Education points: claim the recognised level, not the marketing title
The general points test awards one highest educational-qualification band. A separate 10-point specialist education category may apply to defined Australian research degrees. Course names such as “master”, “diploma” or “professional certificate” do not decide recognition by themselves.
Key points
- A recognised doctorate is currently 20 points; at least a recognised bachelor qualification is 15 points.
- An Australian diploma or trade qualification, or another award recognised by the relevant assessing authority as suitable for the occupation, can be 10 points.
- Only the highest applicable qualification band is awarded within this category.
- Specialist education is a separate 10-point category with narrower Australian research-degree and field requirements.
Current qualification bands
| Highest applicable qualification | Points |
|---|---|
| Australian doctorate or overseas doctorate of a recognised standard | 20 |
| At least an Australian bachelor degree or overseas bachelor qualification of a recognised standard | 15 |
| Australian diploma or Australian trade qualification | 10 |
| Qualification or award recognised by the relevant assessing authority as suitable for the nominated occupation | 10 |
Completion and recognition
Points require the applicant to have met the requirements for the award at invitation. Formal graduation may occur later, but the completion letter, transcript and institution records must show when academic requirements were met. For overseas study, local naming does not automatically establish the Australian-recognised standard.
Specialist educational qualification
The current separate category awards 10 points for a defined specialist educational qualification. The Regulations refer to an Australian master's degree by research or doctoral degree, at least two academic years of study at the institution, and a field of education specified by legislative instrument. A coursework master's, short research component or unrelated field does not qualify merely because it is in science or technology.
Evidence checklist
- Final award certificate or official completion letter.
- Complete academic transcript with study and completion dates.
- Institution and course details, including mode and campus where relevant.
- Assessing-authority recognition or qualification assessment when required.
- For specialist education, research-degree type, CRICOS/course duration and field evidence.
- Certified translations for documents not in English.
Keep categories separate
Education points, Australian study points and specialist education points test different facts. A qualification may support more than one category only when every separate definition is met. Never add Australian study or specialist points simply because the degree itself earns 15 or 20 qualification points.
Official sources to check before acting
These pages control over any summary on this website. Recheck them when you submit an EOI, accept a nomination or lodge a visa application.
Important Notice: The content on this page is for general information only. Australian visa policies and requirements are subject to change at any time. Always refer to the official Department of Home Affairs website for the most current and accurate information.