Chrysalis

Living in Brisbane


The UQFY Foundation Year program is located in the centre of Brisbane, the capital of Queensland and Australia's third largest city.  Brisbane is situated along the Brisbane River and enjoys a sub-tropical climate of warm humid summers and mild dry winters.

The heart of the city is about shopping, eating, recreation, and taking in the culture of its art galleries and museums.  Brisbane is a cosmopolitan city that offers the diversity of the Queen Street Mall, The Valley and Chinatown precincts along with South Bank, Roma Street Parklands, Eagle Street Pier and Riverside.

For those who love the beach, just outside of the cosmopolitan centre within 60 minutes of Brisbane's downtown, are both the Sunshine Coast (north) and Gold Coast (south), which are famous for their beautiful golden beaches.  Both coasts are easily accessible by public or private transport.

Abundant parks, open spaces, bike and walking tracks, world class entertainment/sport facilities and shopping are just a few of the things that make Brisbane a wonderful place to live and study.

Visit www.ourbrisbane.com.au for more information.

Living Costs

Brisbane is one of the most affordable capital cities in Australia. Accommodation costs are lower than in Sydney and Melbourne, and it is feasible for students to live in the very centre of Brisbane. Transport, food and entertainment is similar in cost to cities like Perth and Adelaide.  Brisbane caters for a diverse range of lifestyles and with the great weather you can easily enjoy living here, even on a student budget.

The Australian government advises that you should expect to spend a minimum of AUD$18,000 for living expenses per year. However, accommodation and food costs can be reduced by sharing with friends and budgeting carefully.
 
Approximate Monthly Expenses (in AUD)

The following prices are estimates at 2010 and are dependant on items purchased and market fluctuations.

Phone  $80
Public Transport   $120
Food and Groceries $320
Electricity/Gas  $75
Recreation/Entertainment  $250
Photocopying/Printing/Stationery $40
Contents Insurance $20
Clothing/Personal  $100
Unplanned Expenses $75
TOTAL (not including accommodation) $1080 AUD

Employment

Your student Visa permits you to work on a part time basis while studying here.
 
In Australia, international students who do succeed in obtaining employment may work for up to 20 hours per week during semester time and full-time during vacations (for example over the three month break of December to February).
 
Although many international and local students are successful in obtaining casual and part time employment to help subsidise their living costs while studying, students should not rely on obtaining such work when calculating a budget.
 

Useful Links

http://www.studybrisbane.com/

www.thinkbefore.com

www.studyinaustralia.gov.au