Study in Australia just 2 hours away from Sydney: try Newcastle

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The seventh largest Australian city is a treasure well hidden by Aussies: wonderful surf beaches, plenty of entertainment and low costs of living - all close to Sydney but without the overcrowding. Want to study and relax at the same time? Know more about Newcastle and one of its schools, Hunter TAFE.

Why choose Newcastle?

Newcastle is the second oldest city in Australia, located in the heart of the Hunter region and with a long coastline of beaches which not everyone knows but both locals and Australian travellers like to keep secret. Perhaps it is the reason why this place, just 150km north from Sydney, can combine its untouched natural beauty with an urban dynamic.

In 2011, the world famous travel guide Lonely Planet chose Newcastle as one of the Top 10 Cities to be discovered. The reasons: its spectacular surf beaches, a sunny, sub-tropical climate all year-round and many diverse dining options, bars, shops, markets and cultural attractions.

For international students, the chances are even wider, being able to study and live in a safe, relaxed environment, without the stressful pace they’d find in a large urban center like Sydney, still enjoying the same convenience and comfort.

Only two hours by car or train and 30 minutes by plane (or seaplane, a different and fun option) is all it takes to get to Sydney, so there's nothing easier than spending a day or a weekend discovering Sydney!

Tired of big cities? No problem: Newcastle’s convenient location allows you to explore the wonderful natural landscapes which Australia is famous for. Head North to feed the sharks and whales at Port of Stephen; take a five-minute ferry ride to practice sandboarding in the wide dunes of Stockton Beach; travel south and sail on Lake Macquarie; turn west to visit the Hunter Valley wineries, known worldwide for its exclusive wine production.

Where to study in Newcastle?

One of the options is Hunter TAFE. Being one of Australia’s largest regional training and education providers, it offers more than 600 courses across 15 different campuses in the Hunter and Central Coast. Regarding your housing quest in Newcastle, you don’t even need to worry: Hunter TAFE’s campus has student accommodation directly opposite the campus; it is modern, secure and reasonably priced.

Hunter TAFE’s distinguishing factor is its team of world class, highly qualified and experienced teachers. Willy, a Brazilian student who spent last year at Hunter TAFE, can confirm it: “Teachers are really prepared to face the challenge of handling people from all around the world with different accents and culture. I won’t forget the period I spent at TAFE. It is in my heart and soul".

This year, for instance, two Hunter TAFE teachers have been selected for the 2015 Australian Baking Team and have commenced a program of intense training as part of their campaign for the 2016 Baking World Cup in Paris. Dean Tilden and Dean Gibson have been selected for the Australian Baking Team for their specialist skills in baking and patisserie and have more than 60 years of experience between them.

Both are teachers at Hunter TAFE, dedicating their lives to their trade and to fostering the next generation of baking and patisserie chefs destined for Chef Hatted and Michelin Star restaurants across Australia and the world.

Some of Deans Achievements:

• Team Manager “Team Pastry Australia” Asian Pastry Cup, Singapore 2014, 3rd
• Team Coach “Team Pastry Australia” Coupe du Monde de la Patisserie 2013, 7th
• Judge World Chocolate Masters 2012
• Team Coach Asian Pastry Cup, Singapore 2012, Gold
• NSW VET teacher/trainer of the year, NSW Training Awards, 2012
• Judge Australian Chocolate Masters 2010
• Team Captain/Competitor Asian Pastry Cup, Singapore 2010, placed 5^th

Source: Hunter TAFE