When visiting university student Kiranjit Kaur performs a traditional dance at the Indian Diwali festival next month, she will not only celebrate her cultural heritage but also her ties with Australia.

It will be the first time Kiranjit has danced at such an event, a sign of her new found confidence she attributes to her time in Australia.

Indian student Kiranjit Kaur says her visit to Rockhampton has been 'awesome'."I have really enjoyed my time in Australia. I feel safe here and my confidence has really grown," Kiranjit said.

The 19-year-old Indian student from the Punjab will just manage to attend the local Indian Association's Diwali celebrations before heading back home after spending almost three months in Rockhampton.

Kiranjit is a business student of the Lovely Professional University but has been studying at CQUniversity as part of a Queensland-India Friendship Scholarship program, an initiative of the Queensland Government and supported by CQUniversity.

The scholarship, designed to promote Queensland as a great destination for Indian students, has enabled Kiranjit to travel to Rockhampton, stay with a local family and attend university classes for an entire term.

She will return to her home university with credit for her courses studied here and a host of cultural experiences she will remember for a lifetime.

CQUniversity's Manager of International Engagement Janelle Allen said the scholarship aimed to provide an opportunity for an Indian student who would not normally have had the resources to study overseas.

"Our representatives in India interviewed a number of students and we were pleased to have Kiranjit awarded with the scholarship. She has been a true ambassador for her country and we have been delighted to have her with us."

Kiranjit said she has had an "awesome" time in Rockhampton and has enjoyed the different cultural and educational experiences on offer at CQUniversity.

"I just love being here. I have made many friends, not just from Australia, but from around the world.

"I have enjoyed the peaceful environment here and have found my studies very rewarding. I have learnt a lot about academic writing and have found the University's online support for its courses amazing.

"My homestay family have been lovely and I feel very relaxed and at home here. They have shown me around the city and I have even attended my first Christian wedding."

Although Kiranjit is looking forward to seeing her family and friends back in India soon, she is already planning her return trip to Australia.

"I hope after a couple of years working I will be able to come back to CQUniversity to study my Masters."