Exciting incentives to study in regional Australia

Looking to study in regional Victoria? La Trobe University has a wide course range including Business, IT, Education, Health or Science. La Trobe has regional campuses in Albury-Wodonga, Bendigo, Mildura and Shepparton.

Federation University has a strong network of regional campuses including Ballarat, Gippsland and Wimmera. Explore their extensive course range including undergraduate and post-graduate options in Health, Commerce, Arts, Education, IT and Accounting.

Speak to your local IDP counsellor to understand your best options in regional Victoria and how to apply for this scholarship.

There are numerous universities with regional campuses offering this scholarship in Queensland.

Other universities offering the scholarship include James Cook University, the University of Queensland, the University of the Sunshine Coast and the University of Southern Queensland.

Explore Western Australia’s impressive universities, including Curtin University in Kalgoorlie, Edith Cowan University in Bunbury, the University of Notre Dame in Broome and the University of Western Australia in Albany.

Notre Dame's campus in Broome has a strong environmental research focus, and course options include Nursing, Education and Aboriginal studies. Your local IDP counsellor can help you explore scholarship opportunities in WA.

Consider course opportunities with the University of South Australia in their regional campuses of Mount Gambier and Whyalla. Course options include Nursing, Social work, Early Childhood Education and Primary Education.

Charles Darwin University have 4 campuses in the Northern Territory. Explore exciting course options in Nursing, Education, Community services, IT, Accounting or Engineering.

The University of Tasmania has 3 locations in Burnie, Hobart and Launceston and focus on preparing their students to join the workforce. Explore exciting course options including Nursing, Education, IT, Health, Design or STEM.

Speak with IDP to understand the regional option that best suits your situation. Your local IDP counsellor can help you apply directly to the chosen institution for this scholarship. The scholarship value is up to AUD 15,000 per year.

From November 2019, the government classified a regional area as any area that is not Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane.

Cities like Gold Coast, Perth, Canberra, Newcastle and Wollongong are now considered regional, and international students who study at a regional campus can gain an additional 5 points in the skilled migration points test.

Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are classified under the category of major cities, and there is no access to any regional area incentives.

Perth, Adelaide, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Canberra, Newcastle/Lake Macquarie, Wollongong/Illawarra, Geelong and Hobart fall under the category of cities and major regional centres. All other locations are classified as regional centres and other regional areas.

Both categories offer access to regional visa options and priority processing on regional visas. Regional centres and other regional areas also have access to dedicated regional visa places.

Graduates who studied at a regional campus in a city or major regional centre and lived only in that area for at least two years on their first Temporary Graduate visa may be eligible for a second Temporary Graduate visa of 1 additional year.

Graduates who studied at a regional campus in a regional centre or other regional area and lived only in that area for at least two years on their first Temporary Graduate visa may be eligible for a second Temporary Graduate visa of 2 additional years.

The government has done this to boost the economy in regional areas and increase the number of people with specialist skills. Larger cities like Melbourne and Sydney are becoming crowded and congested, and the changes will help to grow the population in areas not as populated.

Although many people are attracted by big cities, a lot of students are surprised at how much they love to live and study regionally. There is a lot of charm in regional Australia and many adventures to be had in the rugged, natural surrounds.

Lifestyle

Benefit from a quality lifestyle in a quieter, lesser populated city.

There's hardly any traffic congestion, no long queues to get where you need to be, allowing you to enjoy hobbies, shopping and eating out in a more relaxed way.

Deeper sense of community

Enjoy a stronger sense of community. People are friendly and take the time to get to know one another in the community. This can help you develop confidence in your English and gain a deeper understanding of the culture and build a strong support network.

Lower cost of living

The cost of living is lower in a regional city, rent and cost of dining out are considerably lower. Enjoy being able to save extra dollars for your future in Australia.

Escape to the great outdoors

Appreciate being close to the great outdoors. Explore the nature, walking tracks and nearby beaches on weekend adventures.

Smaller class sizes

International students enjoy smaller class sizes, allowing them to build a strong network with students and teaching staff. More individualised attention is a benefit and having the opportunity to ask more detailed questions about career opportunities is also a plus

Public transport

Public transport can be limited in a regional area. A way around this is to secure your accommodation closer to public transport options.

Less entertainment

There is less entertainment in a regional city in comparison to a metro one. Instead of having many pubs, restaurants and bars to choose from, there will be a smaller selection. This also depends on the city you go to.

Ensure you can find the course you wish to study. Whilst the 5 points for studying regionally is tempting, you should ensure that you're studying a course that is aligned with your future career aspirations.