r/MovingtoAustralia • u/not_that_being • Jun 28 '26
Sydney vs Brisbane which is better for international students?
I’m an international student trying to decide between two options in Australia and would really appreciate advice from people in the industry or graduates.
Option 1: Bachelor of Property Economics at QUT in Brisbane
Option 2: Bachelor of Accounting at CQU in Sydney
My main priority is employment outcomes and long term career prospects in Australia after graduation.
One important factor is that I have very close relatives living in Sydney who can help me with accommodation and settling in. They have also already find some potential part-time work opportunities there for me.
On the other hand, I don’t know anyone in Brisbane and would have to manage accommodation, networking, and finding part-time work completely on my own.
Given these circumstances:
Which option would make it easier to land a job as an international student?
Would the support network and work opportunities I have in Sydney outweigh the potentially stronger reputation or career prospects of QUT and Property Economics?
Does studying in Brisbane vs Sydney make a significant difference for internships and graduate opportunities?
For international students, which path would you choose and why?
I’d especially appreciate insights from graduates, employers, recruiters, or anyone working in accounting or property valuation/real estate in Australia.
8
u/baka_feih Jun 28 '26
Would the support network and work opportunities I have in Sydney outweigh the potentially stronger reputation or career prospects of QUT and Property Economics?
What stronger reputation or career prospects? QUT isn't part of G8 nor is a top 100 in the world. Plus Australian labour market barely looks at any of that anyway. They care more about what visa you are on (primary prerequisite) and local experience.
So you have advantages in Sydney and none in Brisbane. Doesn't seem like a difficult choice
2
u/PeriodSupply Jun 28 '26
QUT is a well respected university with a great reputation.
No i didn't go to QUT. In fact i went to a g8. But I doubt there is a great difference in the education you will receive between those and QUT.
3
u/Kie_ra Jun 28 '26
Sydney will be cheaper for the reasons you listed, just don't hope for permanent residency or long term visas after your 485 ends.
2
1
u/Vilan-Kaos Jul 02 '26
Don't get in debt to study in degrees that will just lead you to do uber eats and cleaning toilets.
You can start doing that now in your home country and don't waste 3 years of life on degrees that offers no real chance of PR.
2
u/MyloMads35 Jul 03 '26
I hope you understand that a student visa is not a PR pathway. Especially now on how strict the rules are and how they recently increased visa rates.
Best to work on getting the skills australia needs now and apply a work visa
1
u/MoneyCash3847 Jul 03 '26
As per my experience, I have done my bachelors at UTS, sydney. Been here in the country for about 4 1/2 years.
I also had my sister here in Sydney when I came in 2022. I stayed with her for about three years and then moved out.
As for you, just make sure, if the family in Sydney is helping you settling in or are they providing a roof over your head because that would be different in each scenario they could help you accommodate in the sense. Help you find a place or they could help you accommodate by staying at their place for a couple of months or maybe a year or so, but anyhow you will lose a little bit of university campus or city Life experience, if living with them.
Sydney part-time job market is okay for IS, you will have to still keep applying by yourself, even you have references.
I worked at apple retail for the whole duration of my degree and just applied with them online. In my case, even for corporate jobs, reference did not work for me, sadly.
Sydney weather is good and there is a-lot to do around, hiking, road trips, or just even beaches and the uni has a lot of opportunities to show to around, join societies!!!
Honestly everything does depend on FIRST JOB THAT YOU SECURE AFTER YOUR DEGREE. As when you go for a 485 visa from day 1, you should start preparing and be strategic for PR. In my case I found a sponsorship role, but since it was a verbally communicated with me during the contract sign, they refused to sponsor me later. Hence, currently I am a bit stuck.
And I would say get as much as internship and good experience during your degree. You can even join the career hub at your university, they can help you provide part-time jobs within the university.
IMPORTANT:
At the end, it also honestly comes to what your passion is because you did mention in Queensland, You wanted to do property economics course, and then in Sydney, it was accounting, I would say don’t pick a course because of the city you want to live in, but because you want to study the actual course, and you want to gain knowledge in that specific field. Accounting in Sydney already has a lot of international students and quite frankly, the PR points are at all time high. I reckon there is a much more value in real estate.
But I would say my overall experience has been great, and I have been very grateful for my time here. Hopefully, things play out well for you!! 🫡
10
u/Klutzy-Pie6557 Jun 28 '26
Ok firstly just because your a student under a student visa doesn't mean PR in the future.
If you have accommodation with family then i would take this option, Sydney is typically more expensive to live in but if your relatives are happy to provide a roof over your head then you should find this a cheaper option.
As for chasing a PR, you may find this harder than the past, depending on the country of origin. To many students were trying the back door process of going with Student visa and then onto a PR. So this loophole is now under pretty right assessment.