
What is a Regional Area?
The Australian Government designed “Regional Australia” as a means of promoting certain areas of the country that are less populated, also known as “Regional Areas”. Studying in Regional areas will help students when migrating to Australia after graduation.
As of recent, Perth and the Gold Coast have been reclassified as regional areas with the aim of attracting migrants and foreign students. Therefore, International students who aim to study and settle down in Australia can reap many benefits by studying in a Regional Area. These areas are looking for skilled migrants for occupations and positions that are identified as being a shortage. These regional areas are attractive for international students to study and there onwards continue to work and live due to high standards of living and working conditions.
The following are the designated Regional Areas in Australia and its benefits :
Definition | Locations | Benefits |
Major Cities |
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Cities and Major Regional centres – Category 2 |
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Regional centres and other regional areas – Category 3 |
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In addition to the above mentioned benefits, if you are interested to know about other benefits and helpful information about studying and living in a regional area, check out the Five benefits of studying at Australian Regional University.
Top Universities in Regional Areas
Queensland (The Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast)
Queensland is often referred to as the “Sunshine State”. It is the second largest city in the country and the nation’s third-largest Economy fueled by tourism. The state has a rich history spanning over 1000 years and has grown to accommodate over 5,000,000 people. It truly is a state with many opportunities to seize. In addition to some of the highly ranked universities being situated in the state, Queensland is also a top choice for students to live and work. Queensland is a very reasonable state to live in as a student. As mentioned above, The Gold Coast is now a regional area, therefore, presents many opportunities for students. The city is ranked 1st for affordability in Australia and 84th globally.
Furthermore, the state is extremely culturally diverse and welcoming of individuals from around the world. The government continuously fosters diversity throughout the state by promoting and celebrating various cultural events.
Moreover, as it is the 3rd largest economy it is a gateway for students to find employment opportunities which increases their chance of receiving permanent residency in Australia. To know more about studying and living in Queensland, check out Top reasons to study in Queensland 2020.
Griffith University
Griffith University is situated in South East Queensland. It was founded over 40 years ago. It is a highly regarded young university. They have maintained its position as the 37th university amongst Top 50 under 50 years list in 2020. They teach some of the subjects ranked Top 100 in the world.
Program | Global Subject Rankings | Duration | Indicative Annual Fee (2020) |
Bachelor of International Tourism and Hospitality Management | 20 | 3 years | AUD$ 28,000 |
Bachelor of Nursing | 32 | 3 years | AUD$ 31,500 |
Bachelor of Musical Theater | 35 | 3 years | AUD$ 31,000 |
If you are interested to know more about studying at Griffith University, do not hesitate to contact us.
James Cook University (JCU)
JCU is the second oldest university in Queensland as it was founded in 1961. JCU is a highly reputed university that has achieved many awards. It is ranked 20th in Australia. The institution is heavily focused on research in areas such as marine sciences, Biodiversity and Sustainable development and has been ranked well above world standard.
It is ranked 43rd in the Top 50 universities under 50 years category and teaches a few subjects ranked in the Top 150 in the world.
Program | Global Subject Rankings | Duration | Indicative Annual Fee (2020) |
Bachelor of Environmental Practice | 51 – 100 | 3 years | AUD$ 34,480 |
Bachelor of Marine Science | 51 – 100 | 3 years | AUD$ 37,680 |
Bachelor of Geology | 101 – 150 | 3 years | AUD$ 37,360 |
If you are interested to know more about studying at JCU, do not hesitate to contact us,
Western Australia – Perth
Perth is the fourth most populous city in Australia. It is also the capital and largest city of Western Australia. Perth is full of unique attractions fit for everyone to enjoy. The city is perfect for sightseeing and evening strolls as its positioned on the banks of Swan river nearby to Kings park. Perth is culturally diverse and its showcased through its Arts and entertainment with many museums, Art Galleries and cultural centres.
As a student living and working in Perth, there are many opportunities to enjoy. After a hard days work students can head out to night markets, outdoor movie locations, rooftop movies, science exhibitions and many more to relax and wind down. Cost of living in Perth is also considerably lower than cities such as Melbourne in terms of transportation and accommodation.
If you want to know more about studying in Perth do check out Top 5 reasons to study in Perth Australia.
Edith Cowan University (ECU)
ECU was founded in 1991 and is a multi-campus public university. The institution is home to over 30,000 students, including 6,000 international students from over 100 countries.
ECU is currently ranked 30th in Australia and is ranked in the Top 150 universities under 50 years. Sports-related subjects are ranked 51 – 100 while Education is maintained in the Top 300 subjects in the world.
Program | Global Subject Rankings | Duration | Indicative Annual Fee (2020) |
Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood studies) | 51 – 100 | 4 years | AUD$ 30, 750 |
Bachelor of Engineering in Chemical (Honours) | 151 -175 | 4 years | AUD$ 30,200 |
Bachelor of Science (Exercise and Sports Science) | 251 – 300 | 3 years | AUD$33,950 |
If you are interested to know more about studying at ECU, take a look at Studying at Edith Cowan University Australia 2020.
Hobart, Tasmania
Tasmania is an island state of Australia. It is the 26th largest island in the world accommodating approximately 540,000 people. It is an island of beautiful landscapes, relaxed lifestyles, welcoming people and a rich history. Although, it is Australia’s smallest state it has over 40% of world heritage wilderness and national parks making it the most geographically diverse location amongst the Australian states.
Hobart is the capital city of Tasmania and it offers a variety of attractions such as the Salamanca market, museums and art galleries. For world class activities and adventures, students can spend time camping, hiking, diving or surfing all around the state.
University of Tasmania
UTAS is Australia’s fourth oldest university and has over 35,000 students. The university is highly regarded for its academics and campus lifestyle. They focus on ensuring students have a vibrant and unique campus environment whilst receiving an education filled with adventure and experiences. Some of the world’s highly ranked subjects are taught at UTAS.
Program | Global Subject Rankings | Duration | Indicative Annual Fee (2020) |
Bachelor of Marine and Antarctic Science | 42 | 3 years | AUD$ 37,950 |
Bachelor of Agricultural Science | 51 – 100 | 4 years | AUD$ 35,950 |
If you are interested to know more about studying at University of Tasmania, do not hesitate to contact us.
Adelaide
Adelaide is the fifth most populated city. It is the capital city of the state of South Australia. It has an approximate 1.2 million people residing in the city. Adelaide is full of culture, events and entertainment for everyone indulge in. It has some of the best beaches, award winning restaurants and festival centres which showcase the different cultures of the state.
It is one of the best choices for students to study and live in. It is the 3rd most affordable Australian student city in terms of living costs as they are considerably lower than Sydney and Melbourne. Transportation systems are very convenient with many of them being free of charge.
It’s a famous city in Australia with diverse communities and a lot to offer for students who enjoy beautiful landscapes, local industries to work in and a healthy economy.
Kaplan Business School (KBS)
KBS was launched in 2008 and is a globally recognized provider of higher education in Australia. They offer undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in Accounting, Business, Marketing, Management, Digital Management, Health Services and more. It is home to international students from over 80 countries, therefore, students will fit right in and feel at home. They teach in small classes so that professors can provide individual support to their students to ensure they connect better with peers and learn skills from one another.
Program | Global Subject Rankings | Duration | Indicative Annual Fee (2020) |
Bachelor of Business | Not Available | 3 years | AUD$ 18.000 |
Bachelor of Business (Accounting | Not Available | 3 years | AUD$ 18,000 |
If you are interested to know more about studying at KBS, do not hesitate to contact us.
Victoria
Victoria is a state in South-Eastern Australia. It is the second most populous state in Australia, home to over 6 million. Well known city, Melbourne is the capital of Victoria, however, Melbourne is not classified as a regional area.
The state is culturally diverse, where its top 5 ancestaries are English, Australia, Irish, Scottish and Chinese. They speak many languages as well, out of which the top 5 languages spoken in the state apart from English is Mandarin, Italian, Greek, Vietnamese and Arabic.
Victoria is home to many beautiful landscapes with mountain ranges, underground caves and coastlines to explore, therefore, it is often known as the “Garden State”.
Federation University (FedUni)
FedUni has a history dating back to the 1870’s, therefore, making it the third oldest university in Australia. Although, it is a small regional university, it is a modern and progressive institution providing high quality academic courses.
They focus on teaching students skills highly demanded by local industries to ensure employment after graduation. The institution is the host of Australia’s largest regional Technology park accommodating over 30 companies such as IBM to help students receive a placement upon graduation.
Program |
Global Subject Rankings |
Duration |
Indicative Annual Fee (2020) |
Bachelor of Business |
Not Available |
3 years |
AUD$ 25,500 |
Bachelor of Information Technology |
Not Available |
3 years |
AUD$ 24,300 |
If you are interested to know more about studying at FedUni, do not hesitate to contact us.
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About Post Author

Yellani Rasaputhra
I am a student from Monash University, Malaysia. Currently studying Bachelor of Business and Commerce majoring in International Business and Marketing. I like to spend my time painting and swimming.