7 Best Cities in Australia for International Students 2024

Are you looking for the best cities in Australia for international students? According to QS Best Cities Report 2024, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Canberra, Perth, and Gold Coast are the best cities to study in Australia.

Australia’s Education Department says more and more students from different countries are coming to study in Australia. In 2022, there were 619,371 international students; by 2023, that number had grown to 783,369. People choose Australia because of its great universities, excellent education, and diverse learning atmosphere.

However, some always stand high according to the student’s satisfaction rate. In this article, we will discuss the 7 best cities in Australia for international students in 2024. But before that, let’s know some practical advantages of studying in Australia.

5 reasons to study in Australia

Usually, the most common reason that makes Australia the best study abroad country is its top-ranked universities which offer outstanding research opportunities. Let’s learn 5 reasons that make Australia highly special and unique to international students. They are:

Work Permit

Working is completely legal for international students in Australia. And now due to the shortage of workers, the Australian government has temporarily allowed students to work full-time while studying. Besides, a student is always permitted to work 20 hours per week with a good pay scale.

Weather

Australian weather is the most favorable advantage for international students. In summer, some areas of Australia get warmer than others. And in winter, some areas of Australia get cooler. A student can explore and work in various areas of Australia all year round.

Post-study work visa

After completing education in Australia, an international student can apply for a graduate temporary visa. A student can stay 2 years with the post study work visa and gain experience in Australia.

Permanent Residency Options

By accessing skills, a student can stay as a skilled migrant in Australia. There are many skill lists only open to international students in Australia. The graduate temporary visa is the best route to gain real-life skills and experiences.

7 best cities in Australia for international students

There are many best cities to live in Australia for international students. That’s why about 300,000 international students come here every year. Many cities in Australia are ranked high in the QS Best Student Cities 2024 report.

Melbourne

In the QS Best Student Cities Ranking 2024, Melbourne ranks 4th. This city also takes the top spot in the list of the best cities in Australia for international students. Around 94000 international students study in Melbourne. The transportation facility is one of the main advantages in Melbourne for international students.

In Melbourne, a student can expect to pay between US$1,400 to US$3,920 a month inclusive of accommodation, utilities, socializing, groceries, transport, and more. Melbourne is the best city to study in Australia for international students. Seven universities in Melbourne are in the QS world university ranking. Among them, the University of Melbourne ranks at 33rd.

Popular universities in Melbourne

• University of Melbourne ( In the QS world university ranking 2024, University of Melbourne ranked 14th.)
• Monash University
• Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT)
• Deakin University
• Swinburne University of Technology
• La Trobe University
• Victoria University

Sydney

In the QS best cities in Australia for international students 2024, Sydney ranked 7th. This city is a strong competitor of Melbourne. For graduates who want to work in Australia after graduation, Sydney provides lots of opportunities.

Sydney is one of the Asia-Pacific biggest business hubs. In Sydney, graduates can find jobs at top global firms such as Google, Apple, Deloitte, KPMG, Microsoft, and EY, as well as at a plethora of local firms. These features make Sydney one of the best cities in Australia in 2024.

Popular universities in Sydney-

• University of Sydney ( In the QS world university ranking 2024, University of Sydney ranked 19th).
• University of New South Wales (UNSW) ( It ranks 19th in the QS world university ranking 2024)
• University of Technology, Sydney (UTS)
• Macquarie University
• Western Sydney University

Brisbane

In the QS best cities in Australia 2024, Brisbane ranks 22nd. The city has three leading universities. It is the third largest city in Australia and the largest economy between Sydney and Singapore. It is a popular tourist destination. A student can find urban and outdoor lifestyles in an appealing environment. Brisbane is one of the most affordable cities in Australia for international students.

Popular universities in Brisbane

• University of Queensland (UQ) ( It ranked 43rd in the QS World University ranking 2024)
• Queensland University of Technology (QUT)
• Griffith University

Adelaide

In the QS Best Student Cities ranking 2024, Adelaide ranks 26th. Adelaide is located on the South Coast and it is Australia’s 5th largest city with over 500 occupations available for international graduates which is a great chance to gain post-study work experience. According to the New York magazine, it is one of the city has several large business sectors including healthcare, manufacturing, and production which proves its worth as one of the best cities in Australia for international students in 2024.

Popular Universities in Adelaide 

• University of Adelaide ( ranks 89th in the QS World University Ranking 2024)
• University of South Australia
• Flinders University

Perth

In the QS Best Cities in Australia for international students, Perth ranks 34th. Perth is an attractive study destination for international students. Of the world’s most livable cities, Perth ranks top 10. It is the world’s sunniest capital city. The employer activity in Perth is comparatively low. However, Perth is the best city for students in Australia.

Popular universities in Perth

• University of Western Australia (UWA)
• Curtin University- It ranks 183rd in the QS world university rankings
• Murdoch University
• Edith Cowan University

Canberra

Canberra is Australia’s capital and ranks 30th in the QS best cities in Australia for international students in 2024. It has a solid student desirability score and a cultural capital in Australia. Canberra is a mixture of Asian and European restaurants. The eligible graduates from Canberra can have an extra year of post-study work rights.

Popular universities in Canberra 

• Australian National University (ANU)- (It ranks 34th in the QS world university ranking 2024)
• University of Canberra

Gold Coast

Gold Coast is one of the 7th best cities in Australia for international students. In the QS best student city in Australia 2024, Gold Coast ranked 87th. It is the second-largest city in the state of Queensland. It has a suburb named ‘Surfers of Paradise.’ This Australian city has an excellent reputation for educational institutions. The city has a mid-range of tuition fees and it is the cheapest city in Australia. One of the fastest-growing economies is developing in the city of Gold Coast.

Popular universities in Gold Coast

• Griffith University
• Bond University
• Southern Cross University

Final words

So, if you want to study in Australia and are looking for the best cities in Australia for international students in 2024, hopefully, this article will be a great help for you. Besides, you can visit AIMS Education, a student consultancy firm that helps students study in Australia, Canada, the UK, Australia, UAE, Malaysia and Europe.

FAQ