Regional study points: campus, residence and study mode all matter
Regional study is a separate five-point category, not an automatic bonus for attending a university outside a capital-city centre. The applicant must first meet the Australian study requirement and then satisfy location, residence and distance-education conditions.
Key points
- Regional study currently contributes 5 points when all requirements are met.
- The underlying Australian study requirement must be satisfied first.
- The relevant campuses and the applicant's residence during study must be in designated regional areas.
- None of the study used for this category can constitute distance education under the current points rule.
The four requirements
- The applicant met the Australian study requirement.
- The campus or campuses for that study were in a designated regional area.
- The applicant lived in a designated regional area while undertaking the study.
- None of the study used constituted distance education.
Meeting three out of four is not enough. The campus postcode and home postcode are separate facts, and both need a dated record.
Build a location timeline
List every teaching period with campus, home address, study mode and travel outside Australia. Match the campus and residence postcodes with the official designated-area source applicable to the period. Keep leases, utilities and provider letters rather than relying only on a postal address.
Online and multi-campus study
Online delivery, remote attendance, course transfers and units taught at a metropolitan campus can complicate the claim. Provider branding does not establish the legal study mode. Obtain official records showing where and how each unit was delivered, and seek advice where pandemic-era concessions or mixed delivery may be relevant.
Evidence checklist
- Australian study evidence listed in the Australian study guide.
- Provider confirmation of campus and attendance mode for each teaching period.
- Residential leases, bills, government correspondence and address history.
- Travel history and any periods studying from outside the designated area.
- Postcode instrument or official source used for the location check.
Do not confuse study points with a 491 condition
Regional-study points assess past study for the points test. A Subclass 491 visa imposes ongoing designated-regional-area conditions after grant. One does not prove compliance with the other.
Official sources to check before acting
These pages control over any summary on this website. Recheck them when you submit an EOI, accept a nomination or lodge a visa application.
Important Notice: The content on this page is for general information only. Australian visa policies and requirements are subject to change at any time. Always refer to the official Department of Home Affairs website for the most current and accurate information.