Breathtaking beaches, a vibrant wine culture, world-class educational institutes – there’s so much to love about regional South Australia. If you’re planning to study in this charming Australian state, you’ll soon see that for yourself! You’ll also reap several other benefits, including cool course options, amazing affordability and even visa incentives that could set you on the path to permanent residency. Let’s take a look at what studying in regional South Australia will mean for you and your visa options moving forward.
What is regional South Australia?
The first step in understanding what studying in regional South Australia means for your visa is understanding what qualifies as regional South Australia. To keep it simple, all of South Australia counts as a designated regional area (yep, even the city of Adelaide!). However, it’s important to remember that its suburbs are broken down into different categories.
Specifically, as you’ll see on the Department of Home Affairs’ list of postcodes, certain South Australian postcodes are classified as Category 2 – ‘Cities and Major Regional Centres’ – while the rest are classified as Category 3 – ‘Regional Centres and Other Regional Areas’. Depending on what area you live in, you will be eligible for different regional incentives.
Unique course offerings
South Australia is home to some of the most stunning and vibrant tourist destinations in the country. It’s known as Australia’s ‘Festival State’, hosting some of the world’s biggest and best events celebrating arts, culture, music, food and sports. As a result, you’ll find some one-of-a-kind course offerings throughout the state.
For example, the Barossa region is internationally renowned as one of the best wine and tourism regions in the world. So, it’s only fitting that educational institutions in the area offer top-notch wine-related courses. At the TAFE SA Barossa Campus (Nuriootpa), you’ll find an array of short wine and spirits courses, such as Small Scale Winemaking or the Barossa Wine School, available to international students. You could even try your hand at a Gin or Whisky Ambassador course, which covers the beverage’s history, geography and production, along with teaching you tasting skills.
If you’re eager to study full-time in Adelaide’s famous wine region, the Bachelor of Tourism, Hospitality and Events Management at TAFE SA is a perfect choice.
Back in the city of Adelaide, you can study Wine Business or a Bachelor of Viticulture and Oenology at The University of Adelaide, a Bachelor of International Business (Wine, Spirits and Tourism) at Flinders University, or a Bachelor of Business (Tourism and Event Management) at the University of South Australia.
Education providers around South Australia are also renowned for their subjects and courses in healthcare, business, renewable energy, hospitality, education and law.
Cost of living
While your exact cost of living will vary depending on what region you live in, South Australia offers excellent affordability across the board. For instance, the cost of living in Adelaide is much cheaper than in larger cities like Sydney or Melbourne. Specifically, statistics show that living expenses in Adelaide are roughly 23 per cent lower than in Sydney and 21 per cent lower than in Melbourne. If you opt to live further away from the city centre, you could cut down on living costs even more.
Visa incentives
While there are many benefits to studying in regional Australia, one of the main perks is the opportunity for permanent migration. If you’re keen to stay in Australia long-term after you’ve completed your course, then studying in regional South Australia could be your ticket to making that dream a reality.
One of the most popular visas for international students about to finish their studies is the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485). In Australia, the Temporary Graduate visa (TGV) is available to the majority of recent international student graduates, with only a few exceptions. This visa allows you to live and work in Australia for an extra 18 months to five years*. However, if you graduate from a regional campus of a registered educational institution with a higher education or postgraduate qualification, you may be eligible to apply for a second TGV (Post-Study Work stream). You may then also be entitled to access other regional migration incentives. If you’re keen to learn more about the TGV, check out our recent TGV update here or watch our archived webinar.
*For Hong Kong passport holders.
For migration purposes, all of South Australia is considered a regional area, which opens several doors on your pathway to permanent residency. After completing your studies, you may be eligible to apply for certain long-term regional visas, such as the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) or the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494).
If you need more information to help with understanding the subclass 491 visa or the subclass 494 visa, head to The Department of Home Affairs website. Here you’ll find additional details on the regional South Australia visa options, regional visa types and regional visa requirements. You can also check out our guide to General Skilled Migration and State Nomination.
Where to find visa support
Hoping to get a helping hand when choosing or applying for your visa? There are plenty of people professionally trained to assist you.
Your first stop should be your educational institution. Australian education providers receive a high volume of international students every year, meaning they’re extremely familiar with various visa types and application processes. Check your school’s website to see what kind of information they provide online and/or the support resources they offer for visa applications.
Alternatively, consult The Department of Home Affairs website or contact a Registered Migration Agent to have all of your visa-related questions answered.
TAFE South Australia is one of the largest vocation education and training providers in Australia. If you are looking for a qualification that aligns with industry needs, a higher education course, or a university pathway, check out a TAFE SA International Scholarship to start your next study journey today.
