Australia · PR & Stay Back
Regional or city university in Australia? The real difference for Indian students
Five extra PR points, one to two extra stay back years, and roughly AUD 600–1,000 a month in savings. Here is what regional study actually gets you — and the one thing that matters more than where your campus is.
Abin explains regional vs city campuses — the three categories, the points, and the money. Prefer to read? The full written breakdown is below.
The short answer
- Only Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are not classed as regional. Everywhere else in Australia is.
- Perth and Adelaide do count as regional — this surprises most students.
- Studying regional can give you 5 extra points in the skilled migration points test, if you meet the conditions.
- It can also give you 1 to 2 extra years of post-study work rights on top of your first 485 visa.
- Living costs run roughly AUD 600–1,000 lower per month outside the big three cities — around ₹33,000–55,000 or AED 1,450–2,400.
- But your course and occupation matter more than your postcode. A regional campus cannot rescue a course that leads nowhere.
What this guide covers
- What "regional Australia" actually means
- The three categories — and where your campus sits
- The 5 extra PR points, explained simply
- Stay back years: how regional adds 1–2 more
- Real monthly costs: city vs regional
- Part-time work — where is it easier?
- Visa funds: does regional reduce what you show?
- Who should choose regional, who should choose city
- The one thing more important than location
- Frequently asked questions
1. What "regional Australia" actually means
When Indian students hear "regional", they picture a small town in the middle of nowhere. That is the single biggest misunderstanding in this whole topic.
In Australian visa law, "regional" is not about how small a place is. It is a list of postcodes set by the Department of Home Affairs. And that list is far more generous than students expect.
Here is the rule in one line: only Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are excluded. Every other part of Australia — including capital cities like Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, Hobart and Darwin — is treated as regional for student and skilled migration purposes.
Perth has over two million people and an international airport. Under the regional definition, it still counts as regional. Most students I meet do not know this.
So the choice is rarely "big city or village". It is more often "Sydney or Perth", or "Melbourne or Adelaide". Once students understand that, the decision changes completely.
2. The three categories — and where your campus sits
Australia splits the country into three groups for post-study work purposes. What you get depends on which group your campus is in — not which group your university's head office is in.
| Category | Where | Extra stay back | Extra PR points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Category 1 Major cities |
Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane | None — base 485 only | No |
| Category 2 Cities & major regional centres |
Perth, Adelaide, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Canberra, Newcastle, Wollongong, Geelong, Hobart | +1 year | Yes — 5 points |
| Category 3 Regional centres & other regional areas |
Everywhere else — Toowoomba, Cairns, Townsville, Ballarat, Bendigo, Wagga Wagga, Darwin, Launceston and more | +2 years | Yes — 5 points |
3. The 5 extra PR points, explained simply
Australian skilled migration works on a points test. You collect points for your age, English score, qualifications, work experience and a few other things. You need to reach a minimum before you can be invited to apply.
Studying in a designated regional area can add 5 points to that score. Five points sounds small. In practice, it is often the difference between getting an invitation and waiting another year.
What you have to do to actually earn those points
- Complete at least two academic years of study at an Australian institution — that is a CRICOS-registered course of at least 92 weeks.
- Study at a campus located in a designated regional area — Category 2 or Category 3.
- Live in that regional area while you study. Enrolling in a regional campus and living in Melbourne does not count.
- Meet the standard requirements for the visa you are applying for.
The mistake we see most often: a student enrols at a regional campus, then moves to a big city after one semester for work. The two years of regional study is broken, and the points are gone.
4. Stay back years: how regional adds 1–2 more
After you finish your degree, the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) lets you stay and work in Australia. How long you get depends on your qualification level.
On top of that base period, students who studied and lived in a regional area can apply for a second post-study work visa:
- Category 2 campus — one extra year
- Category 3 campus — two extra years
Think about what an extra two years means in practice. More time to find skilled work in your field. More time to gain the experience that earns points. More time to be sponsored. For a lot of students, that runway matters more than the five points.
To claim the second visa, you generally need to have held the first 485 visa and to have been living in a regional area while holding it.
Not sure which category your campus is in?
Send us the university and campus name on WhatsApp. We will tell you the category, the stay back years and whether the course is on the skilled occupation list.
5. Real monthly costs: city vs regional
This is where regional study pays you back every single month, whatever happens with PR.
The gap is almost entirely rent. Groceries, transport and phone plans are broadly similar across Australia. A shared room in Sydney or Melbourne costs far more than the same room in Toowoomba or Ballarat.
| Monthly cost | Sydney / Melbourne / Brisbane | Regional (Cat 2 & 3) |
|---|---|---|
| Shared accommodation | Highest — the main driver of the gap | Noticeably lower, often by several hundred dollars |
| Groceries | Similar | Similar |
| Public transport | Higher, but better coverage | Lower, but you may need a car in smaller towns |
| Typical total difference | — | AUD 600–1,000 less per month ≈ ₹33,000–55,000 · AED 1,450–2,400 |
Over a two-year master's degree, a saving of AUD 800 a month adds up to roughly AUD 19,000. That is real money — often more than a scholarship would have given you.
One honest caveat: in smaller Category 3 towns, public transport is limited and many students end up buying a second-hand car. Budget for that before you assume the full saving.
6. Part-time work — where is it easier?
There is a common myth that you earn more in Sydney. You do not. The minimum wage is the same everywhere in Australia. It is set nationally, not by city.
As of the figures we verified in September 2026, the national minimum wage is AUD 26.44 per hour, with casual employees on AUD 33.05 per hour from 1 July 2026 once the casual loading is applied. A retail shift in Cairns pays the same base rate as the same shift in Sydney.
So the question is not "where do I earn more" — it is "where do I actually get hired".
Big cities
- Many more jobs advertised in total
- But far more students competing for each one
- Hospitality and retail turnover is high, so roles open often
Regional areas
- Fewer jobs advertised overall
- But dramatically less competition from other students
- Local employers often struggle to fill shifts and value staff who stay
- Aged care, agriculture, hospitality and healthcare support roles are common
In our experience with students on the ground, first-job waiting time is usually shorter in regional towns. You are one of fifty applicants, not one of five hundred.
7. Visa funds: does regional reduce what you show?
No — and this catches families out.
The living cost figure you must demonstrate for a student visa is set nationally at AUD 29,710 for the primary applicant. It does not go down because you chose a cheaper town. Home Affairs applies the same figure wherever you study.
What regional study reduces is what you actually spend once you arrive, not what you must show at application stage. Plan your financial documents on the national figure.
8. Who should choose regional, who should choose city
Regional is usually the better fit if…
- Permanent residency is a serious long-term goal for you
- Your family is funding the course and every month of savings matters
- You want to find part-time work quickly rather than compete with thousands of students
- You are comfortable in a quieter place and can build your own social circle
- Your course is available at a Category 2 or 3 campus with the same accreditation
A big city is usually the better fit if…
- Your field is concentrated in Sydney or Melbourne — for example, investment banking, high-end fashion, or some specialised tech roles
- You already have close family or a strong support network there
- The specific course, supervisor or research group you need only exists at that campus
- You genuinely need a large city environment to be happy and productive
Neither answer is universally right. A student who becomes isolated and miserable in a small town will not finish well, and no number of points fixes that. Be honest about the kind of place you can live in for two years.
9. The one thing more important than location
Here is what most people miss while they are comparing postcodes.
Your course decides your future in Australia. Your campus location only improves your odds within that course.
If your qualification does not lead to an occupation on the skilled occupation list, or the course is not properly accredited by the relevant Australian professional body, then regional points will not save you. Five extra points on a pathway that goes nowhere is still a pathway that goes nowhere.
So the order of decisions should be:
- Occupation first — is there a real demand and a skilled pathway in this field?
- Course and accreditation second — does this specific degree qualify you for that occupation in Australia?
- University third — reputation, support, and student outcomes
- Regional or city last — optimise location once the first three are right
We see students do this exactly backwards: they pick a regional town for the points, then discover the course does not lead to a skilled occupation. Get the order right and the location decision becomes easy.
Start your admission call today
Tell us your marks, your budget and what you want to do afterwards. We will map the course, the campus category and the realistic pathway — before you pay anyone anything. Your first consultation is free and there is no obligation.
Free tools
Work out your own numbers
These are free, no sign-up required, and give you a specific answer for your course and campus rather than a general rule.
485 stay back calculator
Pick your course level and campus — see exactly how many stay back years you qualify for, including the regional extension.
Check my stay back yearsStudent visa funds calculator
How much money you need to show for an Australian student visa, broken down in AUD, INR and AED for your family situation.
Calculate my fundsSkilled occupation list check
Find out whether the occupation your course leads to is on Australia's skilled occupation list before you commit.
Check my occupationAustralia WhatsApp community
Over 1,000 families preparing for Australian intakes. Deadlines, document checklists and visa updates as they change.
Join the group freeQuestions students ask us
Frequently asked questions
Is Perth considered regional in Australia for student visas?
Yes. Perth is classified as a Category 2 area — a city and major regional centre — under Australia's regional definition. Students who study and live in Perth can be eligible for five extra points in the skilled migration points test and one additional year of post-study work rights. Only Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are excluded from the regional definition.
How many extra PR points do I get for studying in regional Australia?
Studying in a designated regional area can give you five extra points in the skilled migration points test. To claim them, you generally need to complete at least two academic years of study at a regional campus and live in that regional area while you study. These points improve your position but do not guarantee an invitation or a visa.
How many years can I stay back after studying in regional Australia?
Your first Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) period depends on your qualification level. On top of that, a Category 2 campus can make you eligible for one additional year and a Category 3 campus for two additional years through a second post-study work visa. You must have lived in the regional area while holding the first visa.
Is it cheaper to study in regional Australia than in Sydney or Melbourne?
Living costs are generally lower, mainly because of rent. The typical difference is around AUD 600 to 1,000 per month, which is roughly ₹33,000 to ₹55,000 or AED 1,450 to 2,400. Tuition fees are set by the university and are not automatically lower. In smaller towns you may also need to budget for a car, since public transport is limited.
Do I need to show less money for my visa if I study regional?
No. The living cost requirement for an Australian student visa is set nationally at AUD 29,710 for the primary applicant, and it does not change based on where you study. Regional study reduces what you actually spend after you arrive, not what you must demonstrate in your visa application.
Is it easier to find a part-time job in regional Australia?
There are fewer jobs advertised overall in regional areas, but far less competition from other international students, so many students find their first job faster. The minimum wage is the same across Australia — AUD 26.44 per hour, with casual employees on AUD 33.05 per hour from 1 July 2026 — so you do not earn less by studying regionally.
Which is better for Indian students — a regional or a city university?
It depends on your goal. If permanent residency and lower living costs matter most, a regional campus is usually stronger because of the extra points and extra stay back years. If your field is concentrated in Sydney or Melbourne, or you need a specific course that only exists there, a city campus makes more sense. Choose your occupation and course first, then optimise the location.
Does Guide to Heights help students in Kerala and the GCC apply to regional universities?
Yes. Guide to Heights is a QEAC-certified (#10439) and British Council-recognised (#49805) education consultancy with offices in Kochi, the UAE and Melbourne. We help students compare campus categories, check occupation eligibility and prepare their applications. The first consultation is free — message us on WhatsApp at +91 89217 68892.
Sources and official references
- Department of Home Affairs — Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485)
- Department of Home Affairs — Regional migration and designated regional areas
- Department of Home Affairs — Student visa (subclass 500) financial capacity
- Fair Work Ombudsman — National minimum wage
- Study Australia — Official Australian Government study information
Read next
About the author
Abin Mathew Varghese
Founder & Director, Guide to Heights
Abin studied and worked in Melbourne, completing an MBA and a Master's in IT at Deakin University before returning to Kochi to build Guide to Heights. With over a decade of counselling experience, he works with students from Kerala and the GCC on Australia, UK, New Zealand, Ireland, Malta and Germany pathways, and personally reviews the campus and occupation strategy for Australia applicants.
Free consultation
Start your admission call today
One conversation is usually enough to know whether regional or city is right for you. Send us your marks and your goal — we will come back with a shortlist, not a sales pitch.
