@AnneNapenas14 said:
Hello everyone. I am Mining Engineer here in the Philippines and I have decided to take the Student Visa pathway since I only have 4 years of experience so far. May mga questions lang po kasi ako na iba iba ang sagot ng mga tao sa various fb groups and kailangan ko po ng kasagutan to wit:
Totoo po ba na kung license holder po rito sa Pinas, hindi recommended ang magtake ng graduate diploma or graduate certificate kasi parang down grade po ito? Mas maganda raw po kung Masters ang kukunin kasi may PR pathway daw po.
Is it possible to get employed and mag PR kahit na graduate diploma or graduate certificate lang po ang kinuha?
If ever mas maganda po talaga ang Masters, is it still okay for me to take MBA program instead of a Masters program related to my Profession as a Mining Engineer? Ano po yung effect niya sa points sa assessment ng Engineers Australia soon? What are the chances po na maemploy ako sa mining companies even if MBA ang kinuha ko?
Thank you po sa mga sasagot 🙂 God bless.
I agree with most of @hikari 's response.
Diploma and Advanced Diploma lower than a bachelor's degree in the AQF, while Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma are higher than a bachelor's degree. Grad Cert/Grad Dip are lower than a master's degree. You can look at the levels in more detail here: [https://aqf.edu.au/aqf-qualifications](https://aqf.edu.au/aqf-qualifications)
The length of study for a Grad Cert is usually one semester (full-time enrollment for international students), and Grad Dip is two semesters/one year. Master's degree can be 1.5 years or 2 years, depending on the topic. Studying a Grad Cert/Grad Dip will not get you a Post-Study Work Visa, nor will you get any SkillSelect points for Australian study because you won't reach the minimum 2-year academic study, unless of course you combine them with another qualification to meet the 2-year study.
Doing a master's degree does not guarantee a PR pathway, it simply provides you with the opportunity to get a Post-Study Work Visa (485 visa) so that you can work in Australia after you graduate. The validity of the grad visa depends on what you will study. Finishing a bachelor's degree can get you a 2-year visa, while studying master by coursework can get you a 3-year visa. You could potentially get a second 485 visa if you study in a regional area too. While on that grad visa, ideally you would be working in the occupation you want to nominate for migration, because getting one year of Australian work experience in that occupation can get you additional points.
More details about the 485 visa here: [https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/temporary-graduate-485/post-study-work#About](https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/temporary-graduate-485/post-study-work#About)
I don't know what are the minimum qualification requirements to work as a mining engineer, so I don't know if a Grad Cert/Grad Dip will help you secure a job after graduation. In my opinion, what matters more is (as hikari said) having a valid visa to work in Australia and having the necessary skills / knowledge / experience to work in the role you are applying for. Completing a Grad Cert/Grad Dip can certainly help you with the upskilling part, but your chances of getting employed will depend on your overall profile, if you're a good fit for the job.
You will have to check EA on whether your bachelor's degre is sufficient to do a skills assessment. If it's not, then maybe do a Master of Mining Engineering. Whether or not you should take an MBA depends on your end goal. If you are shifting careers to work in business, MBA does make sense. If you are still keen on doing mining engineering, it seems more logical to study a Master of Mining Engineering / Professional Engineering. Yes, it may be cheaper to study MBA at a lesser known school/uni, but studying in Australia is an investment for yourself. You want to make sure that you're spending your time, money, and efforts to something that will contribute to your personal and professional goals. Do your due diligence/research about what your study options are.
No one can outright tell you your chances of getting an engineering job if you have an MBA, unless your target job is a business-related or management-related role. If the role you want is still more of engineering work, then probably steer clear of an MBA.