If you’re still deciding which Australian capital to study in and why - let this be the sign you’ve been looking for to choose Perth. There are so many wonderful reasons why The University of Western Australia and Perth are great places for international students to study. But did you know they can also be the ideal place to launch your career after you graduate too?
From the booming economy and longer post-study work visas to the extra support to chase your career goals, here are five reasons why you should choose Perth to launch your career as an international student:
Perth economy
Perth is Australia’s 4th largest city and is consistently one of Australia’s fastest-growing cities. Our economy sees consistent strong economic growth above the Australian average, opening up career opportunities for all UWA graduates (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2021).
Plus, Perth is also:
- Home to the corporate headquarters of more than 35% of ASX-listed companies and six of the world’s top 10 energy companies (ThinkPerth 2019)
- Located in WA, the export powerhouse of the Australian economy, producing 48% of Australia’s merchandise exports in 2019-20 (Western Australian Treasury Corporation, 2020)
- Earning the second highest weekly income in Australia (Comparative analysis of cost of living, Deloitte Access Economics, July 2022)
Find out more about our campus and location.
Post-study work visas
When you graduate from university, you will need to obtain a post-study work visa to stay in Australia. If you study and launch your career here in Perth, due to our regional major city status, you may be eligible to stay up to 6 years* on a post-study work visa, which is one year longer than Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
This means you can stay in Australia longer and access a wider range of jobs to kick-start your career in a thriving city of opportunities. You can find out more about post-study work visas here or on the Department of Home Affairs website.
Working while you study
If you choose to study at UWA, you can benefit from UWA’s Work Integrated Learning (WIL) placement program. This academic internship program allows you to take what you learn in the classroom and build on it in a work setting, all while gaining credit towards your degree. By taking up this opportunity, you will stand out to future employers with real-world experience.
In addition to your studies, you will also be able to work 48 hours per fortnight on your student visa in Perth. This will help you to make some extra cash and boost your employability skills for when you graduate too!
Building connections with career mentoring
Our Career Mentor Link is another program that can help you land your dream job in Perth. This one-on-one mentoring matches you with an industry professional, to help you gain extra industry knowledge and experience, grow your network and take ownership of your future career.
Your mentor will take an active interest in helping you grow and help set you up for future success. Contact the Careers and Employability Centre to find out more.
UWA careers support
The support for enhancing your employability at UWA is limitless. No matter what stage of your studies you’re in, we’re here to guide you and help you grow. Some of the extra career support services available are:
- Help prepare applications, resumes and you for interviews
- Mentoring to help make a great first impression
- Invitations to development workshops and seminars
- Volunteering, internship and job opportunities
Drop-in sessions for our careers support team are available on campus and via Zoom. Find out more here.
Want to know more about what life in Perth is like? Visit the international students page on our website, contact our Future Students Centre by submitting an online enquiry through askUWA or chat to a current international student.
