Meeting the 485 Australian Study Requirement With More Than One Course

The 485 Temporary Graduate visa requires the applicant to have met the Australian Study Requirement (ASR). The clearest case is a single CRICOS-registered course completed over the minimum prescribed academic period. But many applicants meet the ASR by stacking two or more shorter qualifications. Doing so correctly requires careful attention to course registration, continuity, and timing.

What the Australian Study Requirement is

The ASR is a Regulations-defined test: completion of one or more CRICOS-registered courses of study, totalling at least the specified minimum duration (set in the Migration Regulations), delivered in English and substantially in Australia. Confirm the current required period on the Home Affairs website. Where stacking multiple courses, Departmental policy (currently set out at section 1.4 of the relevant policy document — “May meet requirement as a result of more than one course”) provides that the commencement of each subsequent course should generally occur in the same or following academic year. Other breaks between studies must be approved by the education provider delivering the course/s — for example, an approved deferment due to compassionate and compelling reasons.

When stacking courses works

• Both courses are CRICOS-registered
• Both courses lead to qualifications recognised by Australian authorities
• Combined duration meets the minimum study requirement
• Each course was at AQF Diploma level or above (for the bachelor pathway) or as otherwise required for the specific visa stream
• Time gap between courses is minimal and explainable

When stacking courses fails

• One course is not CRICOS-registered — extra-curricular study, English-language preparation without a CRICOS code, or off-shore distance learning typically does not count
• Long gap between courses — particularly where the applicant was on a tourist visa or worked between courses, raising questions about study intent
• Course completed before the relevant qualification period — older courses (typically more than several years before the 485 application) may not count
• Courses delivered substantially offshore — even where the institution is Australian, online or hybrid courses with substantial offshore delivery face scrutiny
• Failed or incomplete components — only successfully completed courses count toward the duration

How case officers verify

• Course completion certificates and transcripts from each institution
• CRICOS codes for each course — the Department checks against the CRICOS database
• Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) documentation for the visa periods
• Evidence of physical presence in Australia during the courses (immigration entry/exit records)

Common errors when stacking

1. Counting English language preparation as part of the study period

English-language courses (ELICOS) generally do not count toward the ASR. They satisfy the English requirement for the student visa but not the ASR for the 485.

2. Counting partial completion

Only successfully completed components count. A withdrawn semester is not counted toward the duration.

3. Including extension or bridging programs

These may or may not count depending on CRICOS registration and outcome qualifications. Verify each course’s CRICOS code.

4. Not noticing the in-Australia delivery requirement

Some Australian institutions offer offshore campuses. Study completed offshore through an Australian institution often does not satisfy the ASR.

Practical advice

• Build the timeline before lodging — chronologically list every course with CRICOS code, dates, location of study
• Get academic transcripts and CoE for every course — Home Affairs will ask
• Note any gaps and explain them — even short gaps can prompt requests for further information
• If unsure whether a course counts, seek written advice from the institution about its CRICOS status during your enrolment period

Frequently asked questions

Final word

Stacking courses to meet the Australian Study Requirement is allowed and common. Do it carefully: verify CRICOS registration for each course, document continuity, and gather all evidence at lodgement.