Best Courses in Australia for PR 2026: SOL List, In-Demand Occupations & Points Guide

Best courses in Australia for PR — if you are an Indian student planning to study in Australia in 2026 with permanent residency as your ultimate goal, the course you choose is not just an academic decision. It is the single most consequential immigration decision you will make. The best courses in Australia for PR are those that align with the Skilled Occupation List (SOL), lead to a positive skills assessment from the designated assessing authority, qualify you for a Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa (2–4 years of open work rights), and position you to reach the minimum 65 points — or more competitively, 80–90+ points — for Subclass 189, 190, or 491 permanent residency. Since the Genuine Student (GS) requirement replaced GTE in March 2024, the Subclass 500 visa fee increased to AUD $2,000, and the financial requirement now stands at AUD $29,710 per year, Indian students cannot afford to enrol in courses that have no PR pathway. In this definitive 2026 guide, EEC — with 27+ years of experience and 50,000+ Indian students placed — reveals exactly which courses lead to Australian PR, which occupation lists matter, which assessing authorities you need, and how to maximise your points from Day 1.

Why Course Choice Matters for PR — The 2026 Reality

Indian students often select a course based on tuition fees, university ranking, or family preference — without considering the downstream immigration consequences. In 2026, the best courses in Australia for PR satisfy four criteria simultaneously: (1) the course is CRICOS-registered, (2) the course leads to an occupation on the SOL/MLTSSL/STSOL, (3) a skills assessment pathway exists from a recognised assessing authority, and (4) the occupation has strong demand so you can secure qualifying work experience during your Subclass 485 visa. Miss any one of these four and your PR pathway becomes exponentially harder — or impossible.

The mathematics are stark. An Indian student who studies nursing at a regional university in South Australia — an MLTSSL occupation assessed by ANMAC with massive demand — can accumulate: Age 30 + Education 20 + English (Proficient) 10 + ASR 5 + Regional Study 5 + 491 Nomination 15 = 85 points. An Indian student who studies general business management at a Sydney university — a non-SOL occupation — finishes with zero PR eligibility. Same investment of 2–3 years and INR 25–40 lakh. Radically different outcomes. This is why the best courses in Australia for PR are defined by immigration outcomes, not academic prestige. EEC evaluates every programme against all four PR criteria before recommending it to any Indian student.

SOL/MLTSSL Occupation List 2026 — The Foundation of Course Selection

The Skilled Occupation List (SOL) and its subsets — the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL), and the Regional Occupation List (ROL) — define which occupations qualify for Australian PR. For Indian students choosing the best courses in Australia for PR, understanding which list your target occupation sits on is essential because each list maps to different visa subclasses:

The critical insight for Indian students is this: MLTSSL occupations offer the broadest PR flexibility. If your course leads to an MLTSSL occupation, you can apply for Subclass 189 (no state sponsorship needed, live anywhere), Subclass 190 (state nomination, +5 points), or Subclass 491 (regional nomination, +15 points). STSOL occupations limit you to 190 and 491 only — you cannot apply for 189, the most coveted visa. And ROL occupations restrict you to 491 only. When choosing the best courses in Australia for PR, always verify your target occupation is on the MLTSSL if you want maximum pathway flexibility. The Department of Home Affairs updates these lists periodically — our Australia PR guide tracks every change. Skills assessment is required for PR regardless of which list your occupation appears on.

Top 15 Best Courses in Australia for PR in 2026

Based on SOL/MLTSSL data, skills assessment outcomes, 485 visa durations, employer demand, and points accumulation potential, here are the best courses in Australia for PR that Indian students should consider in 2026. Each course is evaluated across five dimensions: occupation list alignment, skills assessment pathway, employer demand, regional availability, and points potential.

The dominance of healthcare, engineering, IT, and trades is not coincidental. These are the sectors where Australia faces the deepest long-term skill shortages — which is precisely why they remain on the MLTSSL year after year. Indian students who choose courses in these fields benefit from three simultaneous advantages: SOL eligibility (mandatory for PR), strong employment demand (critical for 485 visa work experience), and high invitation rates in SkillSelect rounds. The Group of Eight universities — Melbourne, ANU, Sydney, UNSW, UQ, Monash, UWA, and Adelaide — offer most of these programmes, but regional universities often provide better PR outcomes due to the +5 regional study points and easier 491 nomination access.

Nursing — The Gold Standard for Australia PR in 2026

If there is a single course that represents the best courses in Australia for PR in 2026, it is nursing. Registered Nurse (ANZSCO 254499) sits on the MLTSSL with the highest priority level, meaning it qualifies for Subclass 189, 190, and 491. Every state and territory in Australia faces a nursing shortage — from metropolitan hospitals in Sydney and Melbourne to regional health centres in Tasmania and the Northern Territory. For Indian students, nursing offers the most reliable, fastest, and most geographically flexible PR pathway available:

The nursing pathway is remarkable because it sidesteps the most common PR obstacles Indian students face in other fields. IT and engineering graduates in Australia often struggle with SkillSelect backlogs — invitation thresholds for software engineers and accountants regularly hit 85–95+ points. Nurses, by contrast, receive invitations at 65–80 points because there simply are not enough qualified applicants. Indian students who may not achieve Superior English (IELTS 8.0) or who lack years of overseas work experience can still achieve PR through nursing with a realistic points profile. For Indian students considering this pathway alongside funding, explore education loans for Australia and scholarships for Indian students in Australia.

Engineering Courses for PR — Civil, Mechanical, Electrical

Engineering is one of the strongest categories among the best courses in Australia for PR for Indian students in 2026. Civil Engineer (ANZSCO 233211), Mechanical Engineer (233512), and Electrical Engineer (233311) all sit on the MLTSSL, qualifying for Subclass 189, 190, and 491. Skills assessment is conducted by Engineers Australia through the CDR (Competency Demonstration Report) pathway or the Washington Accord pathway for accredited programmes. Here is what Indian students need to know:

Indian students with an existing bachelor's in engineering from India can pursue a Master of Engineering in Australia (typically 2 years) to gain both the Australian qualification (worth +5 ASR points) and access to Engineers Australia's CDR assessment. The Group of Eight universities — particularly Melbourne, UNSW, Monash, and UQ — have Washington Accord-accredited engineering programmes that streamline the skills assessment process. However, for PR optimisation, Indian students should seriously consider engineering programmes at regional campuses. The University of Adelaide (regional, Group of Eight), University of Tasmania, Deakin University (Geelong campus), and Charles Sturt University offer engineering degrees with the +5 regional study bonus — a strategic advantage that often comes at a lower tuition cost. For those also comparing destinations, see our Australia vs Canada vs UK comparison.

IT & Cybersecurity for PR — The Largest Indian Student Cohort

Information technology is the most popular field among Indian students choosing the best courses in Australia for PR, and for good reason. Software Engineer (261313), ICT Security Specialist (262112), Data Scientist (261111), and Systems Analyst (261112) all sit on the MLTSSL. Skills assessment is conducted by the Australian Computer Society (ACS). However, the popularity of IT among Indian applicants means SkillSelect competition is fierce — 189 invitations for IT occupations regularly require 85–95+ points in 2026, significantly higher than nursing or trades. Here is the honest picture:

The key message for Indian students considering IT is this: the course itself is excellent for PR — IT occupations are firmly on the MLTSSL and ACS assessment is well-established. But the competition is intense because IT is the single most popular occupation category among Indian SkillSelect applicants. To stand out, Indian students need every available point: Superior English (IELTS 8.0 each = 20 points, vs Proficient at 10), regional study (+5), Professional Year (+5), NAATI Community Language (+5), and state/regional nomination (+5/+15). Indian students studying IT at regional universities like University of South Australia, University of Tasmania, or Federation University have a significant advantage over those at University of Sydney or UNSW — the regional + 491 bonus can add 20 points that metro students simply cannot access. Work experience during study is capped at 48 hours per fortnight with a minimum wage of AUD $24.95/hr — see our part-time jobs in Australia guide for strategies.

“I originally planned to study IT at the University of Melbourne. EEC convinced me to choose University of South Australia in Adelaide instead — same ACS assessment pathway, but Adelaide gave me +5 regional study points and positioned me for 491 nomination with +15 points. My total reached 90 points. My classmate who studied the same degree at Melbourne is stuck at 70 points and waiting for a 189 invitation that may never come. Regional campus choice is the single biggest PR decision I made.”

— Ananya R., MSc IT, University of South Australia — 491 Invitation, February 2026

Trade Courses via TAFE — The Overlooked PR Goldmine for 2026

Indian students almost universally overlook trade courses when evaluating the best courses in Australia for PR, yet trades represent some of the fastest, cheapest, and most reliable PR pathways in 2026. Electrician (341111), Plumber (334111), Carpenter (331212), Motor Mechanic (321211), and Welder (322311) are all on the MLTSSL. Skills assessment is conducted by Trades Recognition Australia (TRA). TAFE (Technical and Further Education) institutions offer Certificate III and IV programmes that cost a fraction of university degrees — and lead to occupations with some of the lowest SkillSelect invitation thresholds in the system.

Here is why Indian students should seriously consider TAFE trade courses in 2026: tuition is typically AUD $12,000–18,000 per year (compared to AUD $30,000–45,000 for a university degree). Programme duration is 2–3 years. All trade occupations sit on the MLTSSL — qualifying for Subclass 189, 190, and 491. Employer demand for tradespeople in regional Australia is so acute that many graduates receive job offers before completing their programme. And because very few Indian students choose trades, SkillSelect competition is dramatically lower than for IT or engineering. An Indian student who completes Certificate III in Electrotechnology at TAFE Queensland (regional campus), gains 2 years of work experience on a 485 visa, and applies for 491 with regional nomination can realistically achieve PR with a points score of 75–85 — achievable even without Superior English or extensive prior experience. For Indian students considering lower-cost options, our cheapest universities guide includes TAFE comparisons. OSHC remains mandatory for all student visa holders, including TAFE students.

Regional Campus Advantage — Why Location Is a PR Strategy

For Indian students evaluating the best courses in Australia for PR, the campus location is as important as the course itself. Studying at a campus designated as "regional" by the Department of Home Affairs earns +5 points for regional study — and positions you for Subclass 491 regional nomination, which adds a further +15 points. That potential 20-point swing is the difference between a comfortable PR invitation and years of frustration in the SkillSelect queue.

The strategic insight that most Indian students miss is that "regional Australia" includes major cities with populations exceeding 1–2 million people. Perth and Adelaide are vibrant metropolitan areas with world-class universities (UWA and University of Adelaide are both Group of Eight institutions), excellent job markets, and full urban amenities. Indian students who default to Sydney or Melbourne because of familiarity are sacrificing up to 20 PR points — a gap that no amount of English preparation or work experience can easily replace. As of 2026, the age limit for the 485 graduate visa remains under 35, meaning Indian students must plan efficiently. For students also considering the student visa process, the Subclass 500 fee is AUD $2,000 and financial proof requires AUD $29,710 per year. The Genuine Student (GS) requirement, which replaced GTE in March 2024, now evaluates your genuine intention to study — so choosing a course that aligns with your stated career goals is critical for visa approval as well as PR.

Choosing Between University and TAFE for PR

Indian students often assume that a university degree is inherently superior to a TAFE qualification for PR purposes. This is incorrect. Both university and TAFE qualifications can lead to MLTSSL occupations, positive skills assessments, and competitive PR applications. The key differences are cost, duration, and occupation type. University degrees cost AUD $25,000–45,000 per year and lead to professional occupations (ANZSCO 1–3 groups — managers, professionals, technicians). TAFE certificates cost AUD $12,000–18,000 per year and lead to trade occupations (ANZSCO 3 group — technicians and trades workers). For PR purposes, both are equally valid. TAFE graduates earn fewer education points (10 for a diploma vs 15–20 for a degree), but this is offset by significantly lower tuition costs, shorter programmes, and dramatically lower SkillSelect competition for trade occupations. Indian students from non-academic backgrounds who may not qualify for a master's programme should seriously consider TAFE — it offers a legitimate, affordable, and fast PR pathway that is almost completely untapped by Indian applicants. Our study in Australia after 12th guide covers TAFE entry pathways for Indian students.

Best courses in Australia for PR in 2026 are defined by immigration outcomes — not prestige, not rankings, not family expectations. Indian students who align their course with the MLTSSL, study at a regional campus for bonus points, target occupations with strong employer demand, and plan their skills assessment and points strategy from Day 1 have the highest PR conversion rates. Whether you choose nursing (the gold standard), engineering (strong across all subclasses), IT (popular but competitive), trades via TAFE (the overlooked goldmine), or social work and teaching (the underrated alternatives) — the pathway to Australia PR after study is transparent and achievable for well-prepared Indian students. The Subclass 500 visa fee of AUD $2,000, the financial requirement of AUD $29,710 per year, OSHC mandatory coverage, and the GS requirement (replacing GTE since March 2024) are costs of entry — the PR outcome is the return on that investment. Book a free consultation with EEC and let our immigration specialists match your academic profile, budget, and PR goals to the ideal course and campus. Visit your nearest EEC centre to start your Australia PR journey today. For students weighing alternative English requirements, our study in Australia without IELTS guide covers PTE, TOEFL, and other accepted tests. For students with academic concerns, see our study in Australia with backlogs guide.

Frequently Asked Questions: Best Courses in Australia for PR