With many changes brought in by the Commonwealth of Australia to de-link education with migration, the demand for comparatively cheaper trade related diploma courses has drastically reduced. The authorities have found that international students who earlier followed such courses mostly did not practice these trades after gaining residency. They never had a passion for such trades and merely used them to gain residency.

Australia now wants those young international students who follow good university courses become professionals and who have excellent communication skills in English to apply for residency on completion of the courses of studies. Thus the demand for courses by international students has shifted from vocational diploma courses to degree courses in universities. The new migration point scheme awards more points for mature students (25-32 years) with related work experience thus encouraging international students to do postgraduate studies in Australia.

Engineers are acutely short in Australia. Students who have a flare for mathematics and physical sciences should seek to follow degree courses in Engineering to specialise in such fields as Chemical, Mechanical, Civil (demand also for Surveyors and Architects), Geotechnical, Structural, Transport, Electrical, Electronics, Industrial, Mechanical, Production or Plant, Mining, Petroleum, Aeronautical, Agriculture, Biomedical, Environmental, Software, Telecommunication and Telecom Networks.

Professionals in Health Sciences such as Medical Diagnostic Radiographer, Medical Radiation Therapist, Nuclear Medicine Technologist, Sonography, Optometrist, Chiropractor, Osteopath, Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist, Podiatrist, Speech Pathologist, Clinical or Educational Psychologists, Psychotherapists, Nurses (General or with Specialisation in aged care, child and family health, community health, critical care & emergency, disability & rehab, peri-operative, surgical) are also in great demand. Students proficient in Bio Sciences should seek to follow such courses.

Students skilled in Commerce and Business studies should seek to follow courses that lead to such professions as Actuary, General, Management or Taxation Accountant and External Accountant. While Agricultural or Medical Laboratory Scientists and Chemists are also in demand, those who like the profession of teaching should seek to follow courses leading to Early Childhood & Secondary Education.

Edlocate being one of the leading Australian University representatives in Sri Lanka has been advised by several universities of their willingness to offer scholarships to bright students. Australian universities offer scholarships at undergraduate level purely on merit. The students must have excellent results at GCE A/L. Having excellent English communication skills in addition to excellent academic records will enable Edlocate to promote and assist bright students from Sri Lanka to secure some of these scholarships.