Many students aspire to study in Australia. It is home to some of the world's best universities. They provide students with world-class education and housing. Furthermore, Australia has two cities in the top ten and seven in the top 100 QS Best Student Cities 2023. As a result, it is one of the best and most popular study destinations.
Australia's best cities for international students are
- Melbourne
- Sydney
- Brisbane
- Adelaide
- Perth
- Canberra
- Gold Coast
The top-rated student cities in Australia have strong scores in Student mix, employer activity, and desirability. They are also very affordable and worth the price.
Top Cities in Australia - QS Ranking
According to the latest QS Best Student Cities, Australia has two cities in the top 10 and 7 in the top 100 rankings. These rankings are based on the factors like desirability, student reviews, and affordability. Given below are the Top QS Ranking cities along with their student view, student mix, and affordability scores:
|
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 |
Melbourne
Melbourne holds 6th place in the QS World ranking for Best Student Cities. It is also the cultural capital of Australia and packed with things to do for students. Students can always find a sports event, stand-up comedy, or live music show in the city.
Melbourne is also home to some of Australia's best universities. There are 7 top internationally ranked universities in Melbourne. It also has the best student mix score since students from various countries come here for education.
Along with this, one can experience a high standard of living in Melbourne since it is the most liveable city. It also represents a good score for desirability, ranking, and employer activity. Thus, reflecting the high quality of education offered in Melbourne.
Given below are some other essential details about Melbourne for students:
|
Parameters |
Particulars |
|
City QS Ranking |
6 |
|
Best Universities |
The University of Melbourne Monash University La Trobe University RMIT University Victoria University |
|
Cost of Living |
1,312 AUD/ month |
|
Things to do |
Visit Live music shows, sports events, and comedy shows |
|
Is it worth studying in the city |
Yes, offers great education and career opportunities |
Sydney
Sydney is the largest city and the financial and economic hub in Australia. It holds a QS world ranking of 8 and has the top spot in the desirability index. It is located on the heels of Melbourne and offers a combination of high-quality living with a mix of beaches and green spaces.
Sydney also has an excellent student mix score and five internationally ranked universities. Thus, Sydney offers an enjoyable experience to students. Along with this, the employer activity score of Sydney is also pretty high.
Students also get promising career opportunities in Sydney since it has companies like Microsoft, Google, Apple, etc., which offer high salaries to students.
Given below are some other essential details about Sydney for students:
|
Parameters |
Particulars |
|
City QS Ranking |
8 |
|
Best Universities |
University of Sydney UNSW Sydney University of Technology Sydney Macquarie University Western Sydney University Australian Catholic University |
|
Cost of Living |
1,421 AUD/ month |
|
Things to do |
Visit Beaches and Green Spaces |
|
Is it worth studying in the city |
Yes, it offers career opportunities with high-paying jobs in Deloitte, Apple, Google, Microsoft, etc. |
Brisbane
Brisbane is the rising star of the best cities in Australia. It is the capital of Queensland and the third-largest city in Australia. It is an amiable city and has a sizable student population. It is home to 3 well-known universities. However, Brisbane has also been gaining popularity as a tourist spot lately. It also has the largest economy between Singapore and Sydney.
Students can experience an ideal mix of urban and outdoor living in Brisbane. It has a sunny climate, beautiful beaches, and cosmopolitan areas with nightclubs and art scenes. Students can enjoy various activities like swimming, surfing, theatre, eating out, etc.
Given below are some essential details about Brisbane for students:
|
Parameters |
Particulars |
|
City QS Ranking |
29 |
|
Best Universities |
University of Queensland #47 Queensland University of Technology #213 Griffith University #=290 |
|
Cost of Living |
1,342 AUD/ month |
|
Things to do |
Visit Beaches and enjoy outdoor activities |
|
Is it worth studying in the city |
Yes, it offers high-quality education and a chance to explore |
Adelaide
Adelaide ranks 35th according to the latest QS World Ranking. It is located on the southern coast of Australia and has many terrains. It is one of the safest cities in the country and ranks 16th according to QS Student View. It is also the 5th largest city in Australia and home to some of the best universities. However, it is more expensive than other cities.
Students can find many attractive and navigable sites in Adelaide, like open spaces, boulevards, city centres, and parklands. It also has stunning beaches and islands along with the Adelaide hills. Students can opt for activities like hiking, wildlife-watching, cycling, etc. It also has many restaurants and vineyards.
Given below are some essential details about Adelaide for students:
|
Parameters |
Particulars |
|
City QS Ranking |
35 |
|
Best Universities |
University of Adelaide University of South Australia Flinders University |
|
Cost of Living |
1,580 AUD/ month |
|
Things to do |
Visit terrains and enjoy outdoor activities |
|
Is it worth studying in the city |
Yes, it is especially great for students in the healthcare and manufacturing sectors and offers them high salaries. |
Perth
Along with Adelaide, Perth also sits on the 35th rank of the QS Best Cities 2022. It is situated on the West Coast, around 2000 miles from Sydney, and relatively isolated. Yet, it ranks highly in the student mix and desirability index.
Students can visit Perth has idyllic weather and many gorgeous beaches and parklands. It offers many attractions that may be culinary, recreational, or cultural. Students can enjoy live music, arts and film festivals, theatre, comedy, etc.
The tuition fees in Perth are higher than in other cities. But students are offered high salaries, and it has a high demand for graduates in healthcare, education, and social and retail services.
The living cost in Perth also varies for every individual. It entirely depends on a student's lifestyle and expenditure. However, the first-year students must have at least 3,300 AUD to spend 475 AUD per week.
|
Parameters |
Particulars |
|
City QS Ranking |
35 |
|
Best Universities |
University of Western Australia (UWA) Curtin University Murdoch University Edith Cowan University |
|
Cost of Living |
1,306 AUD/ month |
|
Things to do |
Visit beaches and enjoy festivals |
|
Is it worth studying in the city |
Yes, it is great for students and offers them high salaries. |
Canberra
Canberra is Australia's capital and the safest city in Australia. Canberra scores well in the student's mix and is second most potent in desirability. It also has some of the highest-ranked universities. Thus it has a large and diverse student population.
Canberra has several attractions like natural reserves and man-made lakes right in the city centre. It is also likely more affordable as compared to other cities.
Students are also offered high salaries in the education, healthcare, and retail sectors. The QS Employer ranking for Canberra is also higher than other cities.
|
Parameters |
Particulars |
|
City QS Ranking |
37 |
|
Best Universities |
Australian National University (ANU) University of Canberra |
|
Cost of Living |
1,270 AUD/ month |
|
Things to do |
Visit lakes and natural reserves |
|
Is it worth studying in the city |
Yes, it is great for students and has some of the best universities. |
Gold Coast
Gold Coast ranks 89 in the QS World Ranking and is the 6th largest Australian City. It is situated in Queensland towards the south of Brisbane. It has 52 kilometres of golden sand and 300 days under the sun annually. People also call it by its suburban name – Surfer's Paradise.
Gold Coast is the ideal spot for students who like surfing and beaches in general. It is situated away from the urban crowd and around rural lands. It may also be called the green behind the gold. It has three national parks with subtropical rainforests, mountains, waterfalls, and rock formations.
Gold Coast scores highly on the diversity index and has a diverse student population. It has significant scope for students in sports, entertainment, education, and IT. It is also cheaper compared to other Australian cities.
|
Parameters |
Particulars |
|
City QS Ranking |
89 |
|
Best Universities |
Griffith University Bond University Southern Cross University |
|
Cost of Living |
1,372 AUD/ month |
|
Things to do |
Visit beaches, waterfalls, and national parks |
|
Is it worth studying in the city |
Yes, it is great for students |
Tuition Fees at the top Cities in Australia for Higher Education
The tuition fees in Australia may range anywhere from AUD 4000 – 121,000. It differs for all universities and courses. Given below are the average tuition fees for different courses in Australia:
|
Education Type |
Average Tuition |
|
Vocational Education and Training |
AUD $4,000 - $22,000 per year |
|
Foundation courses |
AUD $15,000 - $33,000 total |
|
Bachelor Degree |
AUD $15,000 - $33,000 per year |
|
Master's Degree |
AUD $14,000 - $37,000 per year |
|
Doctoral Degree |
AUD $14,000 - $37,000 per year |
|
MBA |
AUD $11,000 - $121,000 per year |
Accommodation Costs in Cities in Australia
The approximate cost of living in Australia is AUD 35,000 – 40,000 per year. This cost may vary for different cities and places. But, it entirely depends on a student's lifestyle and personal expenditure.
Given below are the approximate accommodation costs for international students in Australia:
|
Types of accommodation |
Average Costs |
|
Boarding school |
AUD 11,000 to 22,000 per year. |
|
Homestay* |
AUD 235 to 325 per week |
|
University accommodation |
AUD 90 to 280 per week. |
|
Residential colleges |
are generally more expensive because of the facilities and support services offered. |
|
Halls of residence |
Halls of residence offer accommodation and a lively social atmosphere, but with fewer facilities and services included. |
|
Apartments |
Universities offer apartments for rent either close to or on campus. This provides the students with the security of institution-approved accommodation along with increased freedom and self-catered living |
|
Hostels and guesthouses |
AUD 90 to 150 per week. |
|
Private rental |
On average, rental accommodation costs around AUD 165 to 440 per week, and shared rental accommodation costs around AUD 85 to 215 per week. |
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