Fatin Radziah Binti Ramli from Brunei was one of hundreds of international students who entered the competition in November, which includes two round-trip flights, five nights’ accommodation and an itinerary of tourist activities to showcase the best the city has to offer.

Brisbane attracts around 75,000 students each year, generating $2.8bn in course fees and other spending

To win, students simply voted for their favourite itinerary of tourist activities, and Ramli’s vote means she and her family will take part in an Adventure Climb, a visit to a koala sanctuary and a river cruise as well as meeting Brisbane’s Lord Mayor Graham Quirk ahead of an International Student Friendship Ceremony on December 7.

Announcing the winner, the Lord Mayor commented: “This is a brilliant initiative to highlight what attracted Fatin to Brisbane in the first place –its natural beauty, relaxed lifestyle, friendly and multicultural population and of course the world-class study options.”

Brisbane attracts around 75,000 students each year, generating $2.8bn in course fees and other spending, making it one of the city’s biggest export industries.

“We also know that a large percentage of our international students are drawn here because of word-of-mouth referrals, so The Ultimate Graduation is a great way to spread the good news about studying in Brisbane,” Quirk added.

Ramli, who has just completed her Bachelor of Urban Development (Urban & Regional Planning), is now applying to do a PhD.

“I came to study in Brisbane because friends told me it would be a great place to do so and I love the weather and laid back culture,” she said.

“It will be wonderful to show Brisbane to my family and I really want to take them to Lone Pine [koala sanctuary] to cuddle a koala as I have never been there.”