--- url: 'https://kdinternational.com.au/griffith-qut-james-cook-queensland-universities-saudi-students/' title: 'Griffith, QUT and James Cook: Queensland Universities Compared' author: name: هند العمري url: 'https://kdinternational.com.au/author/hind-alamri/' date: '2026-10-07T06:00:00+00:00' modified: '2026-10-07T06:02:11+00:00' type: post summary: 'Griffith, QUT and James Cook compared for Saudi students: scholarship approval status, THE 2026 ranks, entry steps and student visa costs.' categories: - Australian universities tags: - Brisbane - Griffith University - James Cook University - Queensland - QUT image: 'https://kdinternational.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/kd-67-en-art-1.png' published: true --- # Griffith, QUT and James Cook: Queensland Universities Compared *[اقرأ هذا المقال بالعربية](https://kdinternational.com.au/ar/?p=2691)* ### Key takeaways - The Ministry of Education lists Griffith, QUT and the University of Queensland as approved institutions in Brisbane; James Cook does not appear on that page. - Griffith appears on the additional universities list for hospitality management and tourism and hotel management, and on the sports specialisations list alongside QUT. - In the 2026-2027 discipline guide, Griffith is number 10 in the Services list and James Cook number 61 in Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries and Veterinary. - THE World University Rankings 2026: QUT 201-250, Griffith 251-300, James Cook 351-400. - The student visa charge is from AUD 2,500 since 1 July 2026, and a Confirmation of Enrolment is required for a valid application. ### In this article - [What is Queensland like for an international student?](#s-1) - [Which Queensland universities are approved for the Saudi scholarship?](#s-2) - [How do the three universities differ?](#s-3) - [What are the entry and scholarship requirements?](#s-4) - [When does study start in Queensland?](#s-5) - [In short](#s-6) The University of Queensland is not the state’s only option. Griffith and Queensland University of Technology (QUT) both sit on the Saudi Ministry of Education’s approved list for Brisbane, while James Cook University sits in the tropical north. This article sets out where each stands for the scholarship, and what entry involves. ## What is Queensland like for an international student? The state has 10 universities and 32 campuses, hosts 73,000 international students from more than 158 countries, and Brisbane’s population is over 2.5 million, per [Study Australia](https://www.studyaustralia.gov.au/en/life-in-australia/locations-in-australia/queensland-brisbane) (as at 14 September 2026). Brisbane is Australia’s third largest city, per [Times Higher Education](https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/queensland-university-technology) (as at 14 September 2026). Its climate is warmer than Sydney’s or Melbourne’s: Brisbane’s mean maximum temperature is 30.4°C in January and 22.0°C in July, with mean minimums of 21.7°C and 10.5°C, per the [Bureau of Meteorology](http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_040913.shtml) (Brisbane station averages, 1999-2026). Winter there reads more like a mild spring. ## Which Queensland universities are approved for the Saudi scholarship? The [Ministry of Education](https://sites.moe.gov.sa/scholarship-program/countries/australia/) lists three Brisbane universities among its approved institutions in Australia (page last updated 14 January 2024): Griffith University, Queensland University of Technology and the University of Queensland. James Cook University does not appear on that page. But the country list is not the only list. The [guide to university lists by field for academic year 2026-2027](https://object.moe.gov.sa/nasaq/cm/files/aldlyl-alastrshady-ltrtyb-qwaaem-aljamaeat-hsb-almjalat-2027-2026.pdf) places Griffith at number 10 in the Services field list, and James Cook at number 61 in the Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries and Veterinary field list. Other specialised lists exist too: | List | Queensland universities on it | Page date | | --- | --- | --- | | [Additional universities list](https://www.moe.gov.sa/ar/education/Pages/additional-unis.aspx) | Griffith University, for hospitality management and tourism and hotel management | 06/12/1446 AH | | [Sports specialisations list](https://www.moe.gov.sa/ar/education/Pages/sport-majors.aspx) | Griffith University and Queensland University of Technology | 09/10/1446 AH | | [Approved universities in Australia](https://sites.moe.gov.sa/scholarship-program/countries/australia/) | Griffith, QUT, University of Queensland | 14 January 2024 | The practical conclusion: approval is read together with the field, never alone. Before choosing, match the institution name and the discipline name in the lists for your target academic year, and check the current list with the Ministry because it is updated between years. Our [guide to all Saudi scholarship tracks](https://kdinternational.com.au/ar/?p=2318) explains how the lists differ from track to track. ## How do the three universities differ? | University | Locations | THE 2026 rank | Students | International share | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Griffith University | Brisbane and Gold Coast | 251-300 | 30,484 | about 25% | | Queensland University of Technology | Brisbane | 201-250 | 33,182 | about 18% | | James Cook University | Townsville, Cairns, Brisbane, Mackay, Mount Isa, Rockhampton, Thursday Island | 351-400 | 9,165 | about 14% | Locations per [Study Australia](https://www.studyaustralia.gov.au/en/plan-your-studies/list-of-australian-universities) (as at 14 September 2026); ranks and student numbers per each university’s [Times Higher Education](https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/griffith-university) profile in the World University Rankings 2026 (as at 14 September 2026). The [James Cook profile](https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/james-cook-university) also notes a campus in Singapore alongside its north Queensland campuses. ### Griffith: hospitality, tourism and sport Griffith is the only Queensland university on the Ministry’s additional list for hospitality management and tourism and hotel management, and it also appears on the sports specialisations list and in the Services field list in the 2026-2027 guide. If your field sits in that range, check Griffith first. ### QUT: technology and business in central Brisbane QUT ranks highest of the three in the THE 2026 table, is based in Brisbane, and appears on the Ministry’s sports specialisations list alongside Griffith. It is on the country list, so it is open for whichever fields your track approves. ### James Cook: the tropical north James Cook is the smallest of the three and has the lowest international share, spread across northern cities starting with Townsville and Cairns. It is not on the country list, but its name appears in the Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries and Veterinary field list in the 2026-2027 guide. If that is your field, confirm its current status with the Ministry of Education before planning around it. ### What do the table’s numbers actually tell you? International share is not a quality ranking, but it does describe your daily experience. At Griffith about a quarter of students are international, so services aimed at newly arrived students are broader and closer to hand. At James Cook the share is around 14% and the student body is smaller, so classes are less crowded and the cities quieter and further from the big centres. QUT concentrates a large cohort in one major city. Choose by the study and living style that suits you, not by the number alone. ## What are the entry and scholarship requirements? Requirements come from three places — the university, the Ministry of Education, and Australian immigration. In practical order: - Choose your field and confirm both the university and the discipline appear on the Ministry lists for your target academic year. - Prepare English test results, certificates and transcripts, translated and attested, then apply for university admission. - Convert your offer into a final unconditional one, which is what the [Arruaad track](https://sites.moe.gov.sa/scholarship-program/paths/path-arruaad/) requires (page last updated 18 March 2025). - Once enrolled you receive a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE), required for a valid Student visa (subclass 500) application per [Study Australia](https://www.studyaustralia.gov.au/en/plan-your-move/your-guide-to-visas/student-visa-subclass-500) (as at 14 September 2026). - Lodge the visa application. The charge is from AUD 2,500 from 1 July 2026 per [Study Australia](https://www.studyaustralia.gov.au/en/tools-and-resources/news/student-visa-application-charge-increase) (published 3 July 2026), and Overseas Student Health Cover is required for the whole stay. [Study Australia](https://www.studyaustralia.gov.au/en/plan-your-move/your-guide-to-visas/student-visa-subclass-500) (as at 14 September 2026) also notes that the visa is granted for the length of your course up to a maximum of five years, that work is capped at 48 hours per fortnight while the course is in session, and that students who have started a master’s by research or a doctorate have no work-hour limit. English score thresholds and annual tuition vary between courses inside the same university, so check the current figure on your own course page before budgeting. For the most competitive route, see [the Arruaad track’s conditions, fields and universities](https://kdinternational.com.au/ar/arruaad-track-scholarship-australia/). ## When does study start in Queensland? Australian universities mostly run two semesters: Semester 1 in February or March and Semester 2 in July, with mid-year applications usually opening around April, per [Study Australia](https://www.studyaustralia.gov.au/en/tools-and-resources/tips-and-advice-for-students/understanding-mid-year-entry) (as at 14 September 2026). If you are travelling with family, Queensland state school terms for 2026 run 27 January to 2 April, 20 April to 26 June, 13 July to 18 September, and 6 October to 11 December, per the [Queensland Department of Education](https://education.qld.gov.au/about-us/calendar/term-dates) (as at 14 September 2026). State public holidays sit on top of that. In 2027, Australia Day falls on 26 January, Anzac Day on 26 April, Labour Day on 3 May, the King’s Birthday on 4 October, and the end-of-year holidays on 25 and 26 December, per the [Queensland Government](https://www.qld.gov.au/recreation/travel/holidays/public) (as at 14 September 2026). Factor these in before booking flights or official appointments. ## In short Queensland gives you three options with distinct characters: Griffith for hospitality, tourism and sport; QUT for technology and business in central Brisbane; James Cook for tropical science in the north. From a scholarship angle, the deciding factor is not the world rank but whether the name appears on the right list for your field. Next step: open the Ministry list and the discipline guide, and put your university and your field side by side. If you want that matching reviewed and your admission file prepared with you, [submit an application](https://kdinternational.com.au/applynow/) or [contact us](https://kdinternational.com.au/ar/%d8%aa%d9%88%d8%a7%d8%b5%d9%84-%d9%85%d8%b9%d9%86%d8%a7/). ## Frequently asked questions Is Griffith University approved for the Saudi scholarship? Yes. The Ministry of Education lists it among approved institutions in Australia under Brisbane, and it also appears on the additional universities list for hospitality management and tourism and hotel management. Is QUT approved for the Saudi scholarship? Yes. Queensland University of Technology appears on the Ministry of Education’s approved list for Australia under Brisbane, and on the sports specialisations list. Is James Cook University approved for the Saudi scholarship? It does not appear on the Ministry’s approved list for Australia, but it does appear in the Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries and Veterinary field list in the 2026-2027 guide. Confirm its current status with the Ministry before planning. How are Queensland universities ranked? In Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026: QUT sits at 201-250, Griffith at 251-300 and James Cook at 351-400. Where is James Cook University located? In north Queensland, with locations including Townsville, Cairns, Brisbane, Mackay, Mount Isa, Rockhampton and Thursday Island, plus a campus in Singapore. How much is tuition at Queensland universities? Annual fees vary between courses within the same university. Check the current figure on your course’s international fee page before setting a budget. When do Queensland universities start? Semester 1 runs from February or March and Semester 2 from July, with mid-year applications usually opening around April per Study Australia. Exact dates are published in each university’s own calendar. How does Brisbane’s weather compare with Sydney’s? Warmer. Brisbane’s mean maximum is 30.4°C in January and 22.0°C in July per the Bureau of Meteorology, so its coldest month reads more like a mild spring. ## Official sources - [قائمة الجامعات المعتمدة في أستراليا](https://sites.moe.gov.sa/scholarship-program/countries/australia/) — وزارة التعليم - [قائمة الجامعات الإضافية](https://www.moe.gov.sa/ar/education/Pages/additional-unis.aspx) — وزارة التعليم - [قائمة الجامعات لتخصصات الرياضة](https://www.moe.gov.sa/ar/education/Pages/sport-majors.aspx) — وزارة التعليم - [الدليل الاسترشادي لقوائم الجامعات حسب المجالات 2026-2027](https://object.moe.gov.sa/nasaq/cm/files/aldlyl-alastrshady-ltrtyb-qwaaem-aljamaeat-hsb-almjalat-2027-2026.pdf) — وزارة التعليم - [مسار الرواد](https://sites.moe.gov.sa/scholarship-program/paths/path-arruaad/) — وزارة التعليم - [Queensland and Brisbane](https://www.studyaustralia.gov.au/en/life-in-australia/locations-in-australia/queensland-brisbane) — Study Australia - [List of Australian universities](https://www.studyaustralia.gov.au/en/plan-your-studies/list-of-australian-universities) — Study Australia - [Understanding mid-year entry](https://www.studyaustralia.gov.au/en/tools-and-resources/tips-and-advice-for-students/understanding-mid-year-entry) — Study Australia - [Student visa (subclass 500)](https://www.studyaustralia.gov.au/en/plan-your-move/your-guide-to-visas/student-visa-subclass-500) — Study Australia - [Student Visa Application Charge increase](https://www.studyaustralia.gov.au/en/tools-and-resources/news/student-visa-application-charge-increase) — Study Australia - [Griffith University — World University Rankings 2026](https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/griffith-university) — Times Higher Education - [Brisbane station climate averages](http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_040913.shtml) — Bureau of Meteorology ### Ready to start? KD International helps you choose a university, prepare your admission and visa file, and answers your questions about Saudi scholarships and studying in Australia. [Apply now](https://kdinternational.com.au/applynow/) or [message us on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/966582357717). *Last updated: 14 September 2026. Fees and requirements change; always confirm with the official source before deciding.*