Studying in Regional Australia: What You Actually Gain
Studying in regional Australia can give you one or two extra years of post-study work on a second Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa, and 5 extra points in the skilled migration points test. Both depend on your campus being in a designated regional area, on you living there while you study, and, for the 485, on staying regional after you graduate. Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane do not count.
Last checked: 19 October 2026. Rupee amounts use the NRB selling rate, 17 Oct 2026 (AUD 1 = Rs 105.97).
Studying in regional Australia: benefits at a glance
| Benefit | Category 2 (cities and major regional centres) | Category 3 (regional centres and other regional areas) |
|---|---|---|
| Examples | Perth, Adelaide, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Canberra, Newcastle/Lake Macquarie, Wollongong/Illawarra, Geelong, Hobart | All other non-metro areas, including all of the Northern Territory (e.g. Darwin) |
| Extra 485 time (second visa) | Up to 1 additional year | Up to 2 additional years |
| Points for regional study | 5 points (if criteria met) | 5 points (if criteria met) |
| Student visa funds to show | Same as everywhere: AUD 29,710 a year living costs minimum | Same as everywhere |
What counts as “regional”? The three categories
“Regional” in Australian migration law is not about how a place looks. It is a list of postcodes. The Home Affairs regional migration page splits Australia into three categories:
- Category 1 – Major Cities: Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Home Affairs says these “do not receive any regional incentives”.
- Category 2 – Cities and Major Regional Centres: Perth, Adelaide, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, Canberra, Newcastle/Lake Macquarie, Wollongong/Illawarra, Geelong and Hobart.
- Category 3 – Regional Centres and Other Regional Areas: everything else that is designated regional.
The legal postcode list sits in the Migration (Designated regional areas for certain skilled and temporary graduate visas) Instrument (LIN 22/022) 2022. It specifies postcodes in each state and the ACT as a “designated city or major regional centre” (Category 2), and the remaining designated postcodes, plus all postcodes in the Northern Territory, as a “regional centre or other regional area” (Category 3). It is the instrument used for second 485 applications and regional skilled visas.
What matters is the postcode of the campus where you study, not the university’s head office. Many universities have a city campus and a regional campus. Check the exact campus on your CoE against the official postcode list before you accept.
Benefit 1: extra post-study work time on a second 485
After a degree, most graduates apply for the Temporary Graduate visa in the Post-Higher Education Work stream. Study Australia says this usually gives between 2 and 3 years, depending on your qualification, and you must be 35 or under when you apply (exceptions apply).
Regional study opens a second visa, the Second Post-Higher Education Work stream. According to Study Australia’s 485 page, it is for holders of a first post-study visa who hold a degree from an Australian institution located in a regional area, and it gives between 1 and 2 years, depending on where you studied and where you live on your first 485. Home Affairs puts it this way:
- Graduates who studied and lived in Category 2 may be eligible for an additional year.
- Graduates who studied and lived in Category 3 may be eligible for an additional 2 years.
So a bachelor’s graduate from a Category 3 campus who keeps living regionally could have a first 485 plus up to two more years. That is real time to gain Australian work experience, which feeds into points and employer-sponsored options.
The cost side. The first 485 now costs AUD 5,750 for the main applicant (from 1 July 2026, about Rs 6.09 lakh), so plan for it. See our 485 visa fee and age limit guide. The second-stream charge is separate; check it with the Home Affairs pricing estimator when you apply, as we could not confirm the post-July 2026 figure.
Benefit 2: 5 points for study in regional Australia
The Migration Regulations’ general points test (Schedule 6D) has a Part 6D.10, “Study in designated regional area qualification”. Home Affairs’ points-test procedural instruction (SM-5006, released under freedom of information) says you get 5 points if, at the time of invitation, all four of these are true:
- You meet the Australian study requirement (regulation 1.15F), which on its own is also worth 5 points.
- The campus where you did that study was in a designated regional area.
- You lived in a designated regional area while studying the course, for the whole course.
- None of that study was by distance education.
The same instruction says short trips away (a brief holiday, an overnight trip) are fine, but moving your residence to a city like Sydney is not. Officers can ask for evidence of residence such as rental agreements and utility or phone bills, plus your transcript or completion letter. Keep these from day one.
Unlike the 485 extension, these 5 points are the same for Category 2 and Category 3. The instruction we could access is the 2019 version, so treat it as a guide and confirm the current points table on Home Affairs before relying on it. For how regional study fits the rest of your plan, see study in Australia from Nepal.
Costs: what the official sources do and don’t say
You will see many claims that regional study is “much cheaper”. The official position is more careful:
- Visa money does not change. The Student visa living-cost requirement is at least AUD 29,710 (about Rs 31.48 lakh) wherever you study. A regional offer does not lower the amount you must show.
- Living costs may be lower. Study Australia says that compared to major cities, the cost of living in smaller cities “can be more manageable”, depending on the city. It does not give a percentage, and neither do we.
- Scholarships exist. Study Australia points to university scholarships in smaller cities and lists programs such as the Northern Territory scholarship, a regional bursary for TAFE international students, WA Government incentives, and scholarships in Adelaide, Canberra and Tasmania. Check eligibility and amounts on each official page.
- Tuition is set by the provider, not by location. Compare fees on your actual offer letters.
For Nepali students: making a regional choice that holds up
- Your Genuine Student answers must make sense. “Regional for PR” is not a study reason. Explain the course, the provider and why that place suits your goals. Our GS answers guide helps.
- Moving to Sydney halfway through can cost you the benefit. Both the 485 extension and the 5 points depend on studying and living regionally. It may also run into the 12-month provider transfer restriction now in force; see changing course or provider.
- Jobs differ by city. Part-time work rules are the same (48 hours per fortnight in session), but local job markets are smaller in some regional towns. Plan your budget without counting on high earnings.
- Rules change. Regional settings have been reviewed several times. Treat any benefit as something you may get later, not a promise, and keep checking Home Affairs.
Common mistakes
- Choosing a university for its “regional” name while the course is taught at a city campus.
- Studying online or by distance from a regional provider and expecting the points.
- Living in a major city while commuting or studying in a regional area.
- Not keeping lease and bill evidence for every address.
- Assuming the second 485 is automatic. You must apply and meet all criteria, including where you live on your first 485.
What to do next
- Write down the exact campus address and postcode from your offer letter.
- Check it against the LIN 22/022 postcode lists and note whether it is Category 2 or 3.
- Compare total costs across your offers, using the tuition on each offer letter.
- When ready, follow our step-by-step Student visa guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Adelaide regional for international students?
Yes. Adelaide is in Category 2 (“Cities and Major Regional Centres”). Graduates who studied and lived in Category 2 may be eligible for an additional year on a second Temporary Graduate visa.
How many extra years of post-study work do you get for studying in regional Australia?
Up to 1 extra year for Category 2 areas and up to 2 extra years for Category 3, through the Second Post-Higher Education Work stream of the 485 visa.
How many points do you get for regional study in Australia?
5 points, if you met the Australian study requirement at a campus in a designated regional area, lived in a designated regional area during the course, and did none of it by distance education.
Is Perth regional for the 485 visa?
Perth is in Category 2, so it can count for the additional year on a second 485 if you meet the other criteria.
Do I need less money for an Australian student visa if I study regionally?
No. The living-cost requirement is at least AUD 29,710 a year wherever you study.
Related guides
- Australia Visa Health Examination in Nepal: HAP ID and Clinics
- Australian Student Visa From Nepal: How to Apply (Subclass 500)
- Changing Course or Provider on an Australian Student Visa
- What Is a CoE for Australia? Confirmation of Enrolment Explained
- OSHC for Australia: Cost and Rules for Nepali Students
Sources
- Regional migration: categories 1, 2 and 3 – Department of Home Affairs
- Migration (Designated regional areas for certain skilled and temporary graduate visas) Instrument (LIN 22/022) 2022 – Federal Register of Legislation
- Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) – Study Australia
- Student and Temporary Graduate visa charge increase, 1 July 2026 – Study Australia
- Schedule 6D general points test procedural instruction (FOI release) – Department of Home Affairs (PDF)
- Benefits of studying in smaller cities – Study Australia
- How to apply for your visa (financial capacity) – Study Australia
Last checked: 19 October 2026. This is general information, not legal or migration advice.
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