Australia guide · Regional study · 3 min read
Regional study in Australia: what you gain, and what you give up.
Regional campuses in Australia usually mean lower rent, a chance at the AUD 15,000-a-year Destination Australia scholarship, extra time on a second 485 visa if you study and live there, and more state-nomination options later. The trade-offs are fewer part-time jobs in some towns, fewer Nepali communities and longer trips home. For a student who wants to work in Australia after, the regional maths often wins.
The short version
- Rent is often AUD 300 to 600 a month less than in Sydney or Melbourne for a shared room.
- Destination Australia: AUD 15,000 a year at participating regional campuses (about Rs 15.9 lakh).
- Study and live in a regional area and you may get extra years on a second 485 visa, depending on the region's category.
- Regional study adds points for skilled visas, and regional states nominate more graduates.
- Check part-time work before you choose: a small town can have far fewer jobs than a city.
What “regional” means for a visa
For visa purposes, Australia sorts places by postcode. Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are the major cities; almost everywhere else counts as regional in one category or another. Cities such as Adelaide, Perth, Hobart, Canberra, the Gold Coast and Newcastle sit in a different category from smaller towns, and the category decides how much extra time you can get on a second 485.
Check your campus postcode on the Home Affairs regional postcode list before you rely on any benefit.
The five gains
| Gain | What it’s worth |
|---|---|
| Lower rent | Often AUD 300 to 600 a month less for a shared room than Sydney or Melbourne |
| Destination Australia scholarship | AUD 15,000 a year at participating campuses (about Rs 15.9 lakh) |
| A second 485 visa | Extra years of work rights, if you studied and lived in the region and meet the conditions |
| Points for regional study | Extra points on skilled visa applications |
| State nomination | Regional states and territories nominate more graduates for skilled visas |
The trade-offs
| Trade-off | How much it matters |
|---|---|
| Fewer part-time jobs in small towns | A lot, if you need work from month 2. Less in regional cities |
| Smaller Nepali community | Some students love it; some find the first winter lonely |
| Fewer course choices | Check your exact course is offered on that campus |
| Longer and costlier trips home | Flights from smaller airports connect through a capital city |
| Graduate jobs | Fewer employers, but less competition for each one |
The numbers, side by side
For a 2-year master’s at a similar fee, sharing a room, at Rs 105.97 per AUD (18 Oct 2026):
| At a glance | Sydney campus | Regional campus with Destination Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition, 2 years | AUD 76,000 | AUD 72,000 |
| Scholarship | none | −AUD 30,000 |
| Living, 2 years (our students’ spend) | about AUD 56,000 | about AUD 40,000 |
| Total | about AUD 132,000 (Rs 1.4 crore) | about AUD 82,000 (Rs 87 lakh) |
| Post-study work | 485, 2 years | 485, 2 years, plus a possible second 485 |
Illustrative figures from our shortlists; Destination Australia isn’t guaranteed and isn’t offered at every campus. Even without the scholarship, rent alone often saves AUD 8,000 or more a year.
From our files. Prakash Tamang from Chitwan wanted Sydney because his cousins were there. His goal was nursing and, long term, permanent residence. Adelaide’s rent was about AUD 120 a week lower, and regional study added post-study time that Sydney wouldn’t. He chose Adelaide, finished his Bachelor of Nursing in 2024, and now works in a hospital there.
Who regional study suits
Choose a regional campus if:
- You want to work in Australia after graduating, and a second 485 or state nomination would help
- Your budget is tight and rent is the biggest risk
- Your field is in demand regionally: nursing, aged care, teaching, engineering, agriculture
- You’re comfortable with a smaller city and a smaller Nepali community
Stay in a major city if:
- You need a job from month 2 and the town is small
- Your course or specialisation is only offered in the city
- You plan to return to Nepal straight after the degree, so the visa benefits don’t matter
Questions to ask a regional university
- Is this campus in a regional postcode, and which category?
- Is my course eligible for Destination Australia here, and how do I apply?
- How quickly did last year’s international students find part-time work?
- Where do placements happen, for health and education courses?
- Is there student accommodation, and what does a shared room cost?
