Five benefits of studying in a regional area

If you’re thinking about moving to Australia to study, you can probably imagine yourself studying in an iconic capital city like Sydney or Melbourne. You may not realise that regional Australia is another option — an option taken by many international students.

There are a number of higher education providers located in regional and country Australia, which give you the opportunity to explore ‘the real Australia’ outside the big capital cities. There are some great reasons why you should think about studying in regional Australia: regional institutions offer a great relaxing lifestyle, a more personalised university experience, beautiful natural scenery and additional opportunities for migration.

Lifestyle

Regional cities provide a relaxing lifestyle away from the hustle and bustle of the big city. Imagine being able to go for a swim at the beach or a bushwalk in your spare time between classes. Many regional cities are very cosmopolitan as well, with similar leisure pursuits to what you would find in the capital cities. Regional cities have the same facilities and entertainment that you will find in the big cities (think health care, cinemas, sporting venues, restaurants, cafés, bars and shopping), so you can be sure to find everything you need. One of the main differences is that these regional cities are more relaxed, and you will feel as if you are part of a community rather than just one person in a big city: you will get to know ‘country hospitality’ first hand.

Specialty course offerings

Regional areas provide opportunities for secondary school, university, TAFE and English language study. Campuses in regional cities offer a wide range of disciplines, many of which are tailored to the strengths of the local area. You might find that a campus in Adelaide’s Barossa Valley offers a specialty winemaking degree, a campus in Far North Queensland features a range of tropical studies or that a campus on the New South Wales coast specialises in marine biology. There are also a number of medical and dental schools in regional areas, training students to (hopefully) take up jobs in these regions.

A community feel

You will find that regional university campuses are smaller, which usually means that there is a real community feel and that it is easier to meet and get to know people. Most other students will be living in the same area as well, so it will be easy to catch up with friends after class. At a regional campus it is a lot harder to get lost in the crowd and it is likely that you will feel very welcomed, meaning that you can expect to settle in to your new study and living environment in no time.

Discover the ‘real Australia’

Australia is famous around the world for the beauty of its natural environment. From tropical rainforests and snow-covered mountains to white sandy beaches, rolling hills, red deserts and the iconic ‘bush’, Australia really does have it all. Regional campuses are the best places to really explore Australia’s natural environment out of the city. You will have a chance to get to know the country and take up the amazing lifestyle opportunities that it offers.

Additional opportunities for migration

If you are thinking about applying for permanent residency in Australia once your studies are over, living and studying in a regional area will give you a distinct advantage. Study in a regional area will grant you five extra points in the Department of Immigration and Citizenship’s points test for skilled migration visa applications.