Moving to a new place to study will mean you need to get on top of the local knowledge. Knowing the best spots to study, live, work and play will help you make the right decisions.
The quality of education is world class
There are two high ranking Universities, TAFE Queensland with three campuses, English schools and International College and many other education providers. Find out detailed information about the education and training providers and study options on the Study Sunshine Coast website The University of Sunshine Coast (USC) and CQUniversity provide undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications and are highly regarded for producing employable graduates. If you are looking to obtain a Diploma, Certificate or short course TAFE Queensland provides training in areas as building and construction, childcare, creative industries, electrotechnology and much more. English language qualifications can be obtained through the Lexis English school which offers courses catering for beginners and advanced students. And, for internationally accredited Diplomas there is the International College of Queensland. Qualifications are available in Beauty Therapy, Screen and Media, Remedial Massage and Salon Management
The weather is amazing!
Did you know that on average there are 300 days of sunshine each year? We are not called the Sunshine Coast for no reason! It’s sub-tropical location, just an hour north from Brisbane provides the ideal climate. Summer temperatures average at 28 degrees (82F) and winters are mild with an average daily temperature of 20 degrees (68F). This means you can swim all year round.
It is an outdoor lifestyle
There are pristine white beaches -over 35 in fact which sit alongside tropical rainforest, National Parks and majestic mountains. You can choose from just about any water sport imaginable, from surfing to sailing, jet skiing, kayaking or stand-up paddle boarding. The picturesque coastal and hinterland trails are popular for hiking. Or grab a four-wheel drive and go camping on the Noosa North Shore or World Heritage listed Fraser Island.
It is a foodie’s paradise
A natural food bowl, the region is one of Australia’s favourite taste destinations with many cafes and restaurants boasting delicious local menus. Farmers markets abound providing a great day out and chance to meet the producers behind the farm fresh produce. Feast on avocados, ginger, pineapples, strawberries, feijoas, macadamia nuts, tomatoes, passionfruit, lychees, seafood, lemon myrtle, beef, dairy products and even snails.
Paddock to plate experiences are plentiful with farm gates, food, wine, brewery and factory tours providing a great opportunity to see what goes on behind the scenes. To find out more check out this Food Trail mapping tool.
There are events and things to do year-round
The Sunshine Coast is a cultural hub with a calendar of events year-round including the signature The Curated Plate, Noosa Food and Wine Festival and the Horizon Festival of Arts. There are also major sporting events including the 7 Sunshine Coast Marathon at Mooloolaba and the Noosa Triathlon.
Key attractions include Australia Zoo, the Big Kart Race Track, SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast, Aussie World and the Ginger Factory.
Public transport is available
Public transport on the Sunshine Coast is an affordable and sustainable way to travel. All scheduled bus services are operated by either Sunbus or Glasshouse Country Coaches. For those wishing to get to the Sunshine Coast Airport there is a Translink bus route 622.
There are also shuttle services, car rentals, taxis and rideshare services available to and from the airport.
Trains run daily between Brisbane City and the Sunshine Coast. Most Sunshine Coast line trains terminate and commence at Nambour station, with limited services travelling to and from Gympie North daily. The route 649 Railbus also runs between Caboolture and Nambour, servicing train stations between these two locations.