What Is It?
The Destination Australia Program is a program that provides funds to eligible tertiary education providers to allow for domestic and international students to study and live in regional Australia. Known to be one of the best scholarships for international students, The Destination Australia Program provides recipients with AU$15,000 per year for up to four years. This program was created in 2020 to encourage more students to pursue study opportunities in regional Australia. Since then, The Destination Australia Program has supported more than 1,800 scholarship recipients and this fourth round of funding will support around 480 new student scholarship recipients. Students can apply for funding from the 26th of May 2022 for the upcoming study year in 2023.
Who Is Eligible To Apply?
Both domestic and international students pursuing full-time course enrolment at a participating tertiary education provider are eligible to apply for The Destination Australia Program. Courses ranging from Certificate IV all the way up to a PhD are covered for this program.
What Is Regional Australia?
According to the Australian Department of Home Affairs,most locations of Australia outside major cities (Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane) are classed as designated regional areas. Examples of regional areas in Australia includes; Perth, Gold Coast, Adelaide, Canberra, Darwin, Wollongong, Newcastle, Hobart and Geelong.
Here are a list of colleges and universities for you to consider in regional Australia:
Regional Areas | Universities |
Perth |
|
Gold Coast |
|
Adelaide |
|
Canberra |
|
Darwin |
|
Wollongong | University of Wollongong |
Newcastle | University of Newcastle |
Hobart | University of Tasmania |
Geelong | Deakin University |
For more information regarding course structure, entry requirements, intakes available, fee structure – contact us now to book your consultation session.
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Benefits Of Studying In Regional Australia
For international students, there are countless benefits of studying in regional Australia such as:
i) Affordability
As regional areas are known to be smaller cities, your cost of living as a student will be much more affordable. Rent, utilities, and transportation are noticeably lower in regional areas compared to bigger cities such as Sydney and Melbourne. Food and entertainment prices are significantly lower as well, allowing you to soak in the international student experience without breaking the bank or doing damage to your savings.
Here’s a breakdown of the the minimum average cost of living in different cities of Australia:
I. Adelaide, South Australia – AUD $ 1300/month
II. Canberra, NSW – AUD $1400/month
Iii. Perth, Western Australia – AUD$1500/month
Iv. Hobart, Tasmania -AUD$1400/month
V. Darwin, Northern Territory – AUD$1500/month
A cost of living calculator could also help you figure out a more personalized and accurate calculation of the budget you would need to live in Australia.
For more assistance on the average living costs in Australia, you can contact Excel Education.
ii) Stronger sense of community
Away from the hustle and bustle of the city life, regional areas gives you the opportunity to meet and get to know the people around you which tend to lead to a community feel. As an example, your class sizes at university will be smaller, giving you more opportunities to connect with your peers and build a relationship with your educators for the perfect learning experiences. Here, you can also connect with students from all over the world to learn about their culture and share yours at the same time.
iii) Balanced lifestyle
Did you know that Adelaide was ranked the third most liveable city in the world in 2021? Australia, specifically regional areas, is known globally for its easy-going, relaxed way of life where people prioritize everyday activities such as going to the beach, going to cafes or having picnics along the coastline which is perfect for a balance in work and play for your life.
Besides this, you will also become eligible for migration incentives, including an additional year on your Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) and extra points on the Skilled Migration Points Test for permanent residency – perfect for students who wish to find employment in Australia upon graduation.
The Destination Australia Program is one of the best scholarships out there to aid international students financially in achieving their study aspirations. Grab this life-changing opportunity in pursuing your studies before it’s too late!
Need further information on migrating to Australia as a student? Don’t worry, our experienced educational consultants are here to provide you with the best assistance! Contact us now to book a FREE consultation session.
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About The Author
Raveena Rakni
Be the change you want to see in the world.