Where To Study in Australia?

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International students want to know the best places to study and live in Australia.

 

Explore the best places to study in Australia! With 43 universities, Australia offers great education, a nice lifestyle, and job opportunities.

 

Whether you're local or international, find your ideal spot for your degree Down Under!

 

 

1. Melbourne

 

Melbourne, Australia's cultural capital, is a top choice for international students.

 

Not only ranked as the world's most liveable city, but Melbourne also stands second only to Paris as the best study place. With headquarters of major corporations and seven universities, it offers a diverse student experience.

 

Known for vibrant live music, sports, and comedy events, Melbourne excels in the "student mix" index. Beyond its high-quality education, the city boasts strong employment prospects, making it a preferred study and work destination for students worldwide.

 

 

2. Brisbane

 

Brisbane, the third-biggest city in Australia, is cool for 50,000 international students every year. It's famous for its beaches, fun city life, sunny weather, awesome nightlife, and cool art scenes.

 

They call Brisbane a "new world" city, and it has big universities. Four of them are in the QS world rankings. You can find about 9,000 courses at these schools, and guess what? It's the cheapest city in Australia to study because the tuition fees are low.

 

 

3. Sydney

 

 

Sydney, Australia's biggest city and financial hub, greets over 50,000 international students each year. It's a city full of opportunities with a great quality of life, top education, vibrant nightlife, beautiful beaches, and a diverse student community.

 

Being a financial center, Sydney hosts many multinational corporations. The city has five international universities with globally recognised research programs, and two of them rank in the top 50 of the QS World Rankings.

 

Sydney is not just big in economy but also in student ratings, making it one of the top cities globally for students. Studying in Sydney opens up exciting possibilities for international students.

 

 

4. Canberra

 

Canberra is Australia's capital, and each year, it welcomes 35,000 students, with 9,000 from other countries. The city has two local universities, including the National University of Australia, which is pretty good.

 

People like studying here because of the excellent education, nice natural surroundings, and the perks of a modern city. Canberra has cool places like Black Mountain Tower, Lake Burley Griffin, and the Captain James Cook Memorial.

 

When it comes to costs, it's one of the affordable places to study, offering a good standard of living.

 

 

5. Perth

 

Perth, in Western Australia, is a top spot for education. It's known for its warm weather, diverse cultures, stunning beaches, and plenty of activities for students. Three universities in Perth are among the best globally, with the University of Western Australia ranking highest.

 

Living in Perth is comfortable and affordable for students. You can enjoy free outdoor activities and explore places like Kings Park, one of the world's largest inner-city parks, a science museum, and the Pinnacles, a fascinating desert landscape.

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

 

 

What Are The Best Regional Areas in Australia for International Students? 

 

There are four regional areas for students who plan to study abroad in Australia:

 

  • Darwin: With beautiful regional towns, and high employability rates, it is an excellent choice for international students.

 

  • Tasmania: This place is ideal for nature-lover or food lovers looking for an affordable home that fits their budget. Moreover, Tasmania is easy to obtain PR and is famous for its best air quality index, scenic views, and incredible history compared to the Australian states.

 

  • Sunshine Coast: It is another excellent perfect destination in Australia that offers numerous learning and career opportunities, stunning beaches, a high-paced economy, and a desirable lifestyle that attracts most overseas tourists to this place.

 

  • Byron Bay: Home to the most iconic Cape Byron Lighthouse, Byron Bay is preferred for its seaside beaches, exclusive shopping experiences, and fine dining experiences. You can find both budget-friendly and luxurious accommodations as per your spending capacity. 

 

 

What Is The Best City in Australia for PR?

 

When talking about the city which is the easiest to get Australian Permanent Residency and citizenship, Tasmania tops the list. The state accepts applications from people whose occupations are listed on the State Migration Plan and Consolidated Skilled Occupations List.

 

Besides Tasmania, you can also consider New South Wales and South Australia for PR.

 

New South Wales is also an excellent option for permanent residency due to its strong economy, which is expected to reach $1 trillion by 2030. South Australia is preferred for its relaxed and friendly lifestyle and affordable housing options to live and work.

 

Those planning to migrate to any of these states can apply for Visa 189, Visa 190, and Visa 491.

 

 

Which City Is Better For Students In Australia?

 

There is no one perfect city to study in Australia. As each student has different requirements and interests, deciding the correct city is a personal choice.

 

QS ranks the best cities for students worldwide based on the desirability, student reviews, employer activity, and affordability. 7 Australian cities were in the top 100 QS Best Student Cities Rankings for 2022.

 

QS Rank City Student View Student Mix Affordability
6 Melbourne 98.4 100 38.4
8 Sydney 96.9 98.5 33.4
29 Brisbane 77 94.1 42.4
35 Adelaide 87.4 93.8 41.5
35 Perth 76.8 90.9 40.7
37 Canberra 75.7 86.4 39.5
89 Gold Coast 35 80.2 46.3

 

 

The above cities are the most preferred study-abroad destinations among international students.

 

If your priority is safety, then Canberra and Adelaide are the top two safest cities, followed by Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, and Gold Coast. Standard transport options such as buses, trains, taxis, trams, or ferries are easily available in all Australian cities.

 

City Cost of Living QS Student View Rank Safety

Melbourne

1312 AUD/month

2nd

8th safest Australian city with a low crime index

Sydney

1421 AUD/month

4th

4th safest Australian city.

Safety Index- 66.37

Brisbane

1342 AUD/month

36th

5th safest Australian city.

Adelaide

1580 AUD/month

16th

2nd the safest Australian city.

Safety Index- 70.82

Perth

1306 AUD/month

37th

6th safest Australian city

Safety Index- 58.06

Canberra

1270 AUD/month

41st

The safest Australian city

Safety Index- 77.51

Gold Coast

1372 AUD/month

100th

7th safest Australian city

Safety Index- 56.72

 

 

How to Identify the Optimal Study Destination in Australia for International Students?

 

The best places to study in Australia are determined based on the following factors:

 

  • 1: The university rankings, facilities, and offerings are the main factors that play a crucial role in deciding which place in Australia is best for international students. Sydney comprises five globally ranked universities, making it a perfect destination for international students. Perth and Melbourne are other top Australian cities attracting international students.

 

  • 2: Desirability is the second factor that students consider when choosing the ideal place to study in Australia. This includes student diversity, living conditions, climate, cultural environment, transport, leisure activities, layout, safety, and pollution level. Melbourne, Brisbane, and Wollongong are the most liveable cities for students in Australia.

 

  • 3: Students look at another factor: how economical a city is. This includes comparing cities based on the tuition fees for overseas students and the cost of living that varies between cities due to variations in housing prices.

 

  • 4: Employability Rate and the city's recruitment activity are other crucial factors that students seek in their study abroad destination. The more employers are based in the city, the more advantageous it is for international students

 

 

Which City In Australia has The Most International Students?

 

University Total International Students International Proportion
Monash University 25,690 30.7%
The University of Sydney 25,532 38.2%
The University of Melbourne 21,858 32.1%
The University of Queensland 17,865 33.3%
RMIT University 16,667 24.1%
University of New South Wales 15,741 25.2%
University of Technology Sydney 13,672 29.7%
Deakin University 13,044 21.9%
The Australian National University 9,782 37.0%
Macquarie University 9,414 21.1%

 

 

Which Is The Cheapest City To Study in Australia?

 

Affordable Australian Cities for International Students (Listed by Average Weekly Living Budget):

 

  1. Adelaide: AUD 377

  2. Darwin: AUD 443

  3. Perth: AUD 449

  4. Hobart: AUD 475

  5. Queensland: AUD 482

  6. Brisbane: AUD 485

  7. Sydney: AUD 580

  8. Canberra: AUD 509

 

 

Is Sydney or Melbourne Better For Students? 

 

Melbourne is awesome for students, known as Australia's cultural hub. It has cool job opportunities and over 94,000 international students.

 

The city is buzzing with great food, fun, and shopping. Big companies like Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Coles Group, and BHP Group are there too.

 

Sydney is a finance giant and a close rival to Melbourne. It's just two spots behind in the QS Best Student Cities 2022 ranking. Sydney is famous for cool places like the Sydney Opera House and tons of outdoor stuff.


Look at the Sydney vs. Melbourne comparison below to see which city is pricier.

 

QS Rank City Student View Student Mix Affordability
6 Melbourne 98.4 100 38.4
8 Sydney 96.9 98.5 33.4

 

 

Parameters Melbourne Sydney

Number of Students

270,000 university students

230,000 university students
No. of Overseas Students More than 1/3rd - 91,000 22% or around 50,000 students are from overseas
Cost of Living 1,312 AUD/ month 1,421 AUD/ month
Salary Prospects 106,000 AUD 108,000 AUD
QS Employer Activity Rank 7th 10th
Safety 8th safest city in Australia with a low crime index. 4th in terms of safety in Australia with a safety index of 66.37
Transportation Trains, buses, trams Metro, train, bus, ferry, taxis, trams
QS Student View Rank 2nd 4th

 

Melbourne is more affordable than Sydney, offering better real estate deals and a more comfortable lifestyle.

 

Melbourne's laid-back culture makes it easier to find jobs, with a higher employment rate (5.6) compared to Sydney (6.6). Additionally, students prefer Melbourne over Sydney for reasons like less traffic, diverse weather, an excellent tram system, and vibrant nightlife.

 

 

Why Is Perth Better Than Sydney?

 

Perth surpasses Sydney for these key reasons:

 

  • Compact and Relaxed Environment: With its smaller feel, Perth offers an easy and quick lifestyle, providing a more relaxed and stress-free atmosphere than Sydney.

 

  • Safety and Population Density: With lower crime rates and reduced population density, Perth residents feel safer than those in Sydney.

 

  • Cost of Living Advantage: Perth's lower rental costs contribute to a more economical living standard than Sydney. Maintaining the same lifestyle in Sydney would require around 8,448.58A$ compared to 7,200.00A$ in Perth.

 

  • Affordable Property Prices: Perth's average property price of $529k, as of December 2021, stands in stark contrast to Sydney's $1.1 million, making permanent living in Perth much more economical.

 

  • Ease of Transportation: Driving in Perth is simpler than in Sydney, known for heavy traffic. Public transport travel time in Perth is shorter than in Sydney.

 

  • Weather Advantage:Perth boasts a sunnier climate, with 30% more sunny days than Sydney and triple the sunshine compared to Melbourne, making it a more comfortable choice.

 

 

Explore other Topics:

⇒ Why Study in the Northern Territory (NT) 
⇒ Why Study in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT)
⇒ Why Study in New South Wales (NSW)
⇒ Why Study in Queensland (QLD)
⇒ Why Study in Adelaide (South Australia)
⇒ Why Study in Victoria (VIC)
⇒ Why Study in Tasmania (TAS)
⇒ Why Study in Western Australia (WA)

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