As an international student in Victoria, gaining quality and relevant work experience is invaluable. In Australia’s competitive workforce, having practical experience through internships, placements or part-time jobs can help you stand out as it is highly valued by employers.

When your course ends and graduation is coming, you might be looking for ways to build on this experience, apply your skills and launch an international career in your field of expertise.

Post-study work rights

Once you graduate from your course, your student visa will expire. If you want to stay longer to find work related to your qualifications, you will have to apply for a new visa. The type of visa will depend on your circumstances, and you must meet certain eligibility criteria. Below are some of the common pathways.

Temporary Graduate visa

The Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) is the most common working visa for international graduates. Depending on your circumstances and eligibility, you can apply to stay and work in Australia from between 18 months and up to 3 years.

If you hold an associate degree, diploma or trade qualification, closely related to a nominated occupation on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), you may be eligible to apply for the Post-Vocational Education Work stream.

If you have a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree, you may be eligible to apply for the Post-Higher Education Work stream.

If you lived and studied in a regional area, you may be eligible to apply for the Second Post-Higher Education Work stream, which allows you to extend your stay in Australia after your first Temporary Graduate visa expires. In Victoria, all areas outside Melbourne are classified as regional.

Different stay periods apply to Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders, who may be able to stay for up to 5 years.

Indian nationals have different arrangements under the Australia India – Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA). If you’re an Indian national on a Temporary Graduate visa (Post-Higher Education Work stream), you can stay in Australia after finishing your studies for:

• Up to 2 years if you completed a Bachelor’s degree (including honours)
• Up to 3 years if you completed a Bachelor’s degree with First Class Honours in STEM (including ICT)
• Up to 3 years if you completed a Master’s degree (coursework, extended or research)
• Up to 4 years if you completed a Doctoral degrees (PhD).

Victoria's Skilled Visa Nomination Program

Victoria offers nomination for the following two state nominated skilled visas:

• Skilled Nominated Visa (subclass 190): A permanent visa that lets you live and work anywhere in Victoria.
• Skilled Regional (Provisional) Visa (subclass 491): A 5-year provisional visa that allows you to live and work in regional Victoria, with a pathway to permanent residency after 3 years.
• State or territory government nomination is mandatory for both visas. You can work without restrictions, as long as you follow your visa conditions, and you do not need a job offer or employer sponsorship to apply.

For more information, visit Live in Melbourne’s dedicated international student graduates page. If you’d like to submit an expression of interest, see Skilled migration visas - Live in Melbourne.

Australian work visa options

Information about the range of independent, employer sponsored, and other temporary and permanent visa options is available on the Department of Home Affairs website.

If you would like to discuss an employer sponsored pathway with your employer, check the eligibility requirements on the Department of Home Affairs website. This page then provides more information that may be useful for their human resources representative to consider.

Advice on visas

For the full list of available visas, please visit the Department of Home Affairs website. You can also seek advice from a Registered Migration Agent. To find an agent, visit the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA).

• Factsheet – Giving immigration assistance in Australia – explains what immigration assistance is, who can legally provide it, and penalties for unlawful advice.
• Consumer guide – explains what a registered migration agent does and the rules they must follow when helping you.

Graduate jobs in Melbourne and Victoria

When you finish your course, you may want to look for a graduate job or a graduate program for international students in Melbourne. It is important to know the difference between these opportunity types so you can ensure you find the right one for you.

A graduate job is an entry-level or junior role at an organisation. These are paid positions available to people with relevant qualifications to launch their careers in their desired fields.

A graduate program is a paid employment experience over a set period of time, typically 1-2 years. A graduate program often gives you the chance to fast-track your career and receive support from mentors, which is why they can be quite competitive.

Employers can begin recruiting for graduate opportunities up to a year in advance, so try to apply early to give yourself the best chance of success.

Finding a job

There are many ways to look for work while studying in Victoria.

You can search online job platforms, explore graduate and internship opportunities, check your education provider’s careers service and connect with employers through career fairs and networking events.

For more information, head to our guide on How to find work.

Help and support

If you would like some advice or guidance when it comes to launching your career in Australia, the best place to start is your education provider.

Many institutions have dedicated careers  teams - including career counsellors - who can help you learn employability skills, refine your resume and connect you with relevant employers based on your qualification.

Additionally, education providers often feature clubs and societies on campus that deliver programs through which you can build your professional network and gain practical work experience.

Remember, the team at the Study Melbourne Hub are always on hand to help. We offer regular events to build your employability skills and perfect your resume, and our team can also refer you to a free legal advice service if you have concerns related to your employment conditions.