Which course, which country, and what happens after you graduate
For each destination: how long you may stay and work after your degree, which occupations that government has itself declared to be in shortage, and the job boards employers there actually post on. Policy checked in August 2026.
How to read this page
We do not publish vacancy counts. Any figure like “18,000 software openings in Canada” is wrong within a week and you cannot check it. What we list instead is each government's own published shortage list â Canada's Express Entry category draws, Australia's Core Skills Occupation List, the UK Immigration Salary List, Germany's Engpassberufe, New Zealand's Green List â because those are durable, they are what visa decisions are made against, and you can open the source yourself. For today's live count, use the portals linked under each country.
Choose a destination
8 destinations, ranked by nothing â pick the one you are considering.
Staying on after your degree
OPT â 12 months, extendable to 36 for STEM degrees
F-1 graduates get 12 months of Optional Practical Training. Graduates of a degree on the DHS STEM list can apply for a further 24 months, giving 36 in total. Longer-term stay normally means an employer sponsoring an H-1B, which is capped and allocated by lottery.
The catch
The H-1B cap is the real constraint, not OPT. Being selected is a lottery, not a function of how good your degree is â plan for the possibility of not being picked.
What United States says it is short of
Straight from the government's published shortage list â study one of these and your visa route is materially easier, not just your job hunt.
- Computer science & software STEM-designated, so eligible for the full 36-month OPT.
- Data science & AI STEM-designated; strong demand in both tech and finance.
- Electrical engineering STEM-designated; semiconductor investment has widened demand.
- Healthcare & nursing Persistent shortage, but requires US licensure (NCLEX), not just the degree.
- Accounting & finance CPA-track roles; a US CPA is usually expected for progression.
Graduate pay
US$70,000 â US$120,000 typical graduate range in STEM fields
Indicative, and before tax and living costs. Pay varies more by city than by country â compare it against rent where you would actually live, not against the national average.
Where the jobs are posted
Search these for today's real openings in your field.
Government portals list roles that are cleared to sponsor a visa more reliably than the commercial boards do â start there.
Study in United States
Universities, fees and entry requirements for this destination.
United States country guideStaying on after your degree
PGWP â up to 3 years
The Post-Graduation Work Permit length follows the programme length: 8 months to 2 years of study gives a permit of matching length, and 2 years or more gives 3 years. PGWP time counts as the skilled work experience Express Entry rewards.
The catch
Since 2024 the PGWP has field-of-study requirements for college (non-degree) programmes, and study permits are capped. Confirm your specific programme still qualifies before you enrol â this rule has changed more than once.
What Canada says it is short of
Straight from the government's published shortage list â study one of these and your visa route is materially easier, not just your job hunt.
- Healthcare & nursing Has its own category-based Express Entry draw.
- Skilled trades Category-based draw; often overlooked by degree-focused applicants.
- Computer science & software STEM category draw, though 2024-25 cut-offs rose sharply.
- Education & teaching Added as an Express Entry category.
- Agriculture & agri-food Category-based draw, concentrated outside the big cities.
Graduate pay
C$55,000 â C$85,000 typical graduate range
Indicative, and before tax and living costs. Pay varies more by city than by country â compare it against rent where you would actually live, not against the national average.
Where the jobs are posted
Search these for today's real openings in your field.
Government portals list roles that are cleared to sponsor a visa more reliably than the commercial boards do â start there.
Study in Canada
Universities, fees and entry requirements for this destination.
Canada country guideStaying on after your degree
Graduate Route â 2 years, 3 after a PhD
The Graduate Route lets you stay and work, or look for work, with no employer sponsor and no salary threshold. To stay beyond it you normally move onto a Skilled Worker visa, which does require a licensed sponsor and meeting the salary floor.
The catch
The Skilled Worker salary threshold rose steeply in 2024, which is what makes the transition off the Graduate Route hard â the two-year permit is generous, the step after it is not.
What United Kingdom says it is short of
Straight from the government's published shortage list â study one of these and your visa route is materially easier, not just your job hunt.
- Healthcare & nursing On the Immigration Salary List, with lower salary thresholds.
- Civil engineering Listed shortage occupation.
- Computer science & software Steady demand, though no longer discounted on the salary list.
- Education & teaching Shortage in maths, physics and computing.
- Veterinary science Long-standing listed shortage.
Graduate pay
ÂŖ28,000 â ÂŖ45,000 typical graduate range
Indicative, and before tax and living costs. Pay varies more by city than by country â compare it against rent where you would actually live, not against the national average.
Where the jobs are posted
Search these for today's real openings in your field.
Government portals list roles that are cleared to sponsor a visa more reliably than the commercial boards do â start there.
Study in United Kingdom
Universities, fees and entry requirements for this destination.
United Kingdom country guideStaying on after your degree
Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) â 2 to 3 years
The Post-Higher Education Work stream gives 2 years after a bachelor's and 3 after a master's by research or a doctorate. Studying and living in a designated regional area can extend it further.
The catch
Age limits and English requirements were tightened in 2024, and the maximum age for most applicants is now 35. Check you are still eligible on the date you would apply, not the date you enrol.
What Australia says it is short of
Straight from the government's published shortage list â study one of these and your visa route is materially easier, not just your job hunt.
- Healthcare & nursing Core Skills Occupation List; registration with AHPRA required.
- Skilled trades Construction and electrical trades in listed shortage.
- Computer science & software On the Skills in Demand pathway.
- Civil engineering Listed shortage, driven by infrastructure programmes.
- Education & teaching Listed shortage nationally, early childhood and secondary.
Graduate pay
A$65,000 â A$95,000 typical graduate range
Indicative, and before tax and living costs. Pay varies more by city than by country â compare it against rent where you would actually live, not against the national average.
Where the jobs are posted
Search these for today's real openings in your field.
Government portals list roles that are cleared to sponsor a visa more reliably than the commercial boards do â start there.
Study in Australia
Universities, fees and entry requirements for this destination.
Australia country guideStaying on after your degree
Job-seeking residence permit â 18 months
Graduates of a German university get an 18-month permit to find work related to their degree, and may work without restriction while searching. Once employed you can move to an EU Blue Card, and permanent residence is possible after as little as 21 months on one with sufficient German.
The catch
Public universities charge little or no tuition, but a blocked account showing proof of funds is required for the student visa, and most non-engineering roles expect German at B2 even when the degree was taught in English.
What Germany says it is short of
Straight from the government's published shortage list â study one of these and your visa route is materially easier, not just your job hunt.
- Mechanical engineering Classic Engpassberuf (bottleneck occupation).
- Electrical engineering Listed bottleneck occupation.
- Computer science & software IT specialists have a reduced Blue Card salary threshold.
- Healthcare & nursing Severe listed shortage; requires recognition of qualifications.
- Skilled trades Listed shortage across construction and installation trades.
Graduate pay
âŦ45,000 â âŦ65,000 typical graduate range
Indicative, and before tax and living costs. Pay varies more by city than by country â compare it against rent where you would actually live, not against the national average.
Where the jobs are posted
Search these for today's real openings in your field.
Government portals list roles that are cleared to sponsor a visa more reliably than the commercial boards do â start there.
Study in Germany
Universities, fees and entry requirements for this destination.
Germany country guideStaying on after your degree
Third Level Graduate Programme â 12 to 24 months
Stamp 1G permission gives 12 months after a level 8 award and up to 24 months after a level 9 or higher, to seek and take up employment. From there a Critical Skills Employment Permit is the usual route onward.
The catch
Dublin housing costs are the practical constraint on graduate salaries here; budget for accommodation before comparing headline pay with the UK.
What Ireland says it is short of
Straight from the government's published shortage list â study one of these and your visa route is materially easier, not just your job hunt.
- Computer science & software On the Critical Skills Occupations List.
- Data science & AI Critical Skills listed.
- Healthcare & nursing Critical Skills listed.
- Accounting & finance Strong demand from the international financial services sector.
Graduate pay
âŦ35,000 â âŦ55,000 typical graduate range
Indicative, and before tax and living costs. Pay varies more by city than by country â compare it against rent where you would actually live, not against the national average.
Where the jobs are posted
Search these for today's real openings in your field.
Government portals list roles that are cleared to sponsor a visa more reliably than the commercial boards do â start there.
Study in Ireland
Universities, fees and entry requirements for this destination.
Ireland country guideStaying on after your degree
Orientation Year (zoekjaar) â 12 months
Graduates get a one-year permit with free access to the labour market, usable any time within three years of graduating. During the orientation year employers face a reduced salary threshold when hiring you as a highly skilled migrant.
The catch
The 30% expat tax ruling has been scaled back, so older take-home pay comparisons overstate what you would now keep.
What Netherlands says it is short of
Straight from the government's published shortage list â study one of these and your visa route is materially easier, not just your job hunt.
- Computer science & software Persistent shortage across the Randstad tech sector.
- Data science & AI Strong demand in logistics and finance.
- Electrical engineering Shortage occupation, semiconductor cluster around Eindhoven.
- Healthcare & nursing Shortage, but Dutch language registration required.
Graduate pay
âŦ38,000 â âŦ55,000 typical graduate range
Indicative, and before tax and living costs. Pay varies more by city than by country â compare it against rent where you would actually live, not against the national average.
Where the jobs are posted
Search these for today's real openings in your field.
Government portals list roles that are cleared to sponsor a visa more reliably than the commercial boards do â start there.
Study in Netherlands
Universities, fees and entry requirements for this destination.
Netherlands country guideStaying on after your degree
Post Study Work Visa â up to 3 years
Length depends on the level and length of your qualification: a bachelor's degree or higher generally gives 3 years. Green List occupations offer a straight-to-residence or work-to-residence pathway.
The catch
The market is small, so demand concentrates in a handful of cities; a Green List occupation matters more here than in larger economies.
What New Zealand says it is short of
Straight from the government's published shortage list â study one of these and your visa route is materially easier, not just your job hunt.
- Healthcare & nursing Green List, straight-to-residence for registered nurses.
- Civil engineering Green List occupation.
- Computer science & software Green List for several specialist ICT roles.
- Skilled trades Green List across construction trades.
- Education & teaching Green List occupation, secondary teaching.
Graduate pay
NZ$55,000 â NZ$80,000 typical graduate range
Indicative, and before tax and living costs. Pay varies more by city than by country â compare it against rent where you would actually live, not against the national average.
Where the jobs are posted
Search these for today's real openings in your field.
Government portals list roles that are cleared to sponsor a visa more reliably than the commercial boards do â start there.
Study in New Zealand
Universities, fees and entry requirements for this destination.
New Zealand country guideWhich course opens the most countries
Counted by how many of these 8 destinations name the field on their own shortage list. A field listed in six countries is a safer bet than one listed in one, because you are not betting your career on a single government's policy holding.
-
Computer science & software
In shortage in 8 of 8
-
Healthcare & nursing
In shortage in 8 of 8
-
Education & teaching
In shortage in 4 of 8
-
Skilled trades
In shortage in 4 of 8
-
Civil engineering
In shortage in 3 of 8
-
Data science & AI
In shortage in 3 of 8
-
Electrical engineering
In shortage in 3 of 8
-
Accounting & finance
In shortage in 2 of 8
-
Agriculture & agri-food
In shortage in 1 of 8
-
Mechanical engineering
In shortage in 1 of 8
-
Veterinary science
In shortage in 1 of 8
One caveat that catches people out: a licensed profession is not unlocked by the degree alone. Nursing, medicine, teaching, law and engineering in several of these countries require local registration or an examination â the shortage is real, but so is the extra step. Each country panel notes where that applies.
Work the repayment out before you commit
The graduate salary ranges on this page are what an education loan actually gets repaid out of â after tax, rent and the months it takes to find the first role. Put your own numbers through the calculator against the range for your destination before you sign anything. If the EMI only works on the top of the range, the plan is too tight.