Choose a study abroad major with job and settlement opportunities

🔄 Cập nhật lần cuối: 08/10/26

Choosing a study abroad major with job and settlement opportunities is the desire of many families when investing in sending their children to study abroad. However, the list of priority occupations and immigration policies of countries change quite often. Choosing a major just because it's "easy to settle in" while ignoring your abilities and interests is a big risk. This article helps you have a frame of mind to choose a more sustainable industry.

Principles for choosing a study abroad major with job opportunities

A suitable major is often the intersection of three circles:

1. Ability and interests: you must be able to follow a 3–5 year program and work in that profession for a long time.
2. Labor market needs in the country you plan to stay in, or in Vietnam if you plan to return home.
3. Visa and immigration policy: Is the profession a priority, does it require a practice license?

If you only meet round 3 but lack round 1, it's easy to quit halfway or graduate but not be able to compete. If you are unclear about your child's abilities, parents can refer to the article Help your child choose a major and a suitable country to study abroad.

Industry groups often have high demand

Based on the list of priority occupations recently announced by countries, some industry groups have been repeated quite stably over the years:

For example, in the 2026 Express Entry consultation, IRCC listed priority groups including education, technical occupations, transportation, health and social services, STEM, along with some streams for people with Canadian experience and people fluent in French. Australia uses a list of occupations for skilled visas, which is reviewed periodically. Germany has a labor shortage in healthcare, engineering, IT and has a dual apprenticeship program, see Vocational study abroad in Germany Ausbildung.

Which industry is less dependent on the occupation list?

Business, marketing, and communications still have good job opportunities but are highly competitive and rarely on the immigration priority list. If you choose these fields, invest heavily in internships, languages, and networking. See Internship and co-op while studying abroad.

Post-graduation stay policies of some countries

• UK: Graduate visa allows you to stay and work after graduation. According to GOV.UK, applications submitted until December 31, 2026 are 2 years, applications submitted from January 1, 2027 are 18 months; PhD for 3 years. This visa cannot be extended, if you want to stay longer you have to switch to another category like Skilled Worker.
• Australia: Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485), duration depends on level of study and age.
• Canada: Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), conditions depend on the study program and may include field of study and language requirements.
• USA: Post-graduation OPT, STEM majors can be extended (STEM OPT).
• Germany: graduates can apply for a residence permit to find a job suitable to their major.

For details on each type of visa, see here Extend student visa and post-graduation work visa and post-graduation jobs abroad.

Mistakes to avoid

• Choose to follow the trend of "easy to settle in": policies change while you're studying, in the end there's only a degree you don't like.
• Ignore practice requirements: nurses, teachers, and engineers often need to register with professional associations and have their own English language requirements, higher than admission requirements.
• Select a school or program that does not qualify for a post-graduation visa: for example some programs in Canada are not PGWP eligible. Read more Choosing a school to study abroad: rankings, majors and costs.
• Talking about incorrect settlement plans during the visa interview: with a student visa, you still need to prove your true purpose of studying and comply with each country's regulations.

Once you have chosen your major and school, preparing for your first flight also requires planning. VeDuHoc has 30+ Bookers for multi-carrier ticket hunting, optimal luggage capacity of 40–46kg for international students and 24/7 support. You can refer to the page air tickets to study abroad.

Frequently asked questions

Which industry is the easiest to settle in?

There is no “definite settlement” industry. Medical, engineering, education and technical professions are often on the priority list, but specific conditions also depend on experience, foreign language, age and policy at the time of application.

Is studying IT still easy to get a job abroad?

Demand is still great but competition is high, especially for new graduate positions. Internship experience, real projects and in-depth skills such as data and cybersecurity are important advantages.

Should I study a master's degree to increase my chances of settling down?

Can help increase scores in some scoring systems, but choose a master's for its professional value. See Master's degree selection strategy.

Where to look up the list of priority occupations?

On the official page of the immigration agency: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au (Australia), canada.ca (Canada), gov.uk (UK). Do not rely on lists spread on social networks.

Choosing an industry is a long-term decision. Combine capacity, market demand and an accurate understanding of policy, then double check the official information before each important step.

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