Where To Apply

Regional Australian universities and what they mean for skilled migration

For skilled migration, "regional" means everywhere in Australia except Greater Sydney, Greater Melbourne, and Greater Brisbane. Studying at a regional campus is worth 5 extra points on the skilled points test, opens the Skilled Work Regional (491) visa, and often comes with easier state nomination criteria.

Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, Hobart, the Gold Coast, Newcastle, and Wollongong all count as regional, and none of them are small towns. Living costs at these universities are also consistently below Sydney and Melbourne.

  1. South Metropolitan TAFEPerth, WAPerth, WA. Around A$50,000 for the first year. Studying here earns the regional study points and access to the 491 visa.
  2. Avondale UniversityCooranbong, NSWCooranbong, NSW. Around A$54,000 for the first year. Studying here earns the regional study points and access to the 491 visa.
  3. Australian Institute of BusinessAdelaide, SAAdelaide, SA. Around A$55,000 for the first year. Studying here earns the regional study points and access to the 491 visa.
  4. Federation University AustraliaBallarat, VICBallarat, VIC. Around A$56,000 for the first year. Studying here earns the regional study points and access to the 491 visa.
  5. Charles Sturt UniversityMulti-campus, regional NSWMulti-campus, regional NSW. Around A$57,000 for the first year. Studying here earns the regional study points and access to the 491 visa.
  6. University of Southern QueenslandToowoomba, QLDToowoomba, QLD. Around A$57,000 for the first year. Studying here earns the regional study points and access to the 491 visa.
  7. Charles Darwin UniversityDarwin, NTDarwin, NT. Around A$58,000 for the first year. Studying here earns the regional study points and access to the 491 visa.
  8. University of New EnglandArmidale, NSWArmidale, NSW. Around A$58,000 for the first year. Studying here earns the regional study points and access to the 491 visa.
  9. Southern Cross UniversityLismore/Gold Coast/Coffs Harbour, NSWLismore/Gold Coast/Coffs Harbour, NSW. Around A$61,000 for the first year. Studying here earns the regional study points and access to the 491 visa.
  10. Edith Cowan UniversityPerth, WAPerth, WA. Around A$62,000 for the first year. Studying here earns the regional study points and access to the 491 visa.
  11. University of the Sunshine CoastSippy Downs, QLDSippy Downs, QLD. Around A$63,000 for the first year. Studying here earns the regional study points and access to the 491 visa.
  12. James Cook UniversityTownsville/Cairns, QLDTownsville/Cairns, QLD. Around A$64,000 for the first year. Studying here earns the regional study points and access to the 491 visa.
  13. Murdoch UniversityPerth, WAPerth, WA. Around A$64,000 for the first year. Studying here earns the regional study points and access to the 491 visa.
  14. University of CanberraCanberra, ACTCanberra, ACT. Around A$64,000 for the first year. Studying here earns the regional study points and access to the 491 visa.
  15. University of TasmaniaHobart/Launceston, TASHobart/Launceston, TAS. Around A$65,000 for the first year. Studying here earns the regional study points and access to the 491 visa.
  16. Flinders UniversityAdelaide, SAAdelaide, SA. Around A$67,000 for the first year. Studying here earns the regional study points and access to the 491 visa.
  17. Griffith UniversityBrisbane/Gold Coast, QLDBrisbane/Gold Coast, QLD. Around A$69,000 for the first year. Studying here earns the regional study points and access to the 491 visa.
  18. University of NewcastleNewcastle, NSWNewcastle, NSW. Around A$69,000 for the first year. Studying here earns the regional study points and access to the 491 visa.
  19. University of WollongongWollongong, NSWWollongong, NSW. Around A$69,000 for the first year. Studying here earns the regional study points and access to the 491 visa.
  20. Curtin UniversityPerth, WAPerth, WA. Around A$70,000 for the first year. Studying here earns the regional study points and access to the 491 visa.
  21. Adelaide UniversityAdelaide, SAAdelaide, SA. Around A$74,000 for the first year. Studying here earns the regional study points and access to the 491 visa.
  22. University of Western AustraliaPerth, WAPerth, WA. Around A$74,000 for the first year. Studying here earns the regional study points and access to the 491 visa.
  23. Bond UniversityGold Coast, QLDGold Coast, QLD. Around A$81,000 for the first year. Studying here earns the regional study points and access to the 491 visa.
  24. Australian National UniversityCanberra, ACTCanberra, ACT. Around A$82,000 for the first year. Studying here earns the regional study points and access to the 491 visa.

How this list was built

We flagged universities whose main campus city sits in a designated regional area. Multi-campus universities that also operate in Sydney or Melbourne are excluded here even if they have regional campuses, since your points depend on where you actually study. Check the current designated postcode list before relying on this.

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