FMCG graduate program eligibility comes down to four tests: where you are in your studies, how long ago you graduated, your grades and your work rights. This guide sets out what Fonterra, Mondelez, Nestle and P&G state on their own pages, adds one-line notes on Asahi, DuluxGroup, Mars, Coles and Bega, and flags the pages that state no rule at all. It is written for students, recent graduates and the adults advising them.
Chandler Personnel does not run, recruit for or place people into these graduate programs; apply on each employer's own page. Programs, streams and dates change, so confirm each detail on the employer's own page before you apply.
The four tests: study stage, graduation window, grades and work rights
Graduate program eligibility in Australia is set by each employer, so the pages do not all state the same tests. One may name a grade threshold and say nothing about a degree, while another asks only for proof of citizenship. Read each page for the tests it actually states, and treat silence as a reason to check rather than a green light.
Study stage and graduation window
Can you apply for a graduate program after graduating? At some employers you can, within a window, and final-year students can apply before they finish.
According to Fonterra's graduate page, applicants must be in their final year of undergraduate studies or within two years of graduating. Fonterra Australia, a dairy ingredients and foodservice business, shows no intake year on that page, so check it for the current intake.
On study stage, Mondelez's early-careers FAQ currently says applicants must be in their final year of study or have completed a degree in 2025 or 2026. The years change with each intake, so read the FAQ for the current window. The FAQ says the degree can be undergraduate or postgraduate.
Asahi's graduate page asks for an Australian or New Zealand citizen (or permanent resident) who graduated within the last two years. Asahi Beverages' graduate page currently shows 'Applications closed', so check the page for the next intake before you plan around it.
Grades and degree
Fonterra is the only employer here whose page states a graduate program credit average: 65 or higher. The same page says Fonterra is looking for fresh thinkers rather than specific degrees from particular disciplines. Its Commercial stream looks for people who have studied Commerce, Business and related fields, and its Supply Chain stream says you do not need a specific qualification. Check the page for the current intake before you rely on any of this.
Mondelez's FAQ says it welcomes applications from all disciplines and does not state a grade cut-off.
Two one-line notes sit alongside these:
- Asahi. Its Sales stream lists 'Open to any degree discipline' as the preferred background, and business degrees would be highly regarded.
- Mars. Its graduate page lists a preferred background for each stream, with some streams open to all degrees and others naming engineering or science degrees. It states no eligibility rule beyond that.
Some pages state no eligibility rule at all. Nestle's NextGen page states no degree rule and no application dates, so check the page for the current intake.
Bega Group's graduate page names its RISE Graduate Program, says its disciplines are subject to change and shows no eligibility rules or dates. Coles Group's graduate streams page lists a preferred educational background for each stream but states no eligibility rule, and Coles is a supermarket retailer, so it is listed here as retail and FMCG-adjacent, not as a food maker. A page that is silent has not told you that anyone can apply.
Work rights and documents
Here is what each employer's page says about work rights.
- Fonterra. The graduate page says Australian or NZ resident or citizen. Fonterra's general careers FAQ, which is not the graduate page, says it can hire you if your work visa fits within the criteria of the role you have applied for, and cannot legally hire you if it does not.
- Mondelez. The FAQ asks for full-time working rights in Australia or New Zealand, meaning Australian or NZ citizenship or permanent residency, at the time the program commences.
- Nestle. The checklist on Nestle's NextGen page asks for proof of permanent residency or citizenship and a copy of your driver's licence, with a provisional licence as the minimum.
- P&G. P&G's Australia locations page says it generally considers Australian or New Zealand citizens and Australian permanent residents eligible for hire.
- DuluxGroup. A paint and consumer products group whose page asks for full Australian or New Zealand working rights, with a CV and academic transcript.
P&G's Australia page says P&G Australia does not sponsor candidates for employment-based visas, and the same page asks that legal documents of citizenship or permanent residency be official before an application can proceed.
The Department of Home Affairs is the place to check your visa conditions; this guide gives no migration advice. Employers who need to check work rights for casual hires can read the posts on work rights checks and visa rules for casual work, which are written for employers rather than applicants.
If you do not qualify yet
If one test rules you out today, check whether it is only a matter of timing. Fonterra and Mondelez both accept final-year students, so check each employer's page for the intake that matches your finish date.
Other routes into food and drink manufacturing exist, with their own entry requirements, and a separate guide covers alternatives to FMCG graduate programs in plain words. Chandler Personnel, an independent Melbourne-based blue collar specialist, supplies labour hire and permanent recruitment for food manufacturing work, and its education and training services include Chandler GTO apprenticeships and traineeships. These are separate from the graduate programs above. The candidate questions page has general information for Chandler candidates and is not about graduate programs.
Related Resources
- Fonterra's graduate page
- Mondelez's early careers FAQ
- Nestle's NextGen page
- Work rights checks
- Visa rules for casual work
- Food manufacturing work
Common Questions About Graduate Program Eligibility
1. Can I apply for a graduate program after I have graduated?
Yes at some employers, within a window. Fonterra's graduate page says up to two years after graduating, and Asahi's page asks for graduation within the last two years. Mondelez's FAQ currently asks for a degree completed in 2025 or 2026, and that window changes with each intake. Check the employer's page for the current intake before you plan.
2. Do I need a credit average to apply?
Fonterra's graduate page lists a credit average of 65 or higher. Mondelez, Nestle, Bega and the other pages covered here state no grade threshold. A page that says nothing about grades has not promised that grades will not matter, so check the employer's own page and ask the employer if you are unsure.
3. Can I apply with a temporary visa?
The graduate pages covered here ask for citizenship, permanent residency or full working rights. Fonterra's general careers FAQ says it can hire you only if your work visa fits within the criteria of the role you have applied for, while P&G Australia says it does not sponsor employment-based visas. Check your visa conditions with the Department of Home Affairs, then confirm with the employer.
4. Do I need a specific degree?
Not always. Mondelez welcomes all disciplines and Fonterra's Supply Chain stream says you do not need a specific qualification. Asahi's Sales stream is open to any degree discipline, while Mars lists a preferred background for each stream. Fonterra's Commercial stream looks for Commerce, Business and related fields, so read the stream you want.
5. What if my degree finishes after the program starts?
Fonterra and Mondelez accept applicants in their final year of study, and Asahi asks for graduation within the last two years. Mondelez also asks for working rights at the time the program commences. If your finish date falls after the start date, ask the employer through the contact route on its page before you apply.
Check Eligibility Before You Write Anything
The four tests are study stage, time since graduating, grades and work rights, and each employer states a different mix of them. Fonterra, Mondelez, Nestle and P&G each state something checkable, while Bega, Coles and Mars leave gaps. Before you write a cover letter, open the employer's page, list the tests it states and confirm the rest with the employer.
