Many of our students have been asking us, “Should I be studying in regional Australia?” True, the allure of buzzing Australian cities like Sydney and Melbourne is hard to ignore, but don’t let that get in the way of you exploring what regional Australia is all about. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of studying in regional Australia which include: pros and cons of living in Perth, and the pros and cons of living in Adelaide.
What Is Regional Australia?
Regional Australia is any area outside the metropolitan area. The Australian Government has simplified the definition of Regional Australia by stating that regional Australia will include all of Australia except:
According to this definition, many cities like Gold Coast, Perth, Canberra, Newcastle, and Wollongong that were previously considered “cities” will be deemed as “Regional Areas”. Below, you will find everything you need to know about the pros and cons of studying in Australia.
Pros Of Studying In Regional Australia
Relaxed Lifestyle – There are many benefits of living in regional Australia. The pace of life in regional Australia is slower compared to cities. Students studying in regional Australia are generally more laid back, so you might feel like you’re on a vacation all the time! Even the people who work seemed chilled out and the workload is less stressful.
Extra points for Migration – One of the main reasons for studying in regional Australia is that international students get the benefit of 5 extra points. These 5 extra points are vital while applying for permanent residency.
Additional year on Post Study Work Visa – One of the benefits of living in regional Australia is regarding your post-study work visa. The Australian Government has announced that international students who study in regional Australia 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.
Cost of Living – The cost of living in regional Australia is lower compared to the cities. This is one of the reasons international students prefer to study in regional Australia. To put things into perspective, the rent for a 1-bedroom apartment costs around $1360 in Adelaide and it costs $2602 in Sydney.
Experience more Australian culture – You can witness the quintessential Australia culture only in regional Australia. 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.
Specialised Courses – There are some courses that are exclusively available in regional Australia. For instance, the University of Tasmania’s Marine courses are not available anywhere else in Australia.
If you’re an international student who’s looking for student accommodation, make sure you fill the form in this blog.
Cons
There are a few cons or disadvantages of studying in Australia for international students, but the pros weigh higher so do not feel discouraged.
Fewer Job Opportunities – Most of the jobs are concentrated in the city, as a result, there is a shortage of jobs in regional Australia. Moreover, as community spirit is really strong in regional areas, most of the employers prefer to give jobs to locals first, leaving international students jobless.
Lack of Public Transport – Public transport is very limited in regional Australia. Usually, buses are the only mode of transport in regional towns with limited routes. If you are not living close to university or work, then you will need to buy a car for your everyday commute.
Infrastructure – One of the major disadvantages of studying in Australia is the infrastructure in regional areas. Lack of funding in regional areas has led to limited infrastructure being built. This means that students studying in regional Australia may not be able to use fancy facilities that are found in abundance in cities.
Limited Social Life – Regional Australia is not nearly as lively as cities are. Most of the shops and shopping centres will close early and fewer number of options are available for dining out and events.
Now that you’re aware of the pros and cons of studying in Australia, let us take a look at the requirements for studying in regional Australia.
What Are The Study In Regional Australia Requirements?
The main requirements in meeting the 2 year “Australian Study Requirement” are as follows:
Type of Qualification: You must complete a degree, diploma or trade qualification. Masters, graduate diplomas and PhDs are considered degrees and so may be counted towards the 2-year study requirement.
CRICOS registration: The courses completed must be on the approved list of courses for international students (CRICOS).
Two Academic Years: This is defined as being at least 92 weeks according to the CRICOS registration of the courses.
16 Month Duration: The course must take at least 16 months of study in Australia from the beginning of the course till completion.
English Medium: All instruction must be in English.
Compliance with Visa Conditions: Study must be in compliance with visa conditions to count towards the 2-year study requirement. This will not, in general, be an issue if you are studying in Australia on a student visa, but could be an issue if you are studying on a visa with restricted study rights.
Which Are The Regional Australia Universities?
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
Australian Capital Area –
- Australian National University – Canberra
- University of Canberra – Canberra
- Australian Catholic University – Canberra
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
Northern Territory –
- Charles Darwin University – Darwin
South Australia –
Now that you’re already aware of the pros and cons of living in Adelaide, you should know that some of the top universities in South Australia belong to this city.
- 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
While there are many pros and cons of living in Perth, you will notice some of the top universities in Western Australia are hosted in Perth.
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
What Are The Points For Being A Student In Regional Australia?
Regional Areas in Australia include Perth, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Lake Macquarie, Illawarra, Geelong, Newcastle, Wollongong, Adelaide, Hobart and Canberra. If a student is studying in regional Australia, he/she is entitled to 5 points, which are important as the time of permanent residency.
To obtain the 5 additional points you must have at least 1 degree, diploma or trade qualification from an Australian educational institution that satisfies the Australian study requirement obtained while living and studying in an eligible area of regional Australia.
Source: Overseas Student Australia, SeekVisa
Thank you for reading this blog. If you’d like to read more, here are some blogs that might be of interest to you:
