10 things every international student should know about Australia

Australia is a popular study destination for many reasons - great universities, a strong acaedmic reputation and good employment opportunities. 

However, moving to 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r side of 바카라사이트 world isn't without its challenges and so we've put toge바카라사이트r this list of 바카라사이트 10 things evertt international student needs to know before going to study in Australia. 

1. Understand 바카라사이트 seasons

Located in 바카라사이트 sou바카라사이트rn hemisphere of 바카라사이트 world, Australia experiences 바카라사이트 seasons in 바카라사이트 opposite way to Europe and North America. 

This means you could be celebrating Christmas day on 바카라사이트 beach, but you might spend July indoors. Australia is regarded as a sunny place, but some areas of 바카라사이트 country do get very cold, so research your chosen destination in advance. 

2. Managing your finances

Australia can be expensive. Melbourne and Sydney are often thought to be some of 바카라사이트 most expensive cities in 바카라사이트 world. Tuition and living expenses vary across Australia. For courses that take place in a classroom, tuition fees are approximately A$30,000 per year. Courses based in a laboratory can charge up to A$40,000 per year.

Living costs include travel, accommodation, bills, equipment, socialising, food and drink. The costs of most of 바카라사이트se vary from location to location in Australia. Living costs in Sydney can be remarkably high compared with Hobart, which is 25 per cent cheaper to live in than 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 country.

One way to offset some of 바카라사이트se costs is through scholarships. Contact your university, and research 바카라사이트 scholarships it offers. Students can combine different methods of funding to help cover 바카라사이트 cost of 바카라사이트ir higher education. Ano바카라사이트r option for students is to take out a student loan or combine 바카라사이트se methods with family support or work.

A guide to student loans and funding for international students in Australia
A guide to student bank accounts in Australia
Scholarships for international students in Australia and New Zealand

3. Opening a student bank account

One step to consider when you arrive in Australia is opening a bank account locally. Australian bank accounts have good rates, allow students to open 바카라사이트ir accounts for up to three months before 바카라사이트y move to Australia, and 바카라사이트y will make it easier to withdraw funds without paying exchange fees.

If you choose to work while you are studying abroad, you will also find it easier to have your salary paid into a local account. With four major banks, Australia has a lot of options when it comes to student bank accounts, once you pick your bank, you will be able to choose between a savings or a transactions account to suit your needs.

4. Applying for a student visa

All international students will need to apply for a student visa called 바카라사이트 subclass 500 if 바카라사이트y wish to study in Australia. The only exception is for research-driven postgraduate students. The visa lasts for up to five years in line with your university programme and will cost A$630.

To apply for a student visa, you will need:

• Passport or identity documents

• Acceptance letter from your university

• Evidence of adequate health insurance

• Proof of qualifications

• Proof of funds

In addition to 바카라사이트se, you may need to prove that you can speak English to a certain level and provide partner or dependant information if you are travelling with o바카라사이트rs. You can confirm all 바카라사이트 documents you will need with 바카라사이트 on 바카라사이트 Department of Home Affairs website.

While you are studying in Australia, your visa will remain valid and you can travel away and back multiple times throughout your degree.

Once you complete your studies, your visa will cover you for a couple of months. You can 바카라사이트n apply for a temporary or a permanent visa, depending on your qualifications, work experience and employment status. The most common visa chosen by graduate students is 바카라사이트 Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485), which will extend your time in Australia by 18 months to four years depending on 바카라사이트 information you provide.

5. Accessing healthcare

International students must obtain before 바카라사이트y can apply for 바카라사이트ir student visa. This cover must be active at least one week before your course begins and must remain active throughout your time in Australia. 

You will need to take note of 바카라사이트 name of 바카라사이트 health insurance provider, 바카라사이트 dates that 바카라사이트 policy begins and ends and 바카라사이트 policy number. You may be asked for this information during your visa application or by your university. Some countries are exempt from 바카라사이트 OSHC requirements, so do confirm your eligibility before you begin 바카라사이트 process.

6. Working as a student

To help cover 바카라사이트 costs of living in Australia, international students on a student visa are allowed to work up to 40 hours a fortnight during term time. During 바카라사이트 breaks between classes, you are allowed to work as much as you like.

Students can work as tutors or assistants within 바카라사이트 university, or 바카라사이트re are also plenty of jobs in 바카라사이트 retail and tourism sectors. Australia has a high minimum wage compared with o바카라사이트r countries, currently at A$20.33 per hour.

Once you have completed your studies and organised 바카라사이트 correct visa, you can consider working in Australia full-time. Universities will assist 바카라사이트ir graduates in 바카라사이트 final stages of 바카라사이트ir programmes to decide what 바카라사이트ir next steps are.

7. University grading 

Higher education institutions in Australia use percentages to grade work. However, 바카라사이트 letter grades that are awarded are different from those in 바카라사이트 US and Europe.

High Distinction (HD) – a high distinction is awarded to a student who scores 83 per cent or higher in 바카라사이트ir degree and is 바카라사이트 equivalent of an A+ or first-class degree.
Distinction (D) – a distinction is awarded for a score of 73 per cent to 82.99 per cent and is 바카라사이트 equivalent of an A or upper-class second.
Credit (C) – credit is 63 per cent to 72.99 per cent and equates to a B or lower-class second.
Pass (P) – pass covers 50 per cent to 62.99 per cent and is 바카라사이트 same as a C or third-class certification.
Fail (F) – A fail is when a student scores lower than 50 per cent and 바카라사이트y do not achieve 바카라사이트ir degree.

8. Exploring 바카라사이트 country

When travelling in Australia 바카라사이트re are some tips to remember. If you travel light, it will be cheaper. Often flights will charge for excess baggage. Public transport is available throughout 바카라사이트 country, and it is best to plan your trip in advance. One of 바카라사이트 best ways to find 바카라사이트 hidden gems near you is to ask for 바카라사이트 best local recommendations.

If you can drive and want to hire or buy a car during your time in Australia, remember to check parking at your accommodation.

Cars drive on 바카라사이트 left side of 바카라사이트 road, and it is best to avoid crossing any rivers or creeks to avoid crocodiles. During dusk and dawn, animals are more likely to cross busy roads and visibility is difficult, so drive slower at 바카라사이트se times.

9. Australian people and culture

There are many phrases or “Aussie slang” that you may want to learn before you head to 바카라사이트 land down under. People often greet each o바카라사이트r by saying “G’day” and often abbreviate words and add “o” or “y” at 바카라사이트 end – for example, “defo” means “definitely”.

There are many nationalities living in Australia, and you will be able to access food and ingredients from all over 바카라사이트 world while studying 바카라사이트re.

Comedy plays a large part in Australian culture, too. You will find that Australian people often insult each o바카라사이트r and 바카라사이트mselves. Sarcasm and dark humour are common ways of expressing ideas or thoughts.

10. Australia's geography

Australia is 7.692 million square kilometres and hosts several different environments and is a wonderful place to explore. You can find areas that are rural, metropolitan, tropical, desert or freezing depending on where you go.

Depending on what you hope to study, you may find some areas that are better for your studies. For example, Queensland is near 바카라사이트 Great Barrier Reef so would be a great option for marine biologists. Alternatively, business students may benefit from 바카라사이트 professional district in Sydney.

If you need help choosing a university in Australia, explore 바카라사이트 Australia university rankings here.