Thanks to its world-class education providers, incredible tropical weather (think hot, sunny days all year round!) and laidback vibe, it’s no surprise that students are flocking to study in Brisbane. In fact, in 2019, it came in at number 22 in the QS Best Student Cities ranking.
Brisbane is also one of Australia’s most affordable capital cities. The cost of living is low, which means your money will go a lot further. With cheaper general living expenses, such as rent and groceries, you’ll have budget spare for exploring the city’s many cultural events, galleries and museums, and enjoying a night out at some of Brisbane’s best restaurants and bars.
And with abundant sunshine, you can spend your days off outdoors, visiting all the world-famous natural wonders nearby (think plenty of beautiful beaches, the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest).
If you’re thinking about moving to the Queensland capital, here’s a guide to where you can study in Brisbane.
UNIVERSITIES IN BRISBANE
Brisbane is home to two main universities – the University of Queensland (UQ) and Queensland University of Technology (QUT) – as well as satellite campuses for Griffith University, CQUniversity, James Cook University, University of the Sunshine Coast, and many other Australian universities.
UQ is of Australia’s top five universities and sits in the world’s top 50. It is also among the world’s best universities for engineering and environmental studies. Some of the most popular courses for international students at UQ can be found here.
QUT is a fairly ‘young’ university by Australian standards and annually ranks in the world’s ‘Top 50 Under 50’ universities. It is the best university in Australia for studying media and communications and is well-regarded for its law and nursing courses.
TECHNICAL AND FURTHER EDUCATION (TAFE) IN BRISBANE
In Australia, Vocational Education and Training (VET) providers help students gain practical and industry-ready skills on a range of specialised subjects. TAFE is a government-owned and run system that offers VET courses across a range of areas.
TAFE Queensland is the biggest provider of VET in the state and allows you to study everything from game design to commercial cookery. It was also awarded the 2019 Australian International Training Provider of the Year for its high-quality vocational education.
You’ll find plenty of TAFE campuses around Brisbane, with a major campus located close to the CBD in South Bank.
REGISTERED TRAINING ORGANISATIONS (RTO) IN BRISBANE
Registered Training Organisations (RTO) tend to offer a more specialised range of VET courses. If you’re keen to study in Brisbane, some of your options include Aviation Australia for pilot training and aircraft engineering; Endeavour College of Natural Health, which offers degrees in health science with specific specialisations; Queensland International Institute (Qii), which has a number of courses ranging from community services to business; Strategix, which provides several courses and excels in transport and logistics; and Le Cordon Bleu, which has courses in hospitality and cookery.
ENGLISH SCHOOLS IN BRISBANE
If you’d like to improve your English skills, Brisbane has a range of language schools to suit every level of competency. Some options include ELSIS, CQUEnglish and Kaplan International Languages. All of these schools are represented by English Australia, the national peak body for the English language sector of international education in Australia. That means you’re guaranteed high-quality learning programs, support services and tuition protection for all visa types.
SHORT COURSES IN BRISBANE
A number of education providers in Brisbane also offer short courses, which allow you to build your skills and knowledge base to complement your degree. For example, UQ offers Queensland in July – a three-week non-award program for students in business, science and economics.
If you would like to boost your studies further with practical job skills, providers like Qii offer a short barista course and a Responsible Service of Alcohol course, both of which are perfect if you’re looking to work during your time in Brisbane.
PATHWAY PROVIDERS IN BRISBANE
If you don’t quite meet the requirements necessary to get into university, there are institutions around Brisbane that offer pathways to higher education. These are called pathway or bridging programs and they help you get ready for your study journey in Australia.
For example, International Education Services (IES) prepares international students to study at UQ, Griffith College has foundational courses for students looking to study at Griffith University, and QUT International College is your pathway to studying at QUT. TAFE Queensland also offers a range of university pathways for international students.
