By Daniel Connor
Home to some of the best higher education institutions in the country, Brisbane, the capital of Queensland, is considered one of the best cities in Australia for students to live. The weather is great year-round in the sunshine state, you’re on the east coast, close to some of the best coastal destinations in the country and Brisbane is generally more affordable to live as a student than other major cities like Melbourne and Sydney.
From campuses that border the Brisbane River to ones virtually inside the CBD, I know first-hand how exciting calling Brisbane home during your uni years can be. Here’s why I loved the student lifestyle in Brisbane so much.
To begin with, Brisbane has plenty of affordable student accommodation facilities to choose from. I lived in Student One, which has three locations in central Brisbane. Like much of the student accommodation in the city, Student One offered easy access to public transport like trains and buses and was even within walking or cycling distance to some of Brisbane’s campuses. Being central and close to campus allowed me to keep my costs down and live comfortably with a student budget. If you don’t like the idea of living alone, share housing is another great option for students living in Brisbane. With so many campuses throughout the city, finding other students to live with in Brisbane is super easy.
Affordable to live, Brisbane is also a haven for students who love shopping. Queen Street Mall is by far Brisbane’s most popular shopping spot, featuring the much-loved Myer Centre, Brisbane Arcade and Wintergarden. James Street in Fortitude Valley has plenty to offer the student demographic as it is considered more of a hub for younger city shoppers. And Boundary Street in West End will delight bargain-hunting students, particularly those that prefer to shop pre-loved goods and vintage wear.
Have you heard about South Bank yet? South Bank is one of my favourite city spots, nestled on the shores of the Brisbane River and considered one of Brisbane’s top cultural destinations. Here you’ll find beautiful gardens to relax and chill out on weekends, the closest thing to an actual beach in the city, cheap places to eat, markets and a weekly schedule of free activities. You can also visit the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA), Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC), Queensland Maritime Museum, The State Library of Queensland and Queensland Museum and Sciencentre - perfect for students who love extra-curricular learning opportunities.
Like any city, Brisbane is also big on fun things. With hundreds of bars and restaurants scattered throughout the city, you’ll never spend a weekend hungry or thirsty while living here. Spending a night clubbing in The Valley is a must-do student experience, as is seeing live music at one of the many venues around the city, including Riverstage, The Zoo and Fortitude Music Hall. With its own major international airport, you can also easily reach other destinations around the country while living in Brisbane, a real bonus for international students who choose to live and study here. You don’t even need to board a plane to discover some of Australia’s top destinations from Brisbane. You’re within driving distance to the Sunshine Coast, Fraser Island, the Gold Coast, Byron Bay, North Stradbroke Island and Moreton Island. Not many students can say they can jump in the car and take a weekend trip to places like this!
There are endless reasons to love the student lifestyle in Brisbane. Friendly, homely and an all-round beautiful city to live in, I loved my time spent studying and living here.
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