Top 10 reasons to study in Darwin Australia

By Kevin G. Trainer at Ausinet – 28 April 2022 – Australian Institute of Electrotechnology

Now that the borders have reopened, Australia has reclaimed its place in the list of the top destinations for international students. Large cities are usually the first that come to mind when you are trying to decide where to go but you should definitely take a closer look at Darwin as it is one of the best locations to study!

1. You can make friends easily

Big cities can be overwhelming, and it might be hard to meet people as everyone already have their own friendship groups. A lot of people come to Darwin from interstate or overseas for their studies or job opportunities so they are open to meeting new people. There are many community groups you can join and most people are friendly! You can also connect with other international students as almost 50% of all students in the NT are from foreign countries! Many events are organised specifically for students to encourage newcomers and people already living in Darwin to network and get to know each other.

2. High-quality education

Because there are fewer students compared to big cities, training providers can run smaller classes and really focus on the needs and questions of each separate student. You will get more time with your teachers, and you will have the opportunity to ask questions about the course and focus on subjects you might need to spend more time on.

There are also great incentives if you decide to move to Darwin – for example, Study NT offers scholarships in partnerships with education providers so you can get up to $7500 off your tuition fees. Study NT is also offering great programs like the Study NT student ambassadors program to promote the NT’s education to international and local audiences. If you become a student ambassador you will get many opportunities to attend events and conferences and also work up to 30 hours a week!

3. Tropical Weather

If you like warm weather, Darwin is the perfect place for you! There is a dry season (May to October) and a wet season (November to April). The temperature is around 30 degrees Celsius all year round. While most of Australia would be enduring cold winter months, you could be enjoying the sun and warmth of the dry season in Darwin from your pool! You can find a lot of fresh produce especially fruits and vegetables that grow locally all year round.

4. Awesome sightseeing

There are so many things to do in Darwin it is hard to know where to start! You can go to local markets (Rapid Creek, Parap, Malak, Mindil) they are usually on every week.

You can see wildlife and amazing landscapes at NT’s best national parks like Litchfield or Kakadu and enjoy amazing waterfalls. Visit Berry Springs for a refreshing time at the waterholes or Fogg Dam reserve to observe the wetlands and the amazing wildlife and birds.

The botanic gardens in Darwin are worth a visit for a nice stroll, you can also swim at Lake Alexander and walk along the coast at East Point Reserve.

If you are into street art, download the Darwin Street art festival app and follow the map to discover all the paintings created by artists over the years around Darwin.

5. Plenty of activities

There are several parks (Crocosaurus cove, Crocodylus Park, Territory Wildlife Park) you can visit to observe the local fauna and flora.

For a nice relaxing evening, you can go to the Deckchair outdoor cinema and grab food at some of the amazing restaurants around the city.

You can also visit local museums like the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory or the Darwin Military Museum, Darwin Aviation Museum and Royal Flying Doctor Museum

For more exclusive experiences, book a sunset cruise, a jet ski tour, a scenic flight or hire quad bikes for a day!

If you are a nature lover, go camping, fishing, or join a jumping crocodile tour!

6. Job opportunities

There are a lot of job opportunities in Darwin for International students and the wages are usually higher than in other states because workers are always in demand. It is one of the best cities in Australia to find employment. There are a lot of hospitality and construction jobs and fruit picking jobs for mango farms for example.

Because Darwin is a small city compared to Sydney or Melbourne, you can easily meet people and find job opportunities through connections you have made and word-of-mouth.

While you study you will also have the opportunity to meet people who might have already worked in a related field and get into the industry more easily.

The government also has a special job board website where they compile job opportunities from around the territory.

7. Amazing events

Darwin has great events that are organised all year round. Music festivals, concerts, beach parties, the Darwin Festival, comedy shows, trivia nights, networking events, cultural festivals and events, the Fringe Festival, International film festivals, a cocktail festival, boat parties and much more! There are also sporting events like the V8 supercars race, City2surf festival and the Tiwi islands Footy Grand Final.

8. Accessibility

It is very easy to move around in Darwin there are plenty of buses and taxis to take you where you need to go! Bus tickets are quite cheap – $3 for 3 hours of unlimited travel and with your International student card, it will only cost you $1! You can also get a weekly unlimited pass for $7 instead of $20.

If you have a car Darwin is the absolute best place to be, nothing is further than 15 minutes drive and the roads are usually not busy at all which makes driving in Darwin a breeze. Because you’ll drive less distance to go to places you will also save money on fuel compared to bigger cities.

Darwin also has an international airport with incredibly cheap flights to Southeast Asia giving you amazing and affordable options for your holidays! You can easily come to Darwin from anywhere in the world so your family and friends can come and visit you while you live here!

9. Multicultural city

The population in Darwin is very multicultural, more than 30% of the residents are born overseas. The population is also quite young as the average age is 32 years old. There are many festivals celebrating diverse communities of Darwin like the Greek Festival, the Nepali festival, the Thai festival, the Chinese Festival and more!

Darwin also has the largest indigenous population of all states (30%) and Aboriginal culture is very significant and better represented than in other states. You will have the opportunity to participate in experiences and tours and learn more about this amazing culture.

10. Student Associations

The Northern Territory and especially Darwin has a large community of international students and associations that support them. Study NT is very active in helping International Students and organising events, providing advice and support throughout studies. They organise the Study NT ambassador program, Study NT Welcome Reception, Student of the year awards and many other events throughout the year. They can point you in the right direction to help you connect with employers to find a work placement and provide advice on accommodation options.

Kindness shake is a very active student association that organises many events like the Kindness Festival, Language evenings, Meetings with recruiters and members of the local community, and more!

Darwin Together also organises events like yoga classes, dance classes, and other large multicultural events.

Cost of living in Darwin

If you are new to Australia managing finances is a crucial part of planning for college life. The cost of living comes only second to affordable college fees. Darwin is a great destination for students because the cost of living is quite low in comparison to other Australian cities. Darwin’s cost of living is lower than the national average.
The Consumer Price Index is less than the national average of 1.9%. There are a lot of affordable options in Darwin for accommodation, food, transportation, social services and entertainment. Don’t take our word for it. Know how to find out for yourselves, watch this video and try out this ‘Cost of Living Calculator‘ by Study Australia. Let us know in the comments if you are already aware of the affordable options in Darwin or if you have any questions we will try to answer them as often as we can.

Darwin is a great choice if you want to come and study in Australia but still want a laid back lifestyle. You’ll be able to enjoy a great study-life balance and meet many like-minded people. If you are interested in studying a trade course with us we offer Certificate III in Instrumentation and Control at our Darwin Campus with intakes every 3 months.