What comes to mind when thinking of the perfect place to study? It would be just about any student’s dream to study in a place that offers world-class education and a pathway to a successful career. Somewhere with excellent infrastructure, natural beauty, clean air, rivers and oceans.
Surprisingly Perth, the capital of Western Australia, offers these things. A cosmopolitan city of 1.6 million people has hosted international students for decades. Every year, more and more students are discovering why Perth is the ideal place to study. In fact, international student numbers have increased by 34% in the past five years.
READ MORE: Universities in Perth
Famous for its friendly people and relaxed atmosphere, Perth embodies the true Australian lifestyle. There are not many places left in the world where a passer-by will warmly greet you on the street or stop to have a chat. Australians love to interact with overseas visitors and embrace other cultures. Recently Lonely Planet voted Perth as one of the world’s “top 10 future cities” and the Economist has voted it as one of the world’s top ten “most liveable” cities for eight consecutive years.
The latest Mercer Quality of Life Survey ranked Perth in the top 10% of 215 world cities. Taking into consideration how West Australians spend their time, it doesn’t take long for those new to the city to realise that being active outdoors is one of the best ways to enjoy what Perth has to offer. Its natural environment and Mediterranean climate make Perth the ultimate lifestyle location. Beyond Perth, the South-West region of Western Australia has been identified as a UNESCO Biodiversity Hotspot, making parts of the region a unique, protected area for ecotourism, study and adventure.
Perth has Australian best-practice in student travel concessions. WA is one of two states in Australia to offer international students a government-sponsored 40% discount on any type of public transport, in addition to free bus services in the CBD area of Perth city, Fremantle and Joondalup.
The booming Western Australian economy has created a strong demand for skilled staff, which means plenty of opportunity for part-time work and this not only benefits the student financially, but also contributes to the local community, while providing opportunity for the student to expand their skill set, develop their work experience and English skills and gear them for more permanent employment opportunities. With just 10% of Australia’s population, WA has around 20% of the job vacancies in the country.
Perth has a tradition of punching above its weight. The city has produced two Nobel Laureates’ in medicine, the revolutionary tissue engineering technology, otherwise known as “spray on skin”. Perth is also home to the southern hemisphere’s largest eye research institute, the Lions Eye Institute, which is a leader in its field.
Perth’s world class universities, colleges and schools are central to its ability to maintain its’ economic position in the region. They help underpin its booming economy with high-end research partnerships in areas like medicine, biotechnology, engineering, geology, agriculture, renewable energy, water management, business, astrophysics, veterinary science and the environment, just to name a few.
It’s English language colleges teach modern English through an interactive approach, meanwhile, the schools, undergraduate and vocational training sectors produce world class graduates whose qualifications are recognised globally and who contribute to the city’s renowned entrepreneurial spirit and highly educated workforce.
Diversity is a key factor when going to study abroad. Each year, Perth hosts over 45,000 international students and boasts Australia’s best source country diversity. This ensures that students mix with the 140 different nationalities across WA institutions so they study with those from around the world including Europe, North and South Asia, Africa and North and South America. Common sense would indicate that Perth’s international students would come from its near neighbours, like Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and Mauritius. Surprising, WA’s top 20 student source countries include China, Singapore, UK, France, Brazil, USA and Malaysia.
Perth is a city that continues to attract some of the world’s leading minds, artists and entrepreneurs and its’ robust, modern education system underpins its steady growth in regional importance.
The Perth Education City website is a portal for exceptional institutions based in Western Australia. Learn more at www.pertheducationcity.com.au
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