5 Reasons Why You Should Move States to Study at Uni

Wondering whether you should move interstate for uni? Read on to discover the many benefits of leaving your hometown behind!

Australians are more and more looking towards their American counterparts for inspiration when it comes to the college experience. One of these grand experiences is moving out of home for the first time. Americans have long been traversing the country to get away from their parents and find their own way in a new corner of the country.

Now, Australian students are looking to do the same. Whether you’re moving from Sydney to Perth, or from rural Australia to the big smoke, moving interstate for uni is one of the most rewarding and challenging decisions you can make. Keep reading to find out why moving interstate for uni could be right for you.

The biggest reason for moving interstate for uni is often the easiest to explain – you just want to getaway! A new state, a new city offers you the chance to reinvent yourself. As you move on from your high-school bubble and have decided what qualification you should take you can shed any baggage or reputation you had.

This is your chance to decide who you want to be as an adult.  Ever wanted to try a new sport but were too scared of what people might think? Well, now is your chance to shine. The great thing about being in a new place is being surrounded by new people. Moving into campus accommodation can be a great chance to find people who share similar interests to you, and can help you discover your own experience of university life that is unique to you.

Maybe your desire to become the world’s first coffee bean artist isn’t well catered for if you live in rural Queensland. However, Melbourne could be the place for you! Looking for the right course for you could mean looking throughout Australia’s many states and territories. In addition, many universities with more specialised courses offer students a relocation scholarship if they have shown they are committed and desirable.

Even if you think you may not meet the requirements, you should still consider applying as universities often look for reasons to spend the money allocated as opposed to letting it go unused. For example, the ANU in Canberra offers up to $5,000 “to assist students in financial need from outside of the Canberra region who are commencing a degree program at the Australian National University.” This is perfect if you are looking to become the next Prime Minister!

If you didn’t take a gap year, moving interstate for uni allows you to step outside of your comfort zone and really learn about yourself as a person. Moving away from your friends and family members can be difficult, but whether you spend your first year scrambling to find the right second-hand textbooks, or end up in full time work whilst studying, the life skills and inner strength you will gain from this will be invaluable. Don’t be afraid, there are plenty of support services available to students who have moved interstate, and financial support such as scholarships, youth allowance, and Centrelink are there to make sure you are headed in the right direction.

One of the big changes of moving interstate is the new location. Whether it’s weather, culture, people, or even food, choosing to move interstate for your tertiary education opens you up to a whole new place. For example, moving from Brisbane to Melbourne opens you up to the whole of Victoria, and gives you the chance to take weekend trips to sites such as The Great Ocean Road, Phillip Island, or The Grampians National Park. Australia is such a broad and diverse place and moving interstate for uni allows you to experience even more of it first hand. Finding part-time work will also assist you in truly getting to know a place, as spending a large amount of time in one suburb or area will truly let you get to know it like the locals.

If you are moving interstate for uni, one of the advantages is that you’ll most likely be living in residential colleges, share houses, student residences, or other university accommodation situations whether they be on or off-campus. This means you’ll be surrounded by a whole lot of other uni students who have left their friends and family members in their hometowns. A sharehouse is a great way to save if you don’t have enough money to live in any of the residential colleges, and also often allows for more freedom and independence in your first year. This can be a great boost to your social life and save you from spending your uni days sitting on your couch at your parent’s house watching Netflix.

Moving interstate for uni can be extremely daunting, even with all the great reasons outlined above! Just remember that everyone’s experience is unique to them, and taking the first step is often the hardest part. However, with plenty of research, planning and just a little bit of courage, you’ll soon be on your way to one of the most rewarding experiences of your life. Good luck!