When you dream of studying abroad, there is always an element of adventure attached to exploring the new place you have chosen as your home for a few years. If you are planning to study in Australia, it will be helpful to know the best features of each city and to check the affordability of these places as well. Australian cities attract around 300,000 students every year and the diversity is itself a very welcoming aspect of getting your education in Australia. Seven of the cities listed below are among the top 100 Student Cities according to QS ratings. The criteria for the rating depends on a number of factors which includes the overall culture, transport, climate, living cost, number of high rated universities in the city, etc. If you have not made a concrete decision about which university to go to, starting you search by narrowing it down to a city is a great idea to start!
Melbourne
Famous unis, perks of the city
Rated 5th on QS best Student Cities list, Melbourne offers a wonderful mix of cultures as one-third of the student population are international students. Self expression is encouraged, with a number of art festivals, music and fashion events that form the culture of this vibrant city. There are plenty of affordable places to eat and relax. Apart from the entertainment, the city also facilitates students in other ways- you can avail student discounts on tech, fitness, travel, clothing and entertainment with your ID and official email address. Transport system consists of trains, trams, buses and taxis. Even though the accommodation cost can be a little high, the universities in the city are among the best in the world. Here’s a list of the best eight universities:
- The University of Melbourne
- Monash University
- Deakin University
- La Trobe University
- Swinburne University of Technology
- RMIT University
- Victoria University
- The University of Divinity
Cost of living in Melbourne: 1,968 AUD per month
Sydney
Sydney is also among the top 10 best student cities on QS ratings. This is due to the fact that it has some globally high ranked universities and the jobs also pay well. The inner city, where most of these universities are located, is an expensive place for students to live in and commuting is difficult too. Due to the mix of cultures in the city, the restaurants offer amazing food. There are also some great beaches and lush green pastures in the city. One of the very famous Australian landmarks- the Sydney Opera House is also located here which reflects the city’s art scene. Some major musicals and entertainment acts are held there. The top universities in Sydney include:
- The University of New South Wales
- University of Sydney
- Western Sydney University
- University of Technology, Sydney
- Macquarie University
- Australian Catholic University
Cost of living in Sydney: 4,100 AUD per month
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital of Queensland and is home to the world famous University of Queensland which has produced 117 Rhodes scholars and a Nobel Laureate. Most of the international students live in the suburbs because the universities are all there. Inner city has well connected transport systems and most people travel by cars or bikes. The best universities in Brisbane include:
- University of Queensland
- James Cook University
- Queensland University of Technology
- Griffith University
Cost of living in Brisbane: 1733 AUD per month
Adelaide
This city is not very populated and has an amazing landscape as well. Due to the low population though, the public transport system is very scattered- the bus service covers the whole city but the tram only runs through the inner city to the beach suburb of Glenelg. This town is a very beautiful place due to the restaurants and cafes close to the beach. Students prefer to live in suburbs due to the lower accommodation cost but living in the centre gives you access to the nightlife and proximity to some of the universities. Adelaide has four famous universities:
Cost of living in Adelaide: 2,862 AUD per month
Perth
Perth is one of the most expensive cities but that also ensures well-paying jobs after your education is complete. There is an abundance of places to shop, dine out and drink but these are mostly located in the city centre and not the suburbs, where most students live due to the low cost of the accommodation and closeness to the campus. Luckily, the campus life is very lively and there are lots of sports clubs to join.
Cost of living in Perth: 4,383 AUD per month
Canberra
Canberra is a quiet, small city (with a population of less than one million) and excellent for international students to live in and focus on academics because it is spacious and has a lot of parks. Well connected by roads, it is not isolated from the centre and with the shopping centres, clubs and multicultural restaurants, also gives students plenty of places to enjoy themselves within the suburbs. The two major universities are very close to each other
Cost of living in Canberra: 1792 AUD
Gold Coast
The Gold Coast is home to wonderful sandy beaches surrounded by tropical forests and there are plenty of places to unwind and enjoy the weather. Accommodation might be costly but the public universities help international students save a lot of money. The four universities in this city are:
Cost of living in Gold Coast: 1776 AUD
Hobart
Hobart is a very affordable city for international students and 1 in 5 students is a foreigner. The courses offered here in the only university in the region are diverse and students have a lot of choices. Public transport is not very easily accessible so students live close to the campus and the city centre. There is only one university in Hobart and Tasmania:
Cost of living in Hobart: 1648 AUD
Wollongong
Perfect for students, the city of Wollongong offers a very moderate climate, small population and natural environment to live in. The best thing about the city is it’s university which ranks among the top 2% of the world’s universities. Its excellent research facilities and graduate employment rate makes it a very good option for international students. There is a very efficient public transport system that helps students commute. The local cuisine is affordable and influenced by the Eastern European, Mediterranean and Asian migrants in the city.
Cost of living in Wollongong: 1554 AUD
Conclusion
All Australian cities offer a different set of perks and the ones that seem most feasible to you while also letting you choose the right program from the local universities, will be the choice for you. Some cities have better job opportunities but have expensive accommodation so see what is the right set of factors for you to choose the university which will allow you to study well.
