Brisbane is the capital city of Queensland– Australia’s second largest state by area. In addition to being the third most populous city in Australia, Greater Brisbane is the largest of Australia’s six capital cities by geographic area, occupying 15,842 sq km across South East Queensland. A river curving and curling its way around the landscape makes Brisbane one of the most unique capital cities in Australia.

Quick Facts

Language: Primarily English.

Currency: The Australian dollar (AUS)

Population of Brisbane: Estimated at over 2.5 million

Average maximum temperature in Summer: 26 ° Celsius

Average maximum temperature in Winter:  16 ° Celsius

Summer months: December – February

Winter months: June – August

Climate: Brisbane weather is generally milder than many other areas of Australia

Time zone: Brisbane is within Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST)

Accommodation

QIHE staff will provide students with advice to find suitable and affordable accommodation. Accommodation options for students include:

  • Private rental and/or shared accommodation, and
  • Homestay arrangements – living with an Australian family who provide accommodation and meals. This is sometimes a wise option if longer–term accommodation is taking a while to secure.

It is often advisable to share rental accommodation in terms of reducing costs. For more information go to http://insiderguides.com.au/accommodation–options–in–australia/.

Cost of Schooling

Where school-aged children are included in your student visa application, schooling costs of AUD8,000 per year for each child will need to be added to the number of funds that are required. This amount is the minimum required for a visa application only and you are responsible for researching schooling costs, which may vary widely between states, territories and schools in Australia.

You do not have to provide evidence of schooling costs if you have received an Australian Commonwealth Government scholarship, including Foreign Affairs and Defense sponsored students, and you can show you have enrolled your child in a government school where the fees have been waived.

Cost of Living

It is important to have an idea of how much it will cost you to live in Brisbane , given your accommodation and lifestyle choices. You can estimate how much you will need to live comfortable by using the online calculator.

Find more information here.

Clothing

Although Brisbane’s climate is generally moderate, it is sensible to be prepared with layers of clothing. Include both lightweight summer clothes (t–shirts, shorts, skirts or dresses) in your luggage, as well as cardigans, jumpers and jackets.

 

Transport

Every part of Brisbane can be reached by the extensive public transportation system, which includes buses, trains, ferries and taxis. You can plan your route, calculate traveling time, and check accessibility requirements at: https://www.visitbrisbane.com.au/information/visitor-essentials/public-transport-in-brisbane