Why would an international student choose to live in Brisbane?

 

Affectionately known to Australians as the ‘Sunshine State’, Brisbane lies in the heart of Queensland. With tropical weather, diverse plant species, a low cost of living and its proximity to the Great Barrier Reef without having to compromise on Quality of Education, Brisbane is often a first-choice for eco warriors and those who love to be outdoors.
With a population of 2 million, Brisbane is Australia’s fastest-growing capital city for employment and offers a great range of opportunities in both the public and private sectors. Socially, economically and educationally, Brisbane is truly Australia’s ‘new world city’. Brisbane’s world-class universities and exciting career opportunities make it a great place to study and develop your career. Most of our education institutions are located in the city centre, giving students the opportunity to work near their place of study, meet the locals and learn new skills.

Queensland has 5 of Australia’s 11 World Heritage sites and is home to many famous landmarks including the world famous Great Barrier Reef, Daintree Rainforest, countless islands from the Whitsundays to Fraser Island and more than 200 national parks.

​Queensland has warm and sunny weather with the vast majority of the state receiving an average of 8 to 9 hours of sunshine every day

Brisbane is keen for all international students to feel welcome in its city!

 

Come and get your personally signed certificate of friendship from The Lord Mayor of Brisbane at the regularly run International Student Friendship Ceremony. In addition to the friendship ceremony, you can enjoy food, free music and a wealth of networking opportunities at the largest Orientation Day in Australia; Brisbane City’s Welcome Festival.

Brisbane is cheap as chips compared to other cities in Australia.

Students in Brisbane often gloat about being able to build up their savings faster. And they’re not wrong! Everything from accommodation, to food, to transport and bills is cheaper in Brisbane. Remembering that minimum wage is the same across Australia, think about all those extra savings compared to Sydney!

Although Brisbane can’t compete with Sydney or Melbourne in job openings, it is still Australia’s third largest city with a bustling city centre and plenty of jobs to support you whilst you study.

Care about Sustainability? Come to the global leader

Home to more than 200 parks and just under 2500 beautiful species of plant, Brisbane is considered the most biodiverse city of Australia. Due to its commitment to sustainability, Brisbane is also fast becoming a global leader.

Come for the best climate in Australia options

Don’t like the cold? Come to Brisbane. It’s warm and sunny all year round, with an average of 300 days of sun per year! If you enjoy an outdoor lifestyle, Brisbane’s wealth of sunny days could be just enough to sway you!

Escape to a tropical oasis on the weekends

Brisbane’s proximity to rainforests, islands, waterfalls and beaches makes it the perfect destination to those who love to go on weekend breaks and feel like they’ve gone to Fiji!.

Brisbane is jam-packed with events and things to do, it is a city after all!

Love nature, but don’t want to miss out on the activities and events that a city has to offer? Brisbane may be your perfectly temperature porridge, Goldicks!

After a day at the shops? Come and perouse Brisbane’s bustling shopping arcades.
Want to knock one back in a bar? Invite your mates to one of Brisbane’s many bars and pubs

Care for history? Take a walk around Brisbane’s beautiful historic landmarks.

Craving a tan or a swim? Head on down to Brisbane’s sun-kissed beaches

Feeling creative? Go and explore Brisbane’s thriving arts and music scenes.

There’s the Spanish Film Festival, Alliance Francaise French Film Festival, Cinco de Mayo, Paniyiri Greek Festival, and the Luminous Lantern Festival! With the city as blessed as it is with its weather, it’s no wonder there are a million and 1 different festivals!

Brisbanes’ Historic Landmarks

Boggo Road Gaol and the Boggo Road Gaol Ghost and Gallows Tour. One of the most notorious prisons of the 20th century, the Boggo Road Gaol (Jail) has now opened its doors for the freeman to walk around and check out life as a 19th century inmate.

Fort Lytton National Park offers Queensland’s military exhibits, historic fortifications and Queensland’s largest military museum and military reenactments.

Newstead House. Built in 1846, Newstead House has been home to Brisbane’s most influential Colonial figures including Captain John Clements Wickham, Patrick Leslie and George Harris. Nowadays you can visit it and witness the house as it looked back then, complete with furnishings.  For more historic houses, you can also explore the Miegunyah House museum, which is furnished in the style of the 19th Century.

Brisbane’s Arts and Culture Scene is bursting with things to see and do

Whether you’re more interested in modern art or classical architecture, you’re going to find your creative niche in Brisbane. You’ve got Brisbane’s Gallery of Modern Art for those Art enthusiasts out there, Queensland Museum and the Maritime Museum for you history buffs, SparkLab Science Centre for those with a love of science, and the Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts for those thespians out there!

NATURE NATURE NATURE

Whether you prefer tropical rainforests or paradise islands, underwater coral-scapes or sun-drenched beaches, living in Brisbane would mean easy access to your preference of nature.

Queensland is home to the Daintree Rainforest, which is the largest rainforest in Australia and the oldest rainforest on Earth (10 million years older than the Amazon)! Host to an incredible variety of plants and animals, the Daintree rainforest has sophisticated and complex ecosystems (920 species of trees and 130 species of reptiles alone!). Perhaps the most intriguing and elusive inhabitant of the rainforest is the Cassowary; At 2 meters and 60 kilos, these rare flightless birds exhilarate any intrepid wanderer that manages to catch a glimpse of them in their natural habitat.

Hamilton Islands and the Whitsundays are well known in Australia for being paradise. White sandy beaches, tropical plants, turquoise oceans and palm trees. Pure paradise.

And who could forget the Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest reef system. Perfect for scuba divers, snorkelers and those ocean lovers out there, you’ll see an incredible array of both sea life and corals. If you keep your eyes peeled, you may even spot a prehistoric creature there!

Queensland is Theme Park CENTRAL

Are you an adrenaline Junkie? Then Queensland may just be for you. With no shortage of theme parks, you’re going to find everything you have wanted, and even things you didn’t know you wanted!  From theme parks that require no explanation, such as Warner Bros Movie World. Sea World, Wet n Wild, Wetside Water Park and Nickelodeon Land, to parks that are a little more obscure (we’re looking at you Holoverse Dinosaur World, Australian Outback Spectacular, The Ginger Factory and Town of Gold Rush)!

Brisbane’s infamous music scene

Head on down to Fortitude Valley for an abundance of underground bars and live music performances. Brisbane is also host to Australia’s biggest annual music conference; BIGSOUND Music Festival and Industry Conference, jampacked with massive singers, artists and industry professionals. If you’re in the scene, you’ll want to be there!

Want to go see a band? Check out New Farm’s Brisbane Powerhouse; a converted power station which plays host to a vast array of artists, performances and shows as well as being an arts centre during the day

Come for the weather, stay for the beaches

Careful if you’re someone who bruises easily, you’ll be constantly pinching yourself to make sure you’re not dreaming when you see Queensland’s heavenly beaches. And you’ll find no shortage of appropriate beach weather with Queensland’s 300 days of sun! If you’re an absolute beach babe or breach bro, open up google and search these images immediately:

  • Bribie Island
  • Cylinder Beach
  • Frenchman’s beach
  • Main Beach, North Stradboke Island

All of these just 40 minutes from Brisbane’s CBD. That’s not even to mention Honeymoon Bay ar Moreton Island

Top notch Education

Queensland is home to several world renowned universities, 1 of which is even in the G08 (Group of Australia’s 8 leading universities). With scholarships and employment opportunities aplenty, combined with the warm international student welcome in Brisbane, you’ll be well looked after educationally and otherwise!

What are the pros and cons of living in Brisbane?

Birsbane’s Pros

Brisbane’s Cons:

Always plenty to do

Not as much going on as there is in Sydney or Melbourne

Tropical climate

Not as many colleges to choose from

Close to the Great Barrier Reef, the Daintree and the Whitsundays

The weather can be quite humid and sticky which can take some getting used to (an average of 26° in the summer)

Cheaper than other big cities

Higher ratio of dangerous snakes and spiders (although this is rarely a problem you’ll experience)

Loads of Theme Parks

In some beaches there may be saltwater crocodiles

Great weather with blue skies all year with 283 days of sunshine per year                                                            

Summer humidity with

Close to the country’s best beaches

No daylight savings

 

Brisbane is best for:

  • Students who love to go out in nature

  • Students who prefer tropical climates

  • Students who like to feel welcomed by the city

  • Students who are trying to save

  • Students who prefer cheaper cost of living

  • Students who love the beach

  • Students who want a good mix of nature with things to do

 

For more info on Brisbane, check out: www.studybrisbane.com.au