Study in Perth: International Student Guide
A practical guide to universities, costs, visa requirements, and life as an international student in Western Australia's capital.
Why Study in Perth?
Perth is Western Australia's capital and Australia's fourth-largest city, with a metropolitan population of approximately 2.2 million (ABS). Located on the Indian Ocean coastline, Perth is Australia's most geographically remote capital — a characteristic that shapes its culture, economy, and the student experience in distinctive ways.
Western Australia's higher education sector includes a Group of Eight university, three public universities, a private Catholic university, and two TAFE networks. The University of Western Australia (UWA) in Crawley anchors the research university landscape, while Curtin University in Bentley is one of Australia's largest universities by enrolment and particularly active in engineering, technology, and business research. Edith Cowan University and Murdoch University serve a broad range of undergraduate and postgraduate students, and the University of Notre Dame Australia provides a private, smaller-campus option in Fremantle.
Perth's economy has been heavily shaped by the mining and resources sector. Iron ore, natural gas (including the North West Shelf and Gorgon/Wheatstone LNG projects), and gold underpin strong demand for engineering, geoscience, environmental science, and project management graduates. The broader economy also includes substantial healthcare, construction, technology, and financial services sectors. Cybersecurity has emerged as a growing employment domain as WA government and industry invest in digital infrastructure.
For students from South and Southeast Asia, Perth offers a time-zone advantage — AWST (UTC+8) aligns closely with Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and China. This makes maintaining family and professional connections easier than from Sydney or Melbourne. Direct flight connections from Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bali, and other regional hubs are frequent.
Students also explore studying in Adelaide, Brisbane, or Darwin — each with distinct economies and study environments.
Universities and TAFE in Perth
Perth's higher education sector includes five universities and two TAFE networks. All registered CRICOS providers are authorised to enrol international students holding a valid Subclass 500 student visa. Campuses are distributed across the metropolitan area and are served by the Transperth network.
University of Western Australia (UWA)
CRICOS 00126G — Group of Eight research university
Established in 1911, UWA is Western Australia's oldest university and a member of the Group of Eight research network. Its main campus is in Crawley on the Swan River foreshore. UWA has strengths in medicine, law, engineering, environmental science, and business. The university attracts significant competitive research funding and has notable postgraduate research programs in geoscience, environmental management, and health.
Curtin University
CRICOS 00301J — Public research university
Curtin is one of Australia's largest universities by enrolment, with its main campus in Bentley. Curtin is recognised for engineering, mining, resources technology, business, information technology, and health sciences. The university has close links to WA's resources industry and operates an international campus network. Curtin's Faculty of Science and Engineering has strong industry partnerships in the mining and oil and gas sectors.
Murdoch University
CRICOS 00125J — Public research university
Located in the southern suburb of Murdoch, this university offers programs across veterinary and life sciences, engineering, IT, business, law, and social sciences. Murdoch has a long-standing veterinary science faculty — one of the few in Western Australia — and is known for its environmental science and sustainability research.
Edith Cowan University (ECU)
CRICOS 00279B — Public university
ECU operates campuses in Joondalup (north of Perth), Mount Lawley, and Churchlands. The university focuses on professionally-oriented programs in nursing, education, business, computing and security, engineering, and creative arts. ECU's cybersecurity research centre is nationally recognised and reflects the growing demand for digital security skills in WA.
University of Notre Dame Australia
CRICOS 01032F — Private Catholic university
Notre Dame Australia is a private, mission-driven university with its main campus in the historic port city of Fremantle. It offers programs in medicine, law, nursing, education, philosophy, and business in a smaller campus environment. The university has a second campus in Sydney.
North Metropolitan TAFE / South Metropolitan TAFE
Public TAFE providers — Western Australia
Western Australia's TAFE system is divided into regional networks. North Metropolitan TAFE (campuses in Joondalup, Leederville, Mount Lawley, and others) and South Metropolitan TAFE (campuses in Fremantle, Rockingham, and Thornlie) provide vocational education across trades, technology, business, hospitality, and community services. Both accept international students in CRICOS-registered courses.
Verify current CRICOS registration and course offerings directly with providers. CRICOS details are publicly searchable at Study Australia.
Cost of Living in Perth
Perth's cost of living has risen in recent years, particularly accommodation. Strong demand driven by the resources sector and population growth has pushed rental prices upward. The figures below are indicative — actual costs depend on accommodation type, proximity to campus, and lifestyle.
| Expense | Estimated monthly cost |
|---|---|
| Shared accommodation | $950 – $1,700 |
| Transperth (SmartRider bus/train/ferry) | $80 – $130 |
| Groceries and meals | $220 – $340 |
Total estimated weekly spend is approximately $380–$540. Students living in purpose-built student accommodation or shared houses further from the CBD can reduce costs significantly. On-campus accommodation options exist at most universities and vary in price.
For cost-of-living guidance across Australian cities, Study Australia publishes indicative budgets for international students.
Student Visa for Perth
International students studying in Perth — like all international students in Australia — must hold a valid Subclass 500 Student Visa issued by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA). There is no Western Australia-specific or Perth-specific student visa — the Subclass 500 applies regardless of study location.
To apply for a Subclass 500 visa, you will generally need a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) from a registered CRICOS provider, evidence of sufficient financial capacity, English language proficiency, Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), and meeting genuine temporary entrant requirements.
Visa requirements, processing times, and evidence expectations change periodically. Always verify current requirements directly with the Department of Home Affairs before applying.
For course and provider guidance, the StudyVisaHub platform covers visa grant rates, evidence levels, and course pathways via the Course Finder.
Lifestyle and Transport in Perth
Perth records more sunshine hours annually than any other Australian capital city, with a Mediterranean climate that brings hot, dry summers (December–February regularly reaching 35–40°C) and mild, pleasant winters (16–19°C). Most of Perth's rainfall falls between May and August. The combination of reliable sunshine and Indian Ocean beaches makes outdoor lifestyle a distinctive feature of living in Perth.
Cottesloe, Scarborough, City Beach, and Trigg are among the most frequented beaches, all within 20–30 minutes of the city centre by public transport. The Swan River foreshore provides cycling paths, parkland, and ferry connections between the CBD, South Perth, and Fremantle. Fremantle, Perth's historic port city, has a lively café, markets, and arts scene approximately 30 minutes from the CBD by train.
Public transport is operated by Transperth across bus, train, and ferry modes. The rail network covers major corridors including Joondalup, Midland, Armadale, Mandurah, and Fremantle lines. A SmartRider card provides discounted fares. Perth's flat terrain and cycling infrastructure make cycling a practical option for many students, particularly on routes between inner-suburb campuses and the city.
International students on a Subclass 500 visa may work up to 48 hours per fortnight while enrolled (standard condition 8105). Unlimited hours are permitted during scheduled course breaks. Perth's hospitality, retail, construction, and healthcare sectors provide part-time opportunities, and the resources sector creates graduate roles for those with relevant engineering and science qualifications.
For eligible skilled graduates, Western Australia's state nomination programs for the Subclass 190 and Subclass 491 visas create post-study Career Pathway options. The WA Government publishes current occupation lists on its official migration pages — requirements change regularly.