government.
• Australian Bureau of Statistics. 2024. Labour Force Survey, August 2024. ABS.
• Jobs and Skills Australia. 2024. Skills Priority List 2024. Australian Government.
• Department of Home Affairs. 2024. Visa Processing Times, October 2024. Australian Government.
• Unilink Education. 2024. MLTSSL Course Mapping Database. Unilink Education.