Brisbane is a vibrant, subtropical city and a welcoming destination for international students. This page provides practical information to help you settle in and make the most of your time here.
Brisbane has a humid subtropical climate with year-round periods of warm to hot temperatures. Brisbane generally experiences 3 months of mild cool winter from June to August. Brisbane experiences an annual mean minimum of 16.6 °C (62 °F) and mean maximum of 26.6 °C (80 °F), making it Australia’s second-hottest capital city after Darwin. Seasonality is not pronounced, and average maximum temperatures of above 26 °C (79 °F) persist from October through to April.
Before arriving, you should have a clear picture of the costs involved in living and studying in Australia.
The Department of Home Affairs requires international students to show access to minimum annual living cost amounts ($29,710 AUD for students as of 2026).
These figures are indicative only and may vary based on your location, lifestyle, and individual circumstances. Students must ensure that the funds declared are genuinely available for their use during their stay in Australia.
For the latest and most accurate information, please refer to the Department of Home Affairs website.
Costs of travelling and living in Australia are not included in your course fees and you will need to arrange and pay for your travel to Australia.
You should ideally work out a budget that covers costs including clothing, food, accommodation, transport and entertainment, travel costs and childcare, if applicable.
For more information, please visit Student life and money and to estimate your personal living costs, use the Study Australia Cost of Living Calculator.
For general budgeting guidance, visit Moneysmart.
If you have questions about financial planning, our team is here to help. Contact us at enquiries@metavision.edu.au.
There are many accommodation options to choose from as international students including student accommodation, private residence, boarding or homestay, share houses.
Useful resources include:
For information about your rights as a tenant in Queensland, visit the Residential Tenancies Authority at rta.qld.gov.au or Tenants Queensland at tenantsqld.org.au. Getting Around Brisbane
Brisbane has a well-connected public transport network including trains, buses, and ferries. The Airtrain connects Brisbane Airport to the CBD in approximately 20 minutes. A Translink go card is the most convenient way to pay for public transport across the network.
For timetables, journey planning, and go card information, visit Translink at translink.com.au.
For taxis, 13cabs (13 22 27) and Black and White Cabs (133 222) operate across Brisbane. Rideshare services are also available.
Australia has a special system of health cover for international students called Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). You will need to buy OSHC before you come to Australia to cover you from when you arrive. The Department of Home Affairs requires you to maintain OSHC for the duration of your time on a student visa in Australia.
You can choose to take out OSHC with a provider recommended by us, or with the Australian OSHC provider of your choice. There are five providers of OSHC in Australia. Visit these websites to find detailed information on what they cover and to decide which provider is right for you.
Your OSHC will help you pay for any medical or hospital care you may need while you’re studying in Australia, and it will contribute towards the cost of most prescription medicines, and an ambulance in an emergency.
For more information on what your OSHC insurance covers, as well as what to do if you need treatment, refer to the Department of Health and Ageing’s (DHA) Frequently Asked Questions.
OSHC does not cover dental, optical or physiotherapy. If you want to be covered for these treatments you will need to buy additional private health insurance, such as:
You can find a list of these providers and search for the one that suits you best at PrivateHealth.gov.au
International students holding a subclass 500 visa are allowed to work under certain conditions.
You are responsible for ensuring you do not exceed these work limits. Breaching visa conditions may result in the cancellation of your visa.
You can check your visa conditions using the Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) system: Check visa details and conditions.
Before you undertake any paid work you need to make sure your visa allows you to work. Find out more at the Explore visa options for studying in Australia
For information on workplace rights including minimum wage, superannuation, and workplace safety, visit the Fair Work Ombudsman at fairwork.gov.au.
To apply for a Tax File Number, visit the Australian Taxation Office at ato.gov.au.
Read this article for an insight into living in Australia: Your First Few Weeks in Australia
For guides relevant to living in Brisbane have a look at these free resources: International Student Guides – Insider Guides
Must have apps for Brisbane Useful Apps to download before you arrive in Australia: Puravida Study Brisbane’s Climate
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Metavision Institute is deeply grateful to the traditional custodians for their continuous custodianship and care of this unceded land and, specifically, Turrbal Country on which we live and work.
Read more about our Reconciliation Action Plan
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Our higher education courses are not offered to international students studying in Australia on a student visa.
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