Australia · Western Australia

Perth city

The capital of Western Australia, on the Swan River and close to the Indian Ocean beaches.

2 universitiesin the QS 2027 world top 200

4,212Nepal-born people in Greater Perth (2021 Census)

Freecity Free Transit Zone and free Sunday travel

Feb and Julmain university intakes

In short

Studying in Perth: the short answer

Perth is the capital of Western Australia, on the Swan River near the Indian Ocean. It has two universities in the QS 2027 world top 200 (UWA and Curtin) and is known for engineering, mining and resources. Its Nepali community is smaller than in the eastern cities, with 4,212 Nepal-born people at the 2021 Census. Students can work up to 48 hours a fortnight during study, and you need to show at least AUD 29,710 a year for living costs for your visa. The main intakes are February and July.

Universities

Universities in Perth

Ranks are from the QS World University Rankings 2027.

University	QS 2027	Main Perth campus
The University of Western Australia (UWA)	#77	Crawley (near the city)
Curtin University	#189	Bentley (south-east)
Murdoch University	#422	Murdoch (south)
Edith Cowan University (ECU)	#545	Joondalup (north) and Mount Lawley

Source: QS World University Rankings 2027. Checked 14 November 2026.

Living in Perth

Costs, transport and work

Money to show

AUD 29,710

a year for living costs, the student visa minimum. Sharing a house or flat is the usual way to keep rent down.

Transport

SmartRider

Buses and trains in the city Free Transit Zone are free, and Transperth travel is free on Sundays. See Transperth.

Work while you study

48 hours

a fortnight during study periods, and full-time during scheduled breaks.

Where to live

Live near your campus

Perth is spread out along the river and coast, so living near your campus or a train line saves travel time.

Bentley and Victoria Park

Around Curtin University, with good bus links to the city.

Crawley, Nedlands and Subiaco

Leafy suburbs near UWA and Kings Park.

Murdoch and Bull Creek

Southern suburbs around Murdoch University, on the train line.

Joondalup and Mount Lawley

Joondalup in the north for ECU’s main campus; Mount Lawley closer to the city.

Landmarks

Perth in pictures

Places you will get to know in your first few weeks.

Kings Park, Perth — **Kings Park**A huge park above the city, with views over the Swan River.

DNA Tower, Perth — **DNA Tower**A spiral lookout tower in Kings Park.

Elizabeth Quay, Perth — **Elizabeth Quay**The city’s waterfront, lit up at night.

Cottesloe Beach, Perth — **Cottesloe Beach**Perth’s best-known beach, on the Indian Ocean.

Rottnest Island, Perth — **Rottnest Island**Clear water, bike paths and quokkas, a ferry ride from Perth.

Fremantle, Perth — **Fremantle**A historic port town with markets, cafés and old buildings.

Perth city, Perth — **Perth city**The skyline from across the Swan River.

Curtin University, Bentley, Perth — **Curtin University, Bentley**Gardens on one of Perth’s biggest campuses.

Photo credits

Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Kings Park, DNA Tower, Elizabeth Quay and Perth city by Dietmar Rabich (CC BY-SA 4.0); Cottesloe Beach by Calistemon (CC BY-SA 4.0); Rottnest Island by Dr-ziego (CC0); Fremantle by Rob (CC BY 2.0); Curtin by Orderinchaos (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Student life

Things students love about Perth

🚌

Free Transit Zone

Buses and trains are free inside the city zone, and all Transperth travel is free on Sundays.

🏖

Indian Ocean beaches

Cottesloe and Scarborough are a bus or train ride away, with sunsets over the ocean.

🐿

Rottnest Island

Take a ferry for a day of cycling, swimming and meeting the famous quokkas.

🌳

Kings Park

Free walks, lookouts and picnic spots right above the city.

☕

Fremantle

Markets, cafés and the historic port, at the end of the train line.

⛏

Engineering and resources

Western Australia’s mining and resources industry makes Perth a natural choice for engineering students.

What’s on

Festivals, sport and concerts through the year

Perth has plenty on through the year. These are the big ones.

January to February

Fringe World

Comedy, music and street shows across the city.

February to March

Perth Festival

Music, theatre and art in summer.

March

Sculpture by the Sea

Large outdoor sculptures along Cottesloe Beach.

March to September

AFL season

West Coast Eagles and Fremantle Dockers games at Optus Stadium.

September

Kings Park Festival

Wildflower displays and events in Kings Park.

Throughout the year

Concerts

Big tours play RAC Arena and Optus Stadium.

Community

Nepali festivals

Nepali community groups celebrate Dashain, Tihar and Holi together each year.

Weekends

Fremantle Markets

Food, crafts and buskers in the historic market hall.

Months are usual timings; check each event’s website for exact dates.

Questions

Questions about studying in Perth

Is Perth good for Nepali students?

Yes, for many, especially for engineering, mining and resources. Perth has two universities in the QS 2027 world top 200 and a growing Nepali community (4,212 Nepal-born people at the 2021 Census), smaller than in Sydney or Melbourne.

Which universities are in Perth?

The University of Western Australia (#77), Curtin University (#189), Murdoch University (#422) and Edith Cowan University (#545) in the QS World University Rankings 2027.

How much money do I need to live in Perth?

For a student visa you must show at least AUD 29,710 a year for living costs. Rent is usually the biggest cost, and sharing a house or flat is the cheapest option. See the full money-to-show guide.

Is public transport free in Perth?

Buses and trains are free inside the city Free Transit Zone, and Transperth travel is free on Sundays. Other trips use a SmartRider card. Check Transperth.

Can I work while studying in Perth?

Yes. International students can work up to 48 hours per fortnight during study periods and full-time during scheduled breaks.

Perth or the east coast?

Perth is quieter and more spread out, with strong engineering and resources links. Sydney and Melbourne have bigger Nepali communities. See our Sydney and Melbourne guides, or talk to a counsellor.

Next step

Planning to study in Perth in 2027?

Get a free plan from an NEC counsellor: the right course and university, the money to show and a timeline for February or July 2027.

Get my free 2027 plan Back to Study in Australia

More cities

Other cities in Australia

Not sure Perth is right for you? Compare the other main student cities.

Victoria

Melbourne

Ranked #3 for liveability in the world (EIU 2026)

Melbourne city guide →

New South Wales

Sydney

Australia’s largest Nepali community

Sydney city guide →

Queensland

Brisbane

50-cent fares on all public transport

Brisbane city guide →

South Australia

Adelaide

Free city trams and buses

Adelaide city guide →

Compare all five cities side by side → · Study in Australia guide →

Last updated: 14 November 2026, by the NEC counselling team in Kathmandu. Sources: QS World University Rankings 2027; Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2021 Census; Department of Home Affairs, Student visa (subclass 500) for the AUD 29,710 living-cost figure. City photos: Sydney by Benh LIEU SONG and Adelaide by Yu Chu Chin, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0). Fees, rules and event dates change, so check official sites before you apply.

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