Brisbane is a thriving arts hub with lots to offer in the way of riverside recreation and café chic, just minutes from pumping surf beaches and national parks.

Located in one of Australia's fastest growing states, Brisbane is home to over 1.8 million people. Situated on the Brisbane River, the heart of the city is overflowing with boutiques, restaurants and nightspots.

The city is in a great location, sandwiched between the Sunshine Coast to the north and the Gold Coast to the south. Golden beaches, the Great Barrier Reef, rainforests and amusement parks are only a drive away.

What does Brisbane have to offer

Where can you study?
Number universities: 6
Other higher education providers: 11
Queensland's total student population stands at around 190,000. Of these, around 9 per cent hail from interstate and a further 26 per cent are international students (DEEWR, 2008).

Your study options
Brisbane is known for its diverse course offerings ranging from human movement to hotel management. Options vary greatly between the providers and selected campuses.

Student life

Many students relocate to Brisbane, creating a lively young student scene. The sub-tropical climate means most of the fun stuff happens outdoors. There are many activities involving the outdoors, especially around the south bank precinct on the Brisbane River, where you will find groups of people walking, cycling and exercising at all times of the year.

Fortitude Valley — once a thriving red-light district — is now a popular nightspot, packed with bars and restaurants. Packed with bars, restaurants and cafes, ‘the Valley’ is the cultural hub of the city. There is a thriving Chinatown and cheap eats are scattered around the city for the student-friendly budget.

Brisbane has a great arts scene, with festivals and events happening year-round. The annual environmentally-focused Riverfestival attracts thousands of Brisbane-ites and culminates in a magnificent fireworks display. Sports fans can cheer for the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba, or catch a game of rugby league with home team the Brisbane Broncos.

Check out where your campus is and evaluate your budget before you decide whether to live in the inner city or further out (find out more information about studying and living in regional Queensland ). As in most other big cities, students tend to live near campus. There are many different housing options in Brisbane. Students tend to congregate in areas close to their university, so you will find big student communities around the inner-city suburbs and around UQ’s St Lucia campus. Toowong and Indooropilly are both close to the Valley and well serviced by public transport, and West End is a cultural melting-pot with great restaurants and cafes.

Studying and living in regional Queensland

Regional Queensland stretches from the far north tropical town of Cairns and the expanse of Central Queensland, right down past the Sunshine Coast to the Gold Coast near the New South Wales border. Campuses are primarily situated on the coast, or slightly inland.

Many interstate and international students are lured to Queensland with the dream of sunshine, lying on the beach or hiking through lush rainforests — not to mention the great educational opportunities! With around 10 tertiary education providers, regional Queensland is not limited in its options as some may imagine.

Cairns is the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, close to World Heritage rainforests and offers a wide range of study programs to students. You could also consider studying in Townsville, Australia’s largest tropical beachside city, or in Hervey Bay which is on the doorstop of World Heritage listed Fraser Island. In fact, you can’t go wrong in Queensland: other great places to study include the Sunshine Coast, the Gold Coast and Toowoomba. Read information about studying and living in Brisbane .

What does regional QLD have to offer?

Where can you study?
Number universities: 9
Other higher education providers: 2

Your study options
Undergraduate degrees are available across most fields of study. Regional Queensland is traditionally known for its course offerings in fields like tourism and hospitality, marine science or tropical agriculture. Specialisations such as tropical architecture and wildlife biology offer opportunities that no other state can match.

Student life

Major growth is occurring in regional areas, with around half of Queensland's population situated outside of Brisbane. Attending a university in these areas can mean a smaller student population and possibly smaller class sizes, resulting in a more personalised atmosphere.

Make sure to research each town based on its merits. If you already know a town well you have to check whether your preferred course is offered, and if you can afford or want to live in that location. Your favourite holiday location may not be the best university option for you.

That being said, rest assured that wherever you study in regional Queensland, you will be close to some spectacular natural wonders. Most campuses are within a short drive to golden beaches and the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef. The specialised nature of many courses at Queensland education providers means that you get the opportunity to apply your studies within your environment. Students get the opportunity to study the unique ecosystem of Fraser Island, monitor the feeding patterns of whales or investigate coastline fauna.

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