Visiting Research Student Applications

Procedure for Visiting Research Practicum Students

Individuals wishing to obtain unpaid research experience or professional practice with the SFC can come to the University of Wollongong (UoW) under the Visiting Research Program (VRP).

This professional practicum is for a limited period (usually between three and six months) and may be a formal requirement for the award of a degree at the individual’s home institution. It should be noted from the outset that the student is responsible for covering all of the costs of the internship.

The purpose of this procedure is to advise potential overseas students of the process and timing involved with becoming a visiting research practicum student with the Smart Foods Centre (SFC).

It provides a step by step instruction on the process from registering initial interest to obtaining the appropriate visa to enter Australia under the VRP. It also details the contractual and formal reporting requirements expected from successful applicants.

Procedure

Step 1 – Registering Interest

Potential students should register interest in the VRP by emailing the SFC academic student supervisor, Research Fellow, Dr Yasmine Probst (yasmine@uow.edu.au). Please include a current CV, a letter of support from your home institution and details of any areas of interest you may have in relation to research into food and nutrition.

The SFC offers a limited number of places to VRP students annually and the above information will help us to choose students with skills complementary to our research program for that year.  Once a student has been accepted into the program, Dr Probst will advise the student in writing and provide an indication of the type of work they will be involved in during the stay.

At this time it would be appropriate for the students’ home institution to detail in writing any reporting expectations placed on both the student undertaking the internship and SFC staff responsible for supervision.

Step 2 – VRP Application

The next step is to complete a Research Student Practicum application form which can be downloaded here.

The completed form should be emailed to Dr Yasmine Probst (yasmine@uow.edu.au) who will liaise with the study abroad department, who processing the application and issue the letter of offer. Please note that a $100 application fee is payable by the student before a letter of offer will be issued to the student on behalf of the University of Wollongong. VRP applications may also be posted to:

Smart Foods Centre, University of Wollongong
Wollongong NSW Australia 2522

Step 3 – Occupational Trainee Visa Nomination (Form 913)

After submitting the VRP application form, successful applicants will be issued with an Offer of Admission to the VRP program at the University of Wollongong by the Study Abroad and Exchange Office.

To accept this offer, applicants must complete and return "Attachment A: Offer Acceptance and Payment Advice" and send this directly to Study Abroad with a copy sent to Dr Probst for SFC records. Any applicant staying for more than three months will be required to complete credit card details for payment of Overseas Health Cover (OSHC). UOW will take the payment for this OSHC and organise cover with the Australian Health Management Group (AHM).

Once the Acceptance has been returned and the appropriate payments made, the Study Abroad and Exchange Office will issue a Confirmation of Enrolment for the student, verifying the dates that the student will be conducting research at SFC.

Step 4 – Application for a Temporary Residence Visa

If applying for a Non-Award Student Visa (subclass 575), the student will need to use the Confirmation of Enrolment (COE) number in their visa application.

During the creation of the COE, the Study Abroad and Exchange office will verify whether the student comes from a country which is eligible to apply for the Student Visa online. This will be advised to the student and supervisor (Dr Probst) in the email sent from the Study Abroad and Exchange office which accompanies the COE. If the student comes from a country which is not eligible for the online application, details on how to access the paper application will be provided instead.

Step 5 – Application for Working Holiday or Tourist Visa

The student may to consider the following options for Visas:

• Working Holiday Visa (http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/working-holiday/visa-options.htm)
• Tourist Visa (http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/tourist/676/index.htm)

The Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417 or 462) is limited to certain countries, and is only available for students aged 18-30 years.

Subclass 417 is required for students from Belgium, Canada, Republic of Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Taiwan and United Kingdom.

Subclass 462 is required for students from Chile, Thailand, Turkey and the USA.

Students can study (i.e. conduct research) for up to four (4) months and can also undertake paid work. The internship provided by SFC will be unpaid. If VRP participants intend to come to UOW on a Working Holiday Visa, they will not need the following:

• OSHC through UOW
• COE (step 4)

OSHC must be arranged by the student, and proof of this coverage must be sent to the Study Abroad and Exchange office prior to arrival. So that charges for OSHC are not included on the Offer of Admission, it is requested that students advise the Study Abroad and Exchange office of their intention to apply for a Working Holiday Visa upon return of Attachment A (Acceptance and Payment Advice) (or prior if this is known earlier). Proof that the Working Holiday Visa has been granted must also be sent to the Study Abroad and Exchange Office and to SFC prior to arrival.

The Tourist Visa (subclass 676) may be used for non-work purposes (including study/research) for periods of less than three (3) months. Student may not undertake paid work on this visa.

Visa Application forms can be submitted online. Students should check http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/tourist/676/eligible-passports.htm to determine whether their passport is accepted for online applications. Hardcopy forms should be submitted to the Australian Embassy most convenient to the overseas student. They must follow the link below to the Australian Embassy nearest their home country and be sure to read the information pertaining to the Visa.

http://www.embassy.gov.au/

NB: It is recommended that students refer to http://www.immi.gov.au/ to check for updates/changes when considering visa options.

Other Student Responsibilities

Once the COE has been issued by the Study Abroad and Exchange Office, the student's file will be sent to the UOW Research Office. The Research Office will enrol the student in the necessary "Research" subject to verify their program at UOW. Students should inform SFC of their flight details prior to flying to Australia to schedule an introductory visit to SFC. Student should visit the Research Office upon arrival at UOW to confirm arrival, obtain the Student Card and clarify any outstanding matters.

Successful applicants will be welcomed into the research activities of the SFC and be allocated tasks commensurate with their learning. A learning contract will be developed with the academic student supervisor and will be signed by the student. It will contain information relating to agreed processes and outcomes including a final written report. The academic student supervisor will liaise with the Director of the SFC, Professor Linda Tapsell to determine data that can be reported in the final report, supervise its completion, and seek approval from the Director before the final report and its contents are made available outside the Centre. It is also very important to understand that visiting students will be bound by conditions of the policies of the University, including confidentiality associated with the research in which they will be involved.

Responsibilities (SFC)

Dr Yasmine Probst – Research Fellow, Smart Foods Centre (yasmine@uow.edu.au). Dr Probst is the academic student supervisor and is the initial point of contact for interested students. She will act as the primary supervisor during the internship and will have input into the students research program and learning contract. She is also responsible for liaising with students and gathering and processing information relating to the students visa requirements. Dr Probst will also liaise with the University of Wollongong’s Study Abroad Office and will track processing of the VRP application. 

Study Abroad Office, University of Wollongong (http://www.uow.edu.au/future/studyabroad/index.html). The Study Abroad Office is responsible for processing the VRP application and issuing a formal letter of offer to the student.

Department of Immigration and Citizenship, Australia (http://www.immi.gov.au/). The Department of Immigration and Citizenship or the Australian Embassy (most convenient to student) (http://www.embassy.gov.au/) processes and issues the Visa.

Professor Linda Tapsell – Director, Smart Foods Centre (ltapsell@uow.edu.au). Professor Tapsell along with the academic student supervisor will determine the research program of the student. She will also approve the final written report.

Chief Investigators of research projects will also be involved with guiding the visiting students through their research program and will allocate tasks during the stay.

Related information

If you would like more information on the process involved with applying for a Visa please visit the Department of Immigration and Citizenship web site and navigate in the following way:

http://www.immi.gov.au/

> Visas & Immigration
> Visitors
> Tourists or Working Holidays

Once you have received the approval of nomination letter you should access the following links for information on:

Accommodation: http://accommodation.uow.edu.au/
Airport pick-up: http://apply-accom.uow.edu.au/
Overseas Student Health Cover: http://ahmg.com.au/
Quarantine Matters: http://daff.gov.au/aqis