Perth is the capital city of Western Australia and has a population of about 1.9 million. It is a vibrant, cosmopolitan city, enhanced by the unspoiled Indian Ocean beaches, the hillside hideaways, romantic Fremantle, cosmopolitan Subiaco and the select, comfortable suburbs which fringe the Swan River.

Services and facilities in Perth are world class and its peoples, industries and institutions are dynamic and global in outlook. Of a recent survey of 130 cities, Perth was ranked by the London-based Economist Intelligence Unit in the top 4 cities in the world in which to live, looking at factors such as crime rates, health, climate, availability of housing, education and recreational and cultural activities. Perth was also named one of the Friendliest Cities in the world by American Travel and Leisure magazine.

As Australia's unique western gateway to the world, Perth is linked to every corner of the globe via extensive international air links and sophisticated telecommunications.

Perth and the surrounding region boasts a strong economy with low levels of unemployment, excellent standard of living and low crime rates compared to other cities in Australia.

Perth is well-known as friendly, safe and relaxed, yet offers all the cosmopolitan attractions of a large international city.
The city boasts an abundance of restaurants and cafes, cinemas, nightclubs, music and sporting venues as well as great shopping!

Perth's warm sunny climate is perfect for sporting and leisure activities - everything from cricket and tennis to golf (there are 270 golf courses in the Perth metropolitan area) through to whale watching and sailing.

Every year more than 20,000 new and returning international students choose Western Australia as their prefered study destination for diploma and degree courses in Australia. These students enjoy high quality education combined with an excellent lifestyle, in a safe, clean and healthy environment.

Cost of Living

Perth has one of the lowest costs of living in Australia. The main reason is due to the low rents on offer for good quality rental accommodation within easy access of Perth city and other facilities. This makes it an ideal study destination for international students wishing to study their Diploma course or English course in Perth. There are a number of student accommodation options available for both local and international students and further information can be found under the Accommodation section of our website.

Your particular lifestyle will determine your budget and the type of accommodation you will be happy with, but the following estimates don’t allow for luxuries such as flights to other parts of Australia for a holiday, flights home or buying and running a car.


We recommend that you arrange to arrive in Australia with at least $1,000 and you should also have access to a further $2,000 for your first week in Australia to cover costs relating to obtaining permanent accommodation, such as bond, rent in advance, utility connection and furnishings, etc.

Costs would normally include: 

                                                        · Accommodation
                                                        · Clothing
                                                        · Transport
                                                        · Food
                                                        · Entertainment

You will need approximately AU$16,000-20,000 per year ($315-400 per week) to cover your expenses (click here for currency conversion rates), in addition to your tuition fees. The cost of textbooks, obtaining a driver’s license and some of the "one off" type expenses when you first arrive need to be accounted for (e.g. bond for accommodation, household items, utility/telephone connection fees.) Use this as a guide only. Textbooks and stationery should be budgeted at approximately A$200 - $400 per semester and some money may be saved by purchasing second-hand books (advertisements are usually placed on the notice-boards around campus).

Full-time students are entitled to cheaper fares on public transport. Bus and train fares vary but are about $2 per one way trip. Special SmartRider cards with student concession can be purchased which allow trips at discounted prices. SmartRider cards will be further explained at Orientation. Students are not able to apply for a SmartRider card until they have attended Orientation.

NOTE: Students are often entitled to discounts on a variety of entertainment and other purchases upon proof of their Student ID card.

Climate

The climate in Perth offers Mediterranean-type weather with warm, dry summers (December to February) and mild, but rainy winters (June to August). Perth lays claim to being the sunniest major city in Australia with an average of 8 hours of sunshine a day. 

There are an abundance of both indoor and outdoor recreational activities available throughout the year to suit Perth's weather conditions. Further information about the student activities available at PIBT is located on our website.

Spring (September to November) and Autumn (March to May) offer the most comfortable weather and are ideal times to visit.




More information about Perth's climate:
http://www.westernaustralia.com/au/Pages/Welcome_to_Western_Australia.aspx
http://www.bom.gov.au/weather/wa/