Brisbane has been regarded as a popular city where international students go to for quality education and this has since contributed to making Australia’s global competitiveness in education, strong and stable. According to the Department of Immigration and Border Protection, there are about 72,316 international students that are currently enrolled in Queensland and a big chunk of that population is based here in Brisbane. The numbers are even expected to grow in the next few years as the government and top educational institutions are making an effort to make education and accommodation significantly accommodating.

Read more on Why Adelaide is the Destination of Choice for International Students

But as an international student do you wonder, what would make you choose Brisbane as your learning destination? What are the advantages of choosing this city as your home for the next couple of years? What will make you stay and actually finish your study here? Thousands of other international students will definitely have thousands of reasons to encourage you to pick Brisbane but here are the top 8 reasons why:

1. Brisbane is Australia’s New World City

Brisbane’s 2022 New World Action Plan is a massive developmental effort to make the city an excellent centre for business, trade, tourism, manufacturing, agriculture, and education. The plan took effect in 2009 and both local and international students that are living and visiting Brisbane are already beginning to experience the wonderful benefits of this action plan.

This could only mean one thing for international students – the quality of life in Brisbane is suited for young individuals like you and diverse enough to accommodate non-citizens who are still yet to discovery Australia as a host country. Each university, college, and other educational institutions are poised to be centres of learning excellence – at par with what other leading educational institutions from the rest of the world are offering.

2. Affordable Student Accommodation

Depending on your budget, there are five options that you can choose from when studying and living in Brisbane:

On Campus Accommodation – Some universities and colleges offer apartments or dormitories within their campuses and this is the best choice if you wish to live near where you study. This also gives you the convenience of staying on campus to be active with extracurricular activities or to be close to other students like you.

International Residence – This is a housing option specially built for students; usually with a single study bedroom with meals provided in a shared dining hall.

Independent Renting of a House or a Flat – Some students choose to rent an entire house, which they can occupy alone or share with their other students or friends.

Home Stay – This is the best way to fully adapt to the Australian way of living as this option lets you stay with an Australian family in their own home. Your host family should meet the minimum Australian home stay standards.

Youth Hostels and Backpackers Inn – This is one of your most budget-friendly options as the costs are way lower compared to the four options mentioned above. The reason behind the low cost is because almost all the in-home facilities are shared – bathroom, living room, and kitchen. Most international students stay in a hostel temporarily whilst looking for a more permanent option.

Visit the Study Brisbane’s Student Accommodation portal to find out available student options best suited for you.

3. Home of World-Ranked Educational Providers

There are about two Brisbane-based universities that made it to the U.S. News and World Report’s 2017 Best Global Universities Ranking. In fact, other leading institutions are in Brisbane as well. Again this is the result of the ongoing New World City action plan, which directs universities, colleges, vocational institutions, and schools to continuously upgrade and innovate so as to maintain Brisbane’s reputation as a centre for educational excellence. Brisbane also gives extra attention to its international students with comprehensive programs that are being offered by hundreds of internationally registered educational institutions within the city.

4. Reliable Network of Public Transport

Public transport is the best way to get around the city. Students can use the Translink go card, which will allow you to travel by train, bus, and ferry. Students can enquire about the green student Go card for discounts. At the same time, there is also an option for free bus rides via the City Loop and Spring Hill Loop bus services within the CBD and Spring Hill areas.

5. The Sunshine State

The city has one of the best climates in the whole of Australia – sunny and warm for the most part of the year. Those who enjoy being under the sun flock to the city to also enjoy Brisbane's wonderful coastal areas and other interesting tourist spots. Queensland (where Brisbane is located) is generally known as Australia's "Sunshine State".

6. Explore some of Brisbane’s Best Places

It is entirely up to you – whatever your choice is to: be it travelling, attending events, dining out, and visiting parks, museums, and other places of interest. Brisbane offers a wide range of options to let you enjoy the city even more which is a good supplement to your busy days at school. Relax, unwind, or invite your families over during vacation, as Brisbane is a gateway to many leisure and recreational activities.

Places to Visit:

• Cultural Centre
• Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
• Story Bridge
• Lockyer Valley
• Moreton Island
• Queensland Gallery of Modern Art
• City Botanic Gardens

Annual Events:

• Ekka or the Royal Queensland Exhibition (August)
• River Festival (September)
• Warana (September)
• Brisbane International Film Festival (July/August)
• Paniyiri, a Greek cultural festival (May)
• Brisbane Medieval Fayre and Tournament (June)
• Valley Fiesta
• Bridge to Brisbane
• Caxton Street Seafood and Wine Festival
• Buddha Birth Day Festival

And not to forgot a range of international student events that includes the City Welcome Festival and the series of Lord Mayor's International Student Friendship Ceremonies.

7. A Multicultural Diverse City

International students will definitely feel at home in Brisbane, as there are a lot of migrants who live and study here. The welcoming and friendly attitude of locals make it very easy to adapt and adjust to newcomers. In fact, according to the Brisbane City Council Community Profiles, about a quarter of Brisbane’s population are of those who were born outside Australia and more than 17% of households speak languages other than English.

8. Work While You Study

Most international students choose to work to help finance their study and stay in the city. Brisbane, as with any other Australian city supports this option. The first stop is to know your rights as a student visa holder looking for work. Most commonly students are eligible to work up to 40 hours per fortnight while school is in session and unlimited number of hours during breaks.

CHOOSING YOUR COURSE

Many colleges and universities in Brisbane offer a wide array of courses to choose from. International students have the advantage of finding a program that will fit their skills and career path through the help of their chosen institution.

Queensford College is here to help. Queensford College is a nationally recognised registered training organisation (RTO) and is an emerging choice of students abroad in helping them succeed academically and professionally. It is a gateway to what quality education in Brisbane can offer. Here are some of the courses offered:

• English
• Accounting and Business
• Social Media Marketing
• Hospitality and Commercial Cookery
• Child Care and Aged Care

For more course information visit our course page or you can read more about our International Student Program here.

You can also take a tour of our campus located at Level 2, 359 Queen Street, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia, by calling Queensford College on +61-7-3221 1626 or email at info@queensford.edu.au.