Western Australia has firmly established itself as a provider of world class education and research. The State’s five universities are experts in oil and gas engineering, renewable energy, sustainable development, biotechnology, sports science, and veterinary science—just to name a few.
Every university offers a dynamic, stimulating learning environment with state-of-the-art research facilities and access to unrivalled academic resources to enable students to excel professionally and personally.
Students not only learn theory, but are given challenging, interactive assignments that encourage them to ‘think outside the square’. The internationally recognised qualifications gained at a WA university are highly regarded in academic circles as well as the corporate community.
A city of just 1.6 million people, Perth has a tradition of ‘punching above its weight’. It is a focal point for innovation, scientific breakthroughs and is at the forefront of cutting edge technology.
The numerous scientific and technological advancements developed by individuals and organisations in WA have achieved global recognition and had a positive impact on many lives. For example:
- The Lions Eye Institute is the largest eye research institute in the southern hemisphere. Its research teams lead the world in investigating cataract, diabetes, glaucoma, retinal degenerations, artificial cornea & laser and gene therapies.
- Dr Fiona Woods is the Director and Co-founder of Clinical Cell Culture (C3) in WA and is internationally recognised for her pioneering work and innovative use of tissue engineering technology (known as “spray-on-skin”) in clinical burn practice and scar reconstruction.
- Developed by Carnegie Wave Energy, CETO is Australia's first commercial-scale wave-power project which has commenced construction just south of Perth. It has been called the holy grail of renewable energy, with the potential to supply zero-emission baseload power. The AU$50 million project will produce about 5mW of electricity (enough to power about 3,500 homes) by 2012.
- Professor Barry Marshall revolutionised the treatment of stomach ulcers around the world when he proved that ulcers are in fact caused by a bacterium called helicobacter pylori, rather than stress and poor diet as was believed for decades. In 2005, Prof Marshall and his research partner, Dr Robin Warren, received the Nobel Prize in Medicine for their life-changing discovery.
Perth offers one of the highest standards of living in the world with the highest income per capita in Australia at an average of AU$69,436 per annum (WA Business News, 10 May 2010). This is further reflected in the high standards of health care, transport, accommodation and recreational facilities.
The WA economy has always enjoyed one of the lowest unemployment rates in Australia (currently at 5.1 percent). There are part-time job and internship opportunities available to those students wishing to gain work experience and earn some spending money.
WA proudly hosts over 56,000 international student enrolments per year. They study courses ranging from English language tuition to vocational training to undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.
WA’s top 15 source countries for international students include a diverse range of nationalities from Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas.
With its breathtaking natural environment, Mediterranean climate and a booming economy, Perth offers the ultimate study destination… a city consistently voted in the world’s top ten most liveable cities (The Economist, 2004-10).
The City of Perth
