Potentially interested international students who wish to pursue further studies in the regional parts of Australia have a dozen perks in-store for them, inclusive of better functional opportunities like access to employment-boosting courses and those that could get them better chances of securing scholarships, along with 5 additional points towards permanent residency.

In comparison to cities located in the metropolitan regions of the nation like Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne, the expenditure incurred for basic living and educational purposes is much lower in regional Australia. Though there has always been a consistent increase in the number of international students in the nation, quite a few of them are actually ought to enroll in Universities located in larger cities.

The core advantages of pursuing higher studies in regional parts of the country can be feasibly experienced in the following places: Geelong, Lake Macquarie, Perth, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Adelaide, Illawarra, Hobart, Newcastle, Wollongong, and Canberra.

Here are the top 8 reasons why you should definitely consider getting an educational qualification in one of the aforementioned locations:

• Small-sized Classes

When you pursue educational training in a small-sized class having a minimal number of students, there’s a greater chance to avail better services and also obtaining more personalized care and attention through an expert tutor.

• Another year for Candidates on a Post-Study Work Visa

For those international graduates who had pursued an educational qualification from a regionally located University in Australia, full-time work rights could be permitted for a period of an entire year provided they were on a Post-Work Study Visa.

• Calm and Pleasant Lifestyle

In stark contrast to those crowded metropolitan cities in Australia, regional locations are a prime destination for living a peaceful and relaxed lifestyle, as witnessed by the majority of the residents. Contradictory to what most people believe, these regions aren’t underdeveloped, one can easily avail better healthcare and entertainment options here. Due to the smaller-sized population, one gets the intense feeling of belonging to a closely-knit family while also gaining the undue advantage of experiencing a quieter lifestyle as compared to the hustle and bustle of the central cities.

• Enhanced Migration Choices

International students wishing to work and eventually settle down in this nation shall be able to do so by procuring brownie points while residing in regional cities. In case you reside in and also pursue an educational qualification in either of the locations as listed by the Australian Department of Home Affairs, you stand a golden chance to bag 5 additional points that assist you in the race towards permanent residency.

• Employment-Booster Courses

One needs to envision how to make this opportunity of studying in Australia a beneficial one for themselves. Many of the local as well as regional universities over an array of locally relevant courses and training that could leverage your chances to secure a spot in the labor market. Examples would be opting for region-specific courses like pursuing a wine-making degree from Adelaide or a Marine Biology certification from New South Wales. Another perk is that students pursuing a career in medicine or dentistry shall receive additional training from their respective schools before seeking employment in the nation, provided they’re from overseas.

• Availing Scholarships

Destination Australia is one of the most popular and highly preferred scholarships by the majority of migrants. Those students coming from foreign regions and having enrolled into varied regional area universities are eligible for the AUD 15,000 scholarship. However, they must be enrolled in any course ranging from Certificate IV to a Doctoral Level. Apart from these two, other Universities have scholarships set aside for overseas students.

• Decent Living Costs

Big cities are often the preliminary reason for shelling out huge tons of money. But that’s not the case when you reside in a small town or in the countryside, where living costs are much more affordable.

• Freedom to Explore the Island

Australia is a destination packed with natural wonders that make it a popular tourist destination like its iconic reefs, deserts, mountainous regions, and sandy beaches, quite rare in other parts of the world. For those pursuing their studies in a regional location of the nation, these wonders are not located that far away, and exploring such exotic locations becomes icing on the cake along with living the ideal relaxed lifestyle.

Before you decide to travel to regional Australia, here are some factors you must keep in mind:

• availability of your preferred course
• availability of varied facilities
• recognition and regional reputation of the target university
• opportunities for getting employed
• expenditure for pursuing an education and settling in the nation

Popular Regional Destinations

Before deciding on which of Australia’s regional locations are the best choice for your study, work, or settling down purposes, it’s important to consider the following feasibility factors: the type of lifestyle prevalent in that region, costs of living, the population of the region as well as possible potential job opportunities. Some of the unique choices people most frequently opt for are Sunshine Coast, Cairns, Adelaide, Perth, Byron Bay, and Gold Coast.

The two primary types of regional study visas include:

• Skilled Employer-Sponsored Regional – Subclass 494 (Provisional) Visa
• Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa

Here is a comprehensive guide to the list of repeated colleges and educational institutions within regional Australia:

• Newcastle: University of Newcastle
• Adelaide: University of Adelaide, University of South Australia, Flinders University, Central Queensland University, and Carnegie Mellon University
• Wollongong: University of Wollongong
• Perth: Murdoch University, Curtin University, Edith Cowan University, University of Western Australia, and Central Queensland University
• Canberra: The University of Canberra and Australian National University
• Gold Coast: Griffith University, Bond University, and Southern Cross University
• Geelong: Deakin University
• Darwin: Central Queensland University and Charles Darwin University Cairns
• Hobart: University of Tasmania

After covering all these vital points, it’s now up to you to make the final choice. We would strongly advise consulting with an educational expert on foreign opportunities to avail the best benefits for your profile!