Study, Work and Live in Australia with STEM qualifications
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STEM education is gaining growing popularity with each passing day. This trend could also be seen in Australia, as STEM education in Australia offers students the chance to pursue their careers in some of the top demanding fields, like engineering, computer science, and so on. Australian universities and colleges offer a range of top-quality STEM courses including medical, engineering, agriculture, mathematics, and IT, among others. You can pursue both undergraduate and post-graduate STEM courses in Australia.
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What is STEM education in Australia?
In the current scenario of the technological revolution, innovation is taking place in every sphere of life. Along with other sectors, education is also getting touched with different innovations. And the root can be seen in the advancements in STEM or Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics education. STEM got a major thrust when President Barack Obama stressed the need to include it as a part of the US school curriculum. In STEM education emphasis is given on teaching the subjects in coherence instead of in isolation. It encourages the students to observe activities in real-life situations, understand them and ask questions associated. Instead of just rehearsing the lessons, students here learn by experimenting and analyzing.
That being said, before we proceed further into STEM education in Australia, let us understand each of its key areas.
Science
Science, in STEM, mainly focuses on the two primary branches of science natural sciences and formal science. It emphasizes observation, experimentation, measurement, and formulation of laws to define different facts and phenomena. Some science-related higher education included Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, Bachelor of Microbiology, Bachelors in Polymer Sciences, etc.
Technology
Technology teaches the students about the creation of different innovations by using different technological means. It also enables them to understand the interrelation of technology with life, human society, and the environment. Bachelor in Computer Technology, Bachelor in Applied Technology, and Bachelor degree in Software Development are some of the courses that fall under the STEM Technology areas.
Engineering
Engineering mainly deals with the practical application of physics and chemistry in real life, like in construction, shipbuilding, chemical plants, mines, etc. Bachelors related to Civil engineering, construction management, data analytics engineering, and Masters in Mechatronics are some of the university courses that fall under the STEM engineering category in Australia.
Maths
Mathematics includes a group of related sciences, including geometry, algebra, calculus, and other studies of shape, space, quantity, and so on. Examples are Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, Masters in Applied Mathematics, etc.
Range of careers with STEM education in Australia
In the Australian curriculum, STEM education has got a renewed upthrust so that “all young Australians are equipped with the necessary STEM skills and knowledge that they must need to succeed”. Here, it is interesting to note that STEM education in Australia includes medicine as well. There is no doubt that studying STEM can build up innovative minds but what are its career scopes?
In Australia, professionals qualified in STEM are some of the nation’s highest earners. Students who graduate with any STEM subject can get employment opportunities in some of the high demanding job fields, like ICT, agriculture, medicine, computer science, and so on.
That being said, here we have listed some of the top career options in which you can pursue your career with a STEM qualification in Australia.
| Job Profile | Approx. Salary (in AUD/ Per Year) |
| Petroleum engineer | $181,000 |
| Agricultural scientist | $82,000 |
| ICT network and security architect | $180,000 |
| Research scientist | $70,000 |
| Construction manager | $170,000 |
| Information Technology (IT) manager | $138,526 |
| Planner and surveyors | $110,000 |
| Architect | $130,250 |
Visa pathways for STEM graduates
STEM education in Australia is not only beneficial in terms of gaining a stronghold on fantastic career options but also to get points on your visa. So, if you are STEM-qualified and looking to apply for a PR (Permanent Residency) Visa to Australia, you can get an added advantage of getting 10 extra points on your visa application. Moreover, due to the shortage of skilled labor force in Australia, the Australian government has focused on creating new visa pathways and relaxing eligibility criteria to bring in STEM graduates.
So, if you are an overseas student with STEM qualification, you can apply for the following visa pathways:
- Skilled Nominated Visa (subclass 190)– This is a permanent Australian visa under which you can live and work permanently in the country.
- Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189)– This is a permanent Australian visa and has two streams: Point Tested Stream and New Zealand Stream.
- Permanent Employer Sponsored Visas (Subclasses 186 & 187)- This is a permanent Australian visa under which skilled overseas workers can live and work permanently in the country.
- Skilled Regional Visa (Subclass 887)– It is for those who have lived and worked in specified areas of regional Australia on an eligible visa previously
- Skilled Work Regional Provisional visa (Subclass 491)– This is a temporary visa for up to 5 years and had two streams- Main applicant and Subsequent entrant.
You can head to Australian Visa Lawyer to learn more about the above-mentioned visa subclasses, other visa information, the eligibilities you need, and the steps to follow while applying.
Skills Assessments Points for STEM graduates
If you are a high-achieving international student in Australia, you are going to get the avenue of obtaining extra points through pursuing a Masters’, Ph.D., or other research degree. Here, you should remember that you must study for at least 2 academic years in Australia and be awarded by an Australian educational institution.
Hence, you can gain an extra 10 points toward a Subclass 189, 190, or 491 Visa if you have STEM qualification in any of the following subjects:
- Natural and physical sciences
- Biology
- Chemical science
- Mathematical science
- Physics, etc
- Information technology
- Computer science
- IT, etc
- Engineering and related technologies
- Civil engineering
- maritime engineering and technology
- aerospace engineering and technology, etc
How Australian Visa Lawyer can assist?
Australian Visa Lawyer has a competent team of expert migration lawyers who can help you in every step of your visa application. That being said, if you are having a STEM education in Australia and looking forward to work in this field in Australia, our expert team of registered and qualified migration agents will be happy to happy you. Our office handles all kinds of visa applications efficiently to assist you through a smooth application process. Contact us today to get a proper solution to all your visa-related queries and needs. With us, you can be sure of having a butter-smooth Australian visa application process!
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