International Students | Study in Brisbane

Student Life in Brisbane

Brisbane is a very student-friendly city; it hosts Australia’s largest orientation day with almost 10,000 international students participating every year. The Brisbane City Council has worked hard to be recognised as a welcoming and supportive city for Queensland international students; through programs such as Study Queensland,Brisbane International Student Ambassador Program and many other services for international students. The cuisine of Brisbane derives from mainstream Australian cuisine, as well as many cuisines of international origin, with major influences from Asian cuisine, European cuisine and American cuisine that reflect the city’s ethnic diversity, though Brisbane is represented by a wide range of other ethnic cuisines.

Location

International students who study in Brisbane will have the opportunity to travel and explore outside the city. Flylink Aviation College is located only 15 minutes away from CBD. Brisbane is the gateway to two of the world’s largest sand islands and sub-tropical hinterland rainforests: the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coasts. Each of these are under two hours of travel time away.

Weather

Brisbane has a subtropical climate, as the capital city of the Sunshine State, you can expect to find warm and hot days during most of the year. The average temperatures during the summer range from 21 to 30°C. Although, it is quite common to have days that go up to 35°C. During winter average temperatures range from 11 to 21°C. With a clean sky, our students have the ability to fly more often and complete the aviation diploma courses (CPL and Instrument rating) on time.

5 Things you should know about Brisbane

01.

It’s the capital of the Sunshine State

Queensland isn’t called the Sunshine State for no reason. With more than 300 days of sunshine per year, Brisbane summers are famous for subtropical heat cooled by beautiful afternoon storms. Winter days rarely dip below 20°C, and there’s nothing quite like an afternoon nap in the winter sun. In between, spring and autumn are particularly popular with students, especially around October when the jacarandas begin to bloom across the city – despite them being a sign that exams are looming.

02.

Brisbane is affordable

Brisbane has one of the lowest costs of living in comparison with other Australian cities – from transport to accommodation to meals. That doesn’t mean there’s a compromise in quality, though. It just means that your dollar will go a lot further living in Brisbane than in our southern counterparts.

03.

Brisbane is a safe and welcoming city

Brisbane is an inclusive study destination and is known as a safe and welcoming place to live. Events like the Lord Mayor’s International Student Friendship Ceremony, giving international students the chance to meet and have their photo taken with Brisbane’s Lord Mayor, and the City Welcome Festival, a city Orientation Day with free music, food and networking opportunities, have been very popular with international students.

04.

Brisbane is a multicultural melting pot

An advantage of living in one of the world’s most multicultural countries is the variety of food and activities at your doorstep. The city’s diverse and inclusive community is reflected in its extensive calendar of events and festivals held throughout the year, which has included the popular Paniyiri Greek Festival, Australia’s largest Oktoberfest and BrisAsia festival.

05.

The student accommodation is world class

Brisbane offers a range of quality purpose-built student accommodation. Scattered throughout Brisbane to be easily accessible to all institutions, these residences provide support, facilities and a community to students from a variety of institutions.

Living Cost

The basic cost of living in Australia according to the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs is AUD$21,041 per year. As part of your visa application, you may need to present specific documentary evidence of your financial abilities as an international student. The costs below are an approximate guide only and don’t take into account your budget and spending habits.

Transport

Every city has its own public transport pass: Opal Card (Sydney), Myki (Melbourne), Translink (Brisbane and Gold Coast).
Depending on how many times you use public transport per week, you may be entitled to some discounts or benefits. There are a number of train stations located throughout the Coast. The train service provided connects the Gold Coast to Brisbane and all major suburbs in between. For more information, please check TransLink website.

Accomodation

The following is an indicative price guide for general accommodation costs in Brisbane. Most of our students decide other types of accommodation, usually sharing with other students or travellers. If you are planning to stay in an alternative and shared types of accommodation, the average national costs are listed below:

Hostels and Guesthouses: $90 to $150 per week
Shared flat: $85 to $215 per week
Homestay: $235 to $325 per week

In a nutshell

Groceries and eating out: $80 to $280 per week
Gas, electricity: $20 to $50 per week
Phone and Internet: $20 to $55 per week
Public transport: $20 to $55 per week
Car (after purchase): $150 to $260 per week
Entertainment: $80 to $150 per week
Off-campus accommodation: $160 to $450 per week
Homestay: $220 – $320 per week

The information above is based on 2021 costs. Please be advised it is an estimate only and individual differences mean prices will vary. The above costs do not include: security deposit, textbooks, clothing and medical expenses.

What our happy international students say about us

Marco Man

"The time I spent at FAC as a trainee will always be remembered very fondly by me”

“Being a part-time student at FAC, the instructors taught me to fly wholeheartedly with a lot patience. ”

Bowie Li

You find an eclectic mix of Asian and local Australian staff and students right here.

“I found that FAC is very multi-cultural with an international family like environment.”

Davison Barrientos

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