If you are an international student studying in one of Australia’s finest colleges or universities, you know for sure how much you can accomplish with your hard work.
Today, we want to review another opportunity to grow as a student and as a future professional — learning a third language. Portuguese is in our focus today and we’ll try to figure out whether it’s really so beneficial to go this extra mile towards knowing more than two languages.
1. Participate in volunteer exchange programs
As someone who studies languages for a long time now, you can already know how popular this language is around the globe. Let’s just stop for a second and realize that Portuguese is the sixth most spoken language in the world.
So how is this information beneficial to us? That’s right, it means that there are plenty of international exchange opportunities if you know Portuguese.
So basically, if you take a few essential steps to learn Portuguese today, tomorrow you will be closer to getting on board of popular international exchange programs.
Brazil, Spain, Portugal, and other countries — so many destinations will open up to you.
2. You’ll be a more marketable professional
Another benefit of learning a third language is that it simply helps you avoid tight competition while looking for a job in an international company.
Any professional who is willing to learn more than one language is a golden asset with plenty of opportunities around. So if you invest your time into a third language, you will get yourself another impressive line into your resume to brag about.
More job opportunities mean more chances of getting a higher salary and having more room to grow. Isn’t that what we all look for after college?
3. Your gateway to learning other Romance family languages
English is a part of the West Germanic language family, which makes learning Portuguese a great opportunity to dive into another group of languages with their unique features.
Basically, if you make progress with Portuguese, you will be a few steps closer to learning Spanish or French, which means you’re entering the league of European’s most beautiful languages. After Portuguese, you won’t find language that will be too hard for you.
When you decide to switch a language family or group, you’re making a bold decision to become a more flexible professional. You won’t be tied to your location, you’re becoming truly international.
4. Elevate your travel experience
Learning a third language can be also beneficial for you if you love to travel. And nowadays, it’s quite hard to find a person who is not into new experiences, right?
A person who studies languages always knows how to communicate in international trips without an everyday struggle.
So let’s say you know Portuguese, what are the traveling options that are now open to you?
You can now travel to Spain and enjoy beautiful seaside cities, grab a drink in Porto with the world-renowned Pasteis de Nata. And of course, visit Brazil — the world’s Latin paradise with a unique economy and cultural traditions.
And that’s all with just one additional language that you can learn. Isn’t that the best third language to learn? We believe it is with such a prominent list of traveling opportunities that you get.
Expert tip: Search your next flight on our website, we highlight the best deals from Australia to anywhere you want to go as a student. Accommodations included!
5. Read the world’s literary hidden gems
Portugal, Spain and other countries where people speak the romance language family brought many hidden cultural gems to our world. Like the literature from the authors who tend to stay unknown in the English-speaking world, but still can be honored as a true artist with no doubt.
With that in mind, we’ve got to say that learning more than one language does pay off. Especially, if you’re into new cultural and literary discoveries.
Yeah, after all the reasons we’ve introduced, you may say that one of the core benefits of learning a third language is simply standing out from the crowd.
And hey, that is true. We live in the world of influencers, artists and creative minds. There is no way to survive and accomplish something if you do not stand out.
So you’ve got to ask yourself a simple question: how hard is it to learn another language? It really is not if you choose a good tutor. But as a result, you’re becoming a more recognizable professional and more developed personality. That is gold.
Wrapping things up
So for someone English is their third language, but you already know English and that’s a big platform to build you further learning on. You’re an international student with plenty of opportunities.
While studying in the Australian institutions and getting your professional degree, do not waste your time — learn a third language to elevate your success and up your game as a professional after your graduation.
After all, there is always a higher mountain to climb out there, but you’ve got to start and make a decision to grow.
Australia is known for its bushfires during the summer seasons (December to March) but since September last year, Australia has been battling against one of its deadliest bushfire crises, which already has claimed close to a billion wild animals, thousands of homes, and several human lives, and seems to be not over yet despite the valiant efforts by the firefighters and the local and federal government.
If you’re capable and willing to lend a helping hand, please find some of the ways to support the causes you most feel for, which have been organised by the categories and the area for your convenience. We are also covering some useful tips and guide regarding the Australian bushfire season.
Which areas are affected by these bushfires?
Although, the bushfires are going on pretty much in all states and territories in Australia this season, but there are 4 main states that are severely affected by this year’s bushfire season.
New South Wales – Mostly north coast, the mid-north coast and blue mountains area of the New South Wales state have been badly impacted by the bushfire season.
Victoria – In southern parts of the state Victoria is severely impacted by the bushfires, especially East Gippsland and High Country (including Alpine Region).
South Australia – Kangaroo Island has been badly damaged due to the fire and other areas including Adelaide Hills, Mount Lofty Ranges, etc.
Queensland – In Queensland, mostly southern-eastern, central, northern, and far northern Queensland including the Sunshine Coast region were affected by the blazes.
How to help the Australian bushfire victims, wildlife and firefighters?
There are many ways you can help as an international student in Australia during this bushfire crisis. However, we suggest you can help by:
donating some money to the various registered organisations
becoming a volunteer at one of the organisations that help bushfire victims and wildlife.
spreading the word via your social media accounts
If you can’t afford to pay for the Australian Bush fire appeals then you can help by becoming a volunteer at one of the organisation that supports bush fire victims.
Becoming a volunteer can actually help you in lots of ways, for example:
You can learn more about Australian slang and accent as you are likely to work with many locals. It will certainly help to boost your confidence as well.
You also get to meet people from all walks of life and it gives you a chance to network with like-minded people who are willing to help the community.
You represent your country and community in Australia and by helping people in need, you will help your community representation in Australia.
It looks good on your resume. Australian employers certainly appreciate community-minded employees.
If you would like to donate money
You can consider donating money to the following organisations:
While we are in the middle of the scorching summer and there is no end in sight for the bushfire season, here are few things we suggest to stay safe in Australia:
Download app and regularly check website from your state fire authority website – [NSW] [VIC] [QLD] [SA] [TAS] [ACT] [WA] [NT]
Understand the Fire Danger Rating and warning signs.
Wear masks and stay indoors if there is smoke outside.
Always follow and listen to official news and warnings only.
Final notes
Last but not least, some scammers are using the Australian bushfire as an opportunity to scam people and take advantage of this unfortunate situation. We suggest you always check the details of the organisation before you are going to donate.
We would also like to thank all the firefighters, volunteers and everyone involved in fighting these fires and helping the community in any possible way.
If you can help us by sharing this article with others, it will be really helpful. Thank you for help.
Will my job be taken over by artificial intelligence or robots in the future?
This is one of the key questions that many people have in their minds these days and rightfully so due to the rise of technology, artificial intelligence, and machine learning over the last few years.
When choosing any course, we always suggest that you must follow your dream and passion but it’s also very important to understand the changing environment and make a smart decision based on which industries will have plenty of jobs in the future.
So in this article, we are going to discuss jobs of the future including the top 5 industries to have most jobs in Australia in the next 5 years.
Before discuss about the jobs of the future, we are going to look latest government data (Based on the Skills Priority List, data on job vacancies and projected growth in employment over the next five years).
Top 10 in-demand professions over the next five years
Australia’s top 10 in demand jobs over the next five years based on the government statistics is here. We are going to discuss some of these professions in more details in next parts. But here is a quick list of these in-demand professions:
Construction Managers
Civil Engineering Professionals
Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teachers
Registered Nurses
ICT Business and Systems Analysts
Software and Applications Programmers
Electricians
Chefs
Child Carers
Aged and Disabled Carers
Let’s go over more details about these professions and industries now.
1. Health care
With an increase in pressures from the pandemic, life expectancy and a growing aging population, Australia needs lots of healthcare professionals.
For the records, there were around 13% of Australians over the age of 65, which increased to 15% in 2017. Now, this number is set to touch 20% by 2037, which clearly tell the saga of the increasing aging population. With that comes the need for more aged care and other health care professionals.
Also, the introduction of the national disability insurance scheme has led to the growth in the disability carers.
Some of the professionals that will be needed in this industry are:
1. Aged and disabled carers
💰 Weekly Pay – $1,265
📈 Future Job Growth – Very strong
🎓 Skill Level – Lower skill
2. Registered nurses
💰 Weekly Pay – $1,909
📈 Future Job Growth – Very strong
🎓 Skill Level – Very high skill
3. Physiotherapists
💰 Weekly Pay – $1,444
📈 Future Job Growth – Very strong
🎓 Skill Level – Very high skill
Search all health professionals related courses here
2. Education and Training
Since the start of the population boom in Australia, the demand for educators is rising day by day, so we will need plenty of educators in the future.
Also, education is Australia’s third-biggest export adding on average of $32 billion to the economy each year. The education industry grew by 2.7% over the past 10 years, much higher than the national average in Australia.
Some of the professionals that are set to drive this industry are:
1. Primary school teachers (particularly in math and science)
💰 Weekly Pay – $1,801
📈 Future Job Growth – Strong
🎓 Skill Level – Very high skill
2. University lecturers and tutors (specifically in the international education sector)
Search all education, training, and language-related courses here
3. Construction
Construction is the third industry which will provide plenty of opportunities in the future. With the current demand for better infrastructure and an increase in housing demand, the construction industry will require plenty of specialised skilled people.
Although the labouring and non-skilled jobs could be replaced by machines in the future and are certainly on the decline but more skilled and degree educated professionals will be required in the industry.
Some of the key skill people required in this industry will be:
1. Electricians
💰 Weekly Pay – $1,823
📈 Future Job Growth – Moderate
🎓 Skill Level – Medium skill
2. Plumbers
💰 Weekly Pay – $1,894
📈 Future Job Growth – Strong
🎓 Skill Level – Medium skill
3. Construction Managers
💰 Weekly Pay – $3,450
📈 Future Job Growth – Strong
🎓 Skill Level – Very high skill
4. Concreter
💰 Weekly Pay – $2,100
📈 Future Job Growth – Strong
🎓 Skill Level – Entry level
Search all building, construction and architecture related courses here
4. Professional, scientific and technical industry
Obviously, with the rise of technology, there will be plenty of jobs in the IT, technical and science sector. There will be more job roles that will arise due to the new technologies become more accessible such as blockchain, 3D printing, drone deliveries, internet of Things, artificial intelligence and machine learning.
Most of the young people planning to work in the future must have some skills and knowledge in IT.
More specifically professionals required in this industry will be:
In 2017, more than 8.8 million visitors in Australia and they spent around $42 billion dollars and in the future, this trend will continue to rise as travel gets cheaper and more efficient. Obviously, COVID-19 had a huge impact on the travel and tourism industry but it has seen tremendous growth ever since and the trend is likely to be the same in the future.
Now, not only many tourists come to travel to Australia but many domestic travellers also become part of Australia’s travel and tourism industry. Also, as one of the high-income countries, we tend not to cook too much at home and rely a lot on eating out and food delivery services.
No wonder, this is certainly giving a lot of push to the jobs in food, accommodation, and other related industries.
Some of the key jobs that will set the boom in this industry are:
It is vital for international students to know which careers or industries have better future career prospects in Australia. It can help international students in various ways, such as:
👉 It can help to choose the right course.
👉 It can also help to plan ahead for the career.
👉 It will be easier for them to find a job in the related study field.
Which courses can I do in these industries?
You can choose to do various types of courses related to these industries, like:
🎓 Vocational Education and Training Programs – For the low to medium-skilled job roles, you can undertake a certificate, diploma or an advanced diplomas course related to the industry.
🎓 Undergraduate Programs – For high skilled jobs, you are usually required to complete an associate or bachelor degree program in that field
🎓 Postgraduate Programs – For a job that requires very high professional skills, a postgraduate degree like a Masters Degree or Doctorate Degree (PhD.) might be required.
So these were the five industries that are set to give plenty of job opportunities in the future in Australia. Which industry are you planning to study?
If you would like to know the future growth aspect of any industry or a career in Australia, then we suggest you check this website out.
This data has been gathered from the Australian Government’s website: Joboutlook.gov.au
Finding your first job in Australia can be really challenging especially if you’re new here. Some of our very own team members have gone through the same stage when they first landed in Australia
And doing some short courses helped them to actually land up their first job in Australia.
So, in this blog post, we’re going to talk about short courses for international students in Australia that can help in getting a part-time job while studying in Australia.
RSA
What it is?
The first course that we recommend you to undertake is the hospitality course, it’s known as RSA (Responsible Service of Alcohol).
If you’re going to work in the hospitality industry for example in the bars in the nightclub or in the restaurants and serve alcohol over there, then you must have this certificate. You are not allowed to work and sell or serve alcohol without this certificate.
What do you learn?
The course itself empowers you with the skills and knowledge that you require to serve alcohol responsibly to the customers.
Duration?
You can complete this course face to face within three to four hours.
Cost?
The cost of this course is around $50 to $100 dollars depending upon where you’re doing this course.
Where can you do these courses?
If you would like to undertake this course, you can use one of the link below to register:
Please note that if you’re going to work in the hospitality industry for a long time, then you need to refresh the RSA certificate every three years or so. Usually, you can do it online and mostly it is free to do it.
RSG
What it is?
The second course that we recommend you to undertake is also a hospitality-related course, it’s known as the responsible service of gambling or responsible conduct of gambling. In short form it is also known as RSG or RCG.
This course is specifically designed for the people who are going to work in the gaming or gambling industries. You are required to have this certificate by law if you’re going to operate the gambling machines in licensed premises.
What do you learn?
This course helps to promote safety in venues where there are gaming machines including how to recognise gambling problems and addiction among the players.
Duration?
It is a one-day long course (around 6 hours face to face) that you can undertake to improve your chances of getting a job in the gaming industry.
Cost?
Usually it can cost anywhere around $50 to $100 as well.
Where can you do these courses?
If you would like to undertake this course, you can use one of the link below to register:
Please note that depending on each state or territory, you will legally be required to refresh this training after every 3 years or so to continue working in the gaming industry.
Barista course
What it is?
The third short course that we are going to recommend you to undertake is a Barista course. This short course is also related to the hospitality industry. However, unlike RSG and RSA course, you’re not legally required to have a barista course in order to work in the cafe industry.
Australians love their coffees and their Baristas, so it’s a very good chance that you might be able to get a job in the cafe industry while studying in Australia. Having barista skills can be really great for you if you’re looking for your first job.
What do you learn?
In barista course, you’re going to learn about how to make different types of coffees, effectively using coffee machine and how to make coffee art that can help you to get a better job in a cafe industry.
Duration?
The course itself is around one day as well but it depends upon whether you’re taking a basic or beginners course (usually takes 3 – 4 hours). If you’re taking an advanced barista course then it can take up to two days to complete.
Cost?
The cost for completing the beginner’s barista course can be around $100 – $150, while advanced courses can cost you $250 to $400.
White card
What it is?
The next couple of courses that we are going to recommend are related to the construction industry. So the first course that we recommend you in construction industry is known as a White Card. It is also known as Green Card in some states.
If you are looking to work as a labourer in the construction industry, then this is a must-do course for you. The construction industry is a very dangerous industry and you are legally required to have this card in order to work at a construction site in Australia.
What do you learn?
Basically, you will learn the skills and knowledge about how to identify the hazards at the workplace, how to report them, how to reduce safety hazards and what do to when the accidents happen at workplace. So, this course is specifically about your own and other people’s health and safety at a construction site.
Duration?
This short course usually lasts for one day (around 5 to 6 hours) as well.
Cost?
The cost of this course can be around $100 to $200.
Where can you do these courses?
If you would like to undertake this course, you can use one of the link below to register:
The next short course is about Traffic Controller Training. This course train you in how to control the traffic with the stop and slow sign.
If you’re already in Australia, then you probably have seen these workers who have a stop and slow sign in the hand. They stand on the street with this sign and control the traffic with that.
This short course is specifically designed for the people who are going to work in the construction industry but their primary job is to stop and control the traffic at construction sites.
What do you learn?
In the Traffic Control training, you will learn about the safety of traffic controllers, motorists, pedestrians, and your fellow workers. You will also learn the skills of controlling the traffic, minimising the risks and delays to the traffic.
Duration?
It’s another one day course and usually lasts 6 to 8 hours.
Cost?
The cost of this short course can be around $150 to $250.
First Aid Course
What it is?
One last course that we recommend you to take is a First Aid course. If you are specifically going to work in the health industry, then you may need to take this course as part of your course requirement.
This course is not only useful for work but can be useful at home or within the community.
What do you learn?
The short course itself teaches you about how to provide a First Aid response, life support, managing casualties, incidents and other first aiders before the emergency medical services arrive.
In general, this course will equip you with a knowledge of what to do when accidents happen and in an emergency helps you to make an informed decision.
Duration?
This is another one to two-day long course (around 7 to 10 hours).
Cost?
The cost of this short course can be around $100 to $150.
Summary
Now all the courses that we have just mentioned can be done online in most of the states and territories in Australia, while other states may not approve it. So it is a very good idea to research whether your local authorities allow you to undertake these short courses online.
Now doing these short courses does not guarantee that you will land a job for sure but this give you a better chance to compete with other applicants when you’re applying for the job. As you can demonstrate a better knowledge and skills than the other applicants applying for the same job role.
Based on many overseas students experience, these courses can certainly help to improve the chances of getting you for the first job in Australia. Well, we hope you find this information about the short courses in Australia useful and we wish you all the best for your job search.
So you have landed to study in Australia but you don’t know anyone here. You don’t know how to get around and worried about making friends. So in this article, we are looking at 10 ways on how to make friends in Australia as an international student.
1. Making friends at University
As an international student studying in Australia, the first point of contact for you will be your educational institution. Whether you are studying in a university, TAFE or a private provider, there are usually many opportunities for making friends at all these institutions.
To make friends at your university, we suggest you attend your orientation. Now we explain a lot about orientation in detail here. But to give you a quick overview, orientation is a way of welcoming new students by Australian educational institutions.
Another way to make friends at uni is when your classes start you can observe the people in your lectures or tutorials and approach them for a drink or sharing notes or just having a meal.
You can also join student social clubs and participate in various activities organised by these clubs. Not only it gives you some experience in dealing with people from various backgrounds but also helps in making lifelong friends.
Also, attending special events organised by your institution is a good way to network and make friends. So whether it is a special lecture, guest speaker conference, workshop, seminar, etc, try to attend as many as you can.
2. Make friends at the workplace
One of another popular place for lots of international students to make friends in Australia is at their workplace.
It is quite a common culture for many workmates in Australia to mingle after work, especially for after-work drinks. But if you don’t drink, that’s fine too as you can ask your workmates to go for other activities like watching a movie, going bowling or a bite to eat.
Lots of workplaces even have a culture to encourage staff to do other activities which help to build team bonding like barbeques, playing sports, day trips and family activities etc.
3. Choose your accommodation wisely
Accommodation can be very critical for making new friends in Australia, so choose it wisely. While there are many types of student accommodations available for international students in Australia. You should choose the one that meets your budget, lifestyle and the one where you can make a few new friends.
Lots of international students choose backpacker hostels as their first accommodation before moving into other types of accommodations. It is not only cheaper to live rather than a hotel or private room but also an excellent way of meeting new people from other countries and cultures.
Apart from backpacker hostels, international students also live in managed student accommodations. These accommodations are specially designed to meet the needs of the students.
So these managed student accommodations have lots of other students from different parts of Australia and the world living under the same roof. If you decide to live in them, then don’t forget to attend all the social events organised by these facilities.
We also know that some students will not live with other students from their own culture or country, so they can make friends from other parts of the world and it can help them to improve their English as well.
4. Facebook and Whatsapp groups
Another way to make friends in Australia is through social media platforms. But we are specifically talking about Facebook and Whatsapp groups as these are indeed very popular networks for socialising in Australia.
There are many groups you can join and make friends with other group members online and attend all the events organised by the group admins or members. Alternatively, you can catch up with these people privately outside the group events too.
In case, you decide to meet a person in private, we suggest you meet them in public places like cafes, restaurants, etc to ensure your safety.
5. Attend local events
Most of the Australian cities and towns organise various food festivals, exhibitions, and other educational events during the year. Check all the local events happening in your area and visit them and make friends with locals there.
You can check all the events happening in your local community by visiting your local council’s website. We suggest you check this website for all the major events happening in each state and territory.
As Australia is one of the most diverse countries in the world, there are many cultural events that you can be a part of. So whether it is Chinese New Year, Indian Diwali Festival, Greek Festival or Spanish Fiesta, you can enjoy these cultural events and make new friends either by just attending or working at them.
These events are usually free to attend and they can be close to your neighbourhood so don’t need to travel far away from attending them.
6. Do volunteering when free
For some students it might seem like that volunteering is a time-consuming task and of course, it’s not paid work but it’s definitely done for a good cause. While volunteering, you will come across people who share the same common values of helping others.
You can do volunteering either by helping an elder, disabled person or you can join a local volunteer organisation. There are many ways you can help the local community in Australia.
It is also very much appreciated by locals and you can use the experience you gained at these volunteer events or jobs in your resumes too.
The volunteer organisations are always needing more helping hands. So don’t be shy! Go volunteer is also a very popular platform for finding volunteer work in Australia.
7. Play sports
Australians love their sports especially Australian Football (aka AFL), Cricket, Soccer, Hockey, Rugby and pretty much any sports you can think of. Playing sports will also mean that you will keep yourself healthy and fit.
Ideally, you can look for sports club in your local area by checking it on facebook groups or find it from your local council or a community center. Sometimes, a simple google search to find a sports club in your local area can also do wonders.
Alternatively, you can also join a gym as they regularly hold events and you can find a buddy to workout with and have a decent conversation as well. You will see familiar faces on a regular basis in the gym, so no harm in asking for a piece of quick advice or support to start a convo there.
8. Go to your place of worship
Believe it or not but religious places are not the only way to connect with God but also with other people who share the same belief as you do. So whether you are Christian (Church) Muslim (Mosque) Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh (Temple), Jewish (Synagogue) there are many religious worship places you can visit for praying and seek friendship there
You can always start by talking with religious leaders of the place about how you can connect with more people and attend the events organised by these places.
Usually, people attending these religious places are welcoming and if you are regularly attending these religious places, you can make more friends there.
9. Go to a local Library
If you love reading books, there is good news for you as there are plenty of libraries in Australia. Not only you can read the books in the library but also you can also find other readers who have a common interest in reading similar types of books.
If you already know about the layout of the library, then you can help others who are searching for books. Again, the libraries also organise tours, events and other activities, you can be a part of these groups for these activities for making friends.
10. Be part of the meetup groups and events
Australian cities are famous for organising lots of meetups. You can literally find many meet groups in each city. The best way to find these groups is by using online platforms like Meetup.com and Eventbrite.com.au.
These groups and events are organised by a host and you can also filter them by your specific interests. If you are confident in organising events, you can also create your own group or event on these platforms.
While lots of these groups and events are free to attend, some of them might cost you some dollars.
So there you have them all on how to make friends in Australia as an international student. We want to hear which method did you use to make new friends in Australia.
We have been frequently asked by many overseas students “Should I study in a regional area or in the city in Australia?” So we went and explored various aspects of studying in the regional towns and city area. Let’s look at the pros and cons of studying in regional Australia and the city:
What are the Regional Areas in Australia?
Regional Australia is referred to as any area outside a metropolitan area.
Australian government is simplifying the definition of Regional Australia for various visa purposes. From November 2019, Regional Australia will include all of Australia except:
Sydney
Melbourne
Brisbane
This means some cities (like Gold Coast, Perth, Canberra, Newcastle, and Wollongong) previously considered as cities will be included in the list of regional areas.
For migration purposes, the Department of Home Affairs has divided the whole of Australia into three main categories:
Major Cities
Cities and Major Regional Centres
Regional Areas and Other Regional Centres
In this table below, we try to make it easier for the students to understand the new regional areas from 16th November 2019 and the benefits they can access when studying in these areas.
– Priority processing on regional visas. – Access to the Regional Occupations List – more jobs compared to non-regional lists. – International graduates with a bachelor or higher qualification from a regional campus of a registered institution will be eligible to access additional year in Australia on a post-study work visa
Regional centres and other regional areas
– Rest of Australia
– Priority processing on regional visas. – Access to the Regional Occupations List – more jobs compared to non-regional lists. – International graduates with a bachelor or higher qualification from a regional campus of a registered institution will be eligible to access additional 2 years in Australia on a post-study work visa – Priority in negotiating region-specific Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMAs).
The Commonwealth of Australia does not necessarily endorse the content of this publication.
Why the Australian Government made these changes?
As regional areas are generally less populated areas, that’s why the Australian Government is promoting and getting more people to move out in those areas.
It will not only help to build up those areas but also help to meet the shortage of the skills needed in the regional areas.
These changes will also mean that there will be less pressure on major cities like Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane that has got a growing population.
Universities in regional areas
Australian Capital Territory
Australian National University – Canberra
University of Canberra – Canberra
Australian Catholic University – Canberra
New South Wales
Charles Sturt University – Wagga-Wagga, Port Macquarie, and Albury
Southern Cross University – Lismore and Coffs Harbour
University of Wollongong – Wollongong
University of New Castle – New Castle
The University of New England – Armidale
Northern Territory
Charles Darwin University – Darwin
Queensland
University of Sunshine Coast – Sunshine Coast
Central Queensland University – Rockhampton, Cairns, Gladstone, Noosa, Townsville, Emerald, Mackay, Bundaberg
James Cook University – Townsville
University of Southern Queensland – Toowoomba
Bond University – Gold Coast
Griffith University – Gold Coast
Southern Cross University – Gold Coast
South Australia
Flinders University – Adelaide
University of Adelaide – Adelaide
University of South Australia – Adelaide
Carnegie Mellon University – Adelaide
Central Queensland University – Adelaide
Tasmania
University of Tasmania – Hobart, Launceston, and Burnie
Victoria
Australian Catholic University – Ballarat
Deakin University – Geelong and Warrnambool
Federation University – Ballarat
Latrobe University -Bendigo, Shepparton, and Wodonga
Western Australia
The University of Notre Dame – Broome & Fremantle
University of Western Australia – Perth
Curtin University – Perth
Murdoch University – Perth
Edith Cowan University – Perth
Central Queensland University – Perth
City Area
Pros
Facilities
Australian cities are some of the most liveable cities in the world. The universities in the metropolitan areas are world-class and well known for their education, campuses, and facilities like libraries, computer labs, science labs, etc.
Lots of options for studying
There are thousands of courses that you can choose when studying in the metro areas. Most of the universities, Tafe and private range of study options that you may not be able to find in some regional areas.
Multicultural
Australian cities are very multicultural. You can see people from all walks of life, religions, backgrounds, and nationalities. Don’t get surprised if you bump into people from your home country.
More job opportunities
With larger populations, comes a huge number of job opportunities. As most overseas students look forward to some part-time work during their study period, it becomes the crucial factor for deciding where to study in Australia.
Easily accessible transport
Australian cities are really well connected with the different modes of transport like trains, trams, buses, and ferries. Most of the cities have multiple modes of transport which make going from home to school or work really easy and you don’t need to buy a car to travel around the city.
Entertainment
There are a large number of shopping centers, cinemas, restaurants, bars, and nightclubs in the cities for your entertainment. Apart from them cities will also hold various events like festivals, sporting events, etc.
Cons
Crowded
As mentioned above, the main reason the Australian Government is trying to push students and migrants to move to regional areas is due to cities like Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are getting overcrowded.
Population in these cities are booming which leads to congestion on the road, crowded public transport and shortage of rental properties.
Lots of competition
Although there are plenty of job opportunities available in the cities, there is stiff competition in the job market as most of the international students choose to study in city areas.
No additional points for migration purposes
If you are aiming to get additional points for the migration purpose, then cities are not going to be much help. There are no extra points for studying in the metro area.
Regional Area
Pros
Extra points for migration
One of the main reasons international students choose to study in regional areas is the obvious benefit of getting 5 extra points. These 5 points can be vital when applying for your permanent residence.
Additional year on Post Study Work Visa
As announced by the Australian Government, international students studying at regional universities will get one extra year of Post Study work visa. This visa allows the students to stay back in Australia after completing their studies for working full-time.
More Australian culture
You can see the real Tru-Blu Australian culture when leaving in regional towns. While Australian cities are very multicultural, Australian towns are opposite and have fewer migrants. You can get to see, live and experience the typical Aussie environment.
Relaxed lifestyle
The pace of life in Australian regional towns is much slower than the cities. People usually are not in a rush, so it might feel like you are on a vacation all the time. Even at work, people take a laid back approach and the workload is less stressful.
Cost of living
As a matter of fact, the cost of living in regional towns are much less compared to the cities. For example, while the rent for a 1-bedroom apartment costs around $1360 in Adelaide and it costs $2602 in Sydney.
Closer to Nature
If you like to bring closer to nature and love the outdoors, then studying in a regional area will be the best bet for you. Australia is a beautiful country with its very unique landscapes and wildlife.
Specialised courses
There are certain types of courses that are only available in regional areas. For example, the University of Tasmania’s Marine courses is the kind of one and only courses available throughout Australia.
Small class sizes
One of the key benefits of studying in a regional area is that class sizes are smaller as compared to cities. So, you get a personalised sort of education and its quite easy to build a relationship with your teachers and lecturers.
Special scholarships
Australian Government has announced a special scholarship, Destination Australia, for international students studying in regional universities. This scholarship will provide $15,000 per year to the students studying programs from Certificate IV level to Doctoral degrees.
Many universities also offer a variety of scholarships to attract more international students to study in the regional area. Make sure to enquire for scholarship before you apply for any course.
Community Feeling
When there is less number of students studying in your course, you can easily build a bond with them. It also helps to settle into the study and living environment quickly. Since most students might be living in the same areas, it is easier to catch up with friends after uni.
Cons
Fewer job opportunities
As most of the regional towns are smaller compared to larger cities, there can be a shortage of jobs in certain regional towns. As community aspect is really strong in regional areas, most of the employers prefer to give jobs to locals first.
Facilities
Infrastructure, lack of funding and less number of students mean that facilities in the universities are not as fancy as they are in city universities.
Lack of Public Transport
Public transport in regional areas is very limited. Usually, buses are the only mode of transport in regional towns with limited timetables. If you are not living close to university or work, then you will need to buy a car for your everyday commute.
Entertainment is limited
Regional towns are nowhere close to as lively as cities are. Most of the shops and shopping centers will close early and fewer number of options are available for dining out and events.
Our Top 10 regional cities for studying in 2020
Based on our research on various factors like:
Cost of Living
Lifestyle
Liveability
Availability of reputed universities and courses
Facilities
Job opportunities
Our Top 10 Cities for studying in Regional Australia are:
While there are many pros and cons for studying in both regional and metropolitan areas in Australia, we suggest that you find one that meets your requirements well.
Some of the factors you should consider when making the final decision about studying in Regional Australia or city are:
Your career goals
Your financial situation
Your preferred course
Your lifestyle
The reputation of the university or institution
Cost of living
Job opportunities
We hope this article helps you in making a better-informed decision for your career.
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