Australia is counted among the top 5 study abroad destinations, for its excellent higher education system as well as student-friendly cities. Home to seven best student cities in the world (QS Rankings 2023), the country welcomes more than 300,000 international students. From student diversity to employability rate, each of these cities boast to offer a comprehensive cultural environment to international students planning to study in Australia.
In terms of Australia’s higher education system, the country’s best student cities are also home to its 25+ top ranking universities in the world (QS World University Rankings 2023). Melbourne, the best student city in Australia is home to institutions like The University of Melbourne, Monash University, and RMIT. The salary prospects also differ from city to city. Melbourne and Sydney are the top cities ranked in the top 10 offering average salaries higher than other Australian cities.
Explore! Job Opportunities in Australia for International Students.
Best Student Cities in Australia by QS
QS ranks the best student cities around the world considering factors such as affordability, desirability and student reviews. As mentioned, there are 7 cities from Australia that have made it to the QS Best Student Cities Rankings for 2023, all ranked in the top 100 category.
Note: Apart from these indicators mentioned above, QS Ranking also ranks cities on the basis of Employer Activity, Desirability, and Rankings.
Melbourne
Melbourne, ranking 6th in QS Best Student Cities 2023, is known as the cultural capital of Australia. It has the most international population in Australia with over 94,000 international students. Melbourne is a center for good food, entertainment, shopping, and a variety of events focusing on arts, music, fashion, film, and a lot more. The city has a very smooth operating transport network so there is no need for a private car.
Top Universities in Melbourne
Mentioned below are some of the universities of Melbourne with their QS World University Rank 2023:
| World ranking | University |
|---|---|
| #33 | University of Melbourne |
| #57 | Monash University |
| #190 | RMIT |
| #266 | Deakin University |
| #296 | Swinburne University of Technology |
| #316 | La Trobe University |
| #701-750 | Victoria University |
More About Melbourne
In terms of living expenses, Melbourne is moderately expensive for Indian students. However, the city is amongst the best in Australia in terms of career prospects. Headquarters of firms like Commonwealth Bank of Australia, BHP Group, Coles Group are located in Melbourne itself. The table below provides a brief overview of the city for prospective Indian students:
| Parameters | Particulars |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living | 1,312 AUD/ month |
| Salary Prospects | 106,000 AUD |
| QS Employer Activity Rank | 8th |
| Safety | 8th safest city in Australia with a low crime index. |
| Transportation | Trains, bus, trams |
| QS Student View Rank | 3rd |
Sydney
Sydney gives stiff competition to Melbourne and places just 2 spots below in the QS Best Student Cities 2023. It is the 4th most desired student city in Australia which is home to several top-ranked institutions. It has great outdoors and offers a vibrant lifestyle with many great places to enjoy in terms of restaurants, pubs, shopping venues, events, and world-renowned venues such as Sydney Opera House among others.
Top Universities in Sydney
Mentioned below are some of the universities of Sydney with their QS World University Rank 2023:
| World ranking | University |
|---|---|
| #41 | University of Sydney |
| #45 | University of New South Wales (UNSW) |
| #137 | University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) |
| #195 | Macquarie University |
| #501-510 | Western Sydney University |
More About Sydney
Sydney is a preferred destination is the promising career prospects it has to offer. It offers average salaries higher than most other cities in Australia and is also home to top companies like Google, Microsoft, Apple, Deloitte, etc.
| Parameters | Particulars |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living | 1,421 AUD/ month |
| Salary Prospects | 108,000 AUD |
| QS Employer Activity Rank | 11th |
| Safety | 4th in terms of safety in Australia with safety index 66.37. |
| Transportation | Metro, train, bus, ferry, taxis, trams |
| QS Student View Rank | 4th |
Brisbane
Brisbane, the 3rd largest city in Australia is home to 3 reputed institutions ranked globally. The city is rich in sports and is known for hosting annual cultural events that attract people from different parts of Australia and the world. It also happens to be an affordable city for students with good career opportunities across various sectors such as healthcare, education, technology, etc.
Top Universities in Brisbane
Mentioned below are some of the universities of Brisbane with their QS World University Rank 2023:
| World rank | University |
|---|---|
| #50 | University of Queensland |
| #222 | Queensland University of Technology |
| #300 | Griffith University |
More About Brisbane
Brisbane is Queensland's capital and Australia's third-largest city. It is well-known for being one of the most affordable cities in Australia, making it an excellent choice for students. The social life of people in Brisbane includes surfing, swimming, eating out, enjoying drinks with friends, theatre, events, and a lot more.
| Parameters | Particulars |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living | 1,342 AUD/ month |
| Salary Prospects | 104,000 AUD |
| QS Employer Activity Rank | 49th |
| Safety | Ranks 5th with low crime index in Australian cities. |
| Transportation | Bus, train, tram, ferry, bicycle |
| QS Student View Rank | 45th |
Adelaide
One of the most important features that make Adelaide one of the best student cities is safety. It is also one of the most expensive cities in Australia. It ranks 16th according to the QS Student View which in order makes it 3rd in Australia after Melbourne and Sydney. Being the 5th largest city in Australia, it also houses some of the top universities for international students. Adelaide is a great place for food lovers.
Top Universities in Adelaide
Mentioned below are some of the universities of Adelaide with their QS World University Rank 2023:
| World rank | University |
|---|---|
| #109 | University of Adelaide |
| #363 | University of South Australia |
| #425 | Flinders University |
More About Adelaide
It is home to more restaurants than any other Australian city. There are a lot of things to do in Adelaide like cycling, hiking, cricket, exploring wildlife, enjoying beaches, visiting vineyards, etc. The city offers reasonable salaries and has a good demand in the healthcare and manufacturing sectors.
| Parameters | Particulars |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living | 1,580 AUD/ month |
| Salary Prospects | 100,000 AUD |
| QS Employer Activity Rank | 57th |
| Safety | Ranks 2nd in Australian cities with a safety index of 70.82. |
| Transportation | Bus, train, tram |
| QS Student View Rank | 29th |
Perth
Perth also ranks at the 35th position similar to Adelaide. The tuition fees for institutions in Perth is significantly higher than in other Australian cities. Compared to this, there are good salary prospects and growing demand for graduates especially in the fields of education, healthcare, retail and social services. You will have a lot of opportunities to enjoy music, film and arts festivals, theatre, cinema and comedy along with numerous food options.
Top Universities in Perth
Mentioned below are some of the universities of Perth with their QS World University Rank 2023:
| World ranking | Institution |
|---|---|
| 90th | University of Western Australia (UWA) |
| 193rd | Curtin University |
| 561-570 | Murdoch University |
| 601-650 | Edith Cowan University |
More About Perth
Living costs in Australia can vary depending on your own living expenses. When students arrive in Perth, they should have at least AUD 3,300 and be prepared spend at least AUD 475 a week to cover the cost of living.
| Parameters | Particulars |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living | 1,306 AUD/ month |
| Salary Prospects | 102,000 AUD |
| QS Employer Activity Rank | 59th |
| Safety | 6th in terms of safety with a safety index of 58.06. |
| Transportation | Bus, train, ferry, cycling, rideshare |
| QS Student View Rank | 50th |
Canberra
The one point worth praising about Canberra is that it is ranked 1st for safety in Australia. Besides this, it also has an affordable cost of living compared to several other cities in Australia. It is also home to one of the highest ranked institutions in Australia - Australian National University.
Top Universities in Canberra
Mentioned below are some of the universities of Canberra with their QS World University Rank 2023:
| World ranking | University |
|---|---|
| #30 | Australian National University (ANU) |
| #511-520 | University of Canberra |
More About Canberra
Canberra has a natural setting with a backdrop of mountains, lakes, greenery, wetlands, etc. Professionals in the field of healthcare, education, retail, etc. are well paid here. The QS Employer Activity Rank for Canberra is higher than many other Australian cities such as Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane.
| Parameters | Particulars |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living | 1,270 AUD/ month |
| Salary Prospects | 96,500 AUD |
| QS Employer Activity Rank | 42nd |
| Safety | Top ranked in terms of safety among all Australian cities with a safety index of 77.51. |
| Transportation | Bus, taxi, cycling, walking |
| QS Student View Rank | 48th |
Gold Coast
Gold Coast is the 6th largest city in Australia with a diverse population. It is also considered as one of the fastest-growing cities in Australia with abundant scope in the IT, sports, education and entertainment sectors.
Top Universities in Gold Coast
Mentioned below are some of the universities of Gold Coast with their QS World University Rank 2023:
|
World ranking |
University |
|---|---|
| #300 | Griffith University |
| #481 | Bond University |
| #701-750 | Southern Cross University |
More About Gold Coast
International students in Gold Coast will get the opportunity to study in a city where a quick beach escapade is always a possibility. Moreover, living in Gold Coast is considerably cheaper compared to other Australian cities.
| Parameters | Particulars |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living | 1,372 AUD/ month |
| Salary Prospects | 98,300 AUD |
| QS Employer Activity Rank | 127th |
| Safety | 7th safest Australian city with a safety index of 56.72. |
| Transportation | Bus, train, tram, bikes |
| QS Student View Rank | 106th |
When it comes to top study abroad destinations for international students, Australia is among the top 5 preferred choices of students. It provides a safe and culturally diverse environment for students with a great social life. There is nothing like a perfect student city to study in Australia. Every student has different needs and interests. Therefore, it is completely a matter of personal choice to decide which city is best for you.
Worried about cost of studying in abroad? Watch the video below and get to know about study abroad education loan
A major determinant when choosing a city in Australia is safety, especially for international students. Within Australia, Canberra and Adelaide are the top 2 safest cities followed by Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, and Gold Coast. Transport options such as bus, trams, trains, taxis, or ferries are more or less common and easily available in all Australian cities.
The Department of Home Affairs advises students to have a minimum of 21,041 AUD to meet the cost of living in Australia. However, this amount can significantly vary depending on the city you are studying in and personal choices. Adelaide is the most expensive city in terms of cost of living whereas Canberra is the least expensive among the top student cities.
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