Imagine waking up every morning to long stretches of gorgeous coastline and a cool, sub-tropical climate? Why study in Gold Coast? We gave you two great reasons right there.
But there are many more reasons why students in Australia and throughout the rest of the world flock to the Gold Coast area for their further education.
From the wide choices of universities, colleges, and courses, to the multiculturalism and student support, these alone make the popularity of the Gold Coast challenged other major cities in Australia.
But if you’re seriously considering moving there and enrolling, we’re listing the eight reasons why you won’t regret it.
1. Gold Coast has amazing weather
Yes, we might have said it already, but Gold Coast is weather is worth a double mention! The Gold Coast gets 300 days of sunshine year round, with an average temperature of 19 degrees celcius, which means plenty of opportunities to enjoy the outdoors.
But more than that, sunshine is also a big part of what produces the feel-good hormone, serotonin. Just 15 minutes a day will help you focus better on your studies and improve your immune system.
2. Great education options when you study in Gold Coast
As Australia’s sixth largest city, the Gold Coast is home to two major universities—Griffith University at Southport and Bond University at Robina. Those alone give you two great options.
Griffith University is a public research university. It has five campuses spread throughout Queensland. Out of 50,000 students, it was rated the ninth-highest satisfaction rating by students in 2021.
Griffith University is separated into four different departments with 3-7 different faculties in each area. Here are the four main departments:
- Arts, Education and Law
- Griffith Business School
- Griffith Health
- Griffith Sciences
Gold Coast University Hospital is also in walking distance of Griffith University’s Southport campus.
Bond University is slightly different. It is the first private, non-profit university and has an array of accelerated undergraduate and postgraduate degrees and programs, diplomas, and non-award programs. It comes in as 20th on the Times Higher Education (THE) rankings of the Best Small Universities in the World.
Here are Bond’s main faculties:
- Bond Business School
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine
- Faculty of Society and Design
Other than that, you’ll also find a campus for Southern Cross University near the Gold Coast Airport in Bilinga.
TAFE (Gold Coast Institute of Technical and Further Education) has five campuses—South Port, Ridgeway, Benowa, Coomera and Coolangatta. It has a ton of study areas including animal care, hospitality, IT, music and horticulture.
So, regardless of what you’re looking for, the Gold Coast will have it.
2. Gold Coast is more affordable than other cities
One of the best parts about living on the Gold Coast is affordability.
To start, tuition fees on the Gold Coast are about 40% lower than in Sydney. Undergraduate degree tuition fees at Griffith University, for example, are around AUD 15,000 per year for domestic students and AUD 30,000 for international students.
Living on the Gold Coast is also cheaper than in the Australian capital cities. From renting to buying, property prices are much more affordable.
Here’s what you can expect to spend on student accommodation in the Gold Coast:
- $160-$250 per week on a room in a share house
- $300-$350 per week on a private room on campus
- $700 per week on a private home (house or unit)
Gold Coast real estate prices are higher in suburbs like Mermaid Beach, Palm Beach, Main Beach and Broadbeach Waters. But some of the cheapest suburbs in the Gold Coast are Coomera, Nerang, and Ormeau Hills.
On average, a single person spends around $1,300 a month on living expenses aside from rent.
According to Numbeo, prices in Gold Coast are generally 11% lower than in Sydney. Restaurant prices are 10% lower and groceries are 8% lower.
The good news is that international students are allowed to work up to 40 hours a fortnight so you can get in some experience and extra cash while you study.
3. You have nature at your doorstep
It’s hard to talk about the good life the Gold Coast offers without mentioning the abundant nature. From the beautiful beaches of the pacific ocean, to the national parks, and hiking trails, you have all of this in your backyard or less than an hour away.
If you love beaches, the Gold Coast is for you. It has world famous beaches for surfing, snorkelling, kayaking, diving and fishing. Here are some of the best beaches:
- Snapper Rocks
- Rainbow Bay
- Burleigh Beach
- Surfers Paradise
- North Kirra Beach
For avid cyclists and hikers, there are over 1,000 kilometres of trails for you to uncover. From the ancient rainforest of Gondwana to Springbrook National Park and Burleigh Heads National Park.
5. You can work in the Gold Coast even after you finish studying
Now’s a great time to study in the Gold Coast. For international students, they’re instated something called post-study work rights, which allows you to stay four years after you’ve finished studying.
This is a whole extra year compared to Sydney or Melbourne. On top of that, foreign student applicants to the Gold Coast get priority visa processing over other cities in Australia.
This means more time to get to know the locals, explore the region and country and hit the beach again!
6. Gold Coast has good public transport
With buses, trains, a light-rail tram service and a ferry service, getting around the Gold Coast is super simple and safe.
What’s better? The student Go Card offers students 50% off adult prices on public transport. This means you can travel from the buzzing metropolitan city of Brisbane to the sandy sweeps of Surfers Paradise for less than $6.
7. Gold Coast has tons of theme parks
As a student, you’ll probably experience some downtime between mid-semester breaks and summer holidays. Theme parks are a wonderful place to spend those days.
The Gold Coast has five major theme parks, all offering cool rides and experiences for thrill-seekers and animal lovers alike.
- Dreamworld
- WhiteWater World
- Wet’N’Wild
- Warner Bros Movie World
- Sea World
On top of that, there are also other awesome Gold Coast activities like iFly, Gold Coast Wake Park, escape rooms, and VR games.
Gold Coast also hosts the Commonwealth Games, a multi-sport event for members of the Commonwealth.
So, why study in Gold Coast?
Sure, Australia has tons of other great major cities on the coast, but living in the Gold Coast region will be an experience of Australia you won’t forget. You get all the convenience of a city, with all the splendidness of nature.
