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Q: Can I come to Australia on a tourist visa and change to student visa?
A: Visitors holding a temporary visa can apply for a student visa after their arrival in Australia only if they come from countries with Assessment level 1. Applicants from countries with Assessment Levels 2, 3 & 4 can only apply on-shore in exceptional circumstances. A list of Country Assessment Levels can be found on the Students Page of the DIAC website. To apply for permission to work, follow the steps for applying for your work visa.
Q: What is the procedure for applying to extend my student visa in Australia?
A: You should read Form 1160i which you can obtain from the Students Page on the DIAC website.
- About 6 weeks before your visa expires ring 131881 to make an appointment with DIAC.
- Alternatively you can lodge your application over the DIAC website. Look for eVisa.
- To lodge an application, you will need:
- a completed Application Form 157A
- the required evidentiary documents for your assessment level. (See the DIAC document checklists)
- the appropriate application charge ($400)
- results of health checks if appropriate
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Q: Do I need to attend Orientation before my course starts?
A: Yes, definitely! In Orientation Week, the week before Session starts, we aim to give new students important information to help them adjust to the Australian culture and education system. You will have the opportunity to make new friends and find out about how the University operates. We will help you through the enrolment process and give information about the course you have chosen. You can also join some bus trips to places of interest in the surrounding area.
Q: Is 'ragging or playing practical jokes on new students part of Orientation Week at UOW?
A: Most definitely NOT! It would not be tolerated. The aim of Orientation Week is to help new students quickly feel comfortable in their new environment. Many students who apply to become Orientation Group Leaders tell us they enjoyed their own Orientation so much that they want to pass on the good experience to new students.
Click here for the latest orientation details.
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Q: Where can I find out, what I can't take into Australia?
A: Australian Customs and Quarantine rules are very strict: you must not bring food, plants or prohibited drugs into Australia. If you have any goods of plant or animal origin you must declare them on the passenger declaration card given to you on the plane. Some declared items may be permitted entry immediately by Customs Officers, others may need to be treated to make them safe and you may collect them later. There are large fines for not declaring items of quarantine concern. The same restrictions apply to items mailed to Australia. Each year thousands of items of concern are intercepted and confiscated. Full details can be found at the AQIS website under - What can't I take into Australia? - There is also an ' Information for International students' section available at this direct link.
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Q: What is the provision for child care and school enrolment if I bring my family?
A: There are limited places available for pre-school and after school care in the University Child Care Centre. The cost is approximately $30 per day. There is a long waiting list, so interested students should write, before they arrive, to:
The Director, Kid's Uni
Post Office Box U100
University of Wollongong 2522
Australia
Fax: +61 2 42218034
Email: kids_uni@uow.edu.au
There are many other child care centres in Wollongong and the SEDLOs can help you to find a place for your child.
If you are bringing school-aged children (between 5 - 18 years) with you, you will need to lodge an application with the Department of Education and Training before your child comes to Australia. After they arrive you can arrange a meeting at the chosen school. You can obtain further information and an application form from:
NSW Department of Education and Training
International Students Centre
Ground Floor, 827 George Street,
SYDNEY NSW 2001 AUSTRALIA
Telephone:(61) 1300 300 229
Web: http://www.schools.nsw.edu.au/international/
All temporary visa holders are subject to tuition fees which must be paid twelve months in advance at the time of enrolment ( currently $4,500 per year for Primary School to Year 10). Click here for further information.
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Q: What is the cost of living?
A: Apart from your tuition fees, it is recommended that students should allow about A$12,000 a year for living expenses. Here are some examples of typical costs you should budget for each year:
- Accommodation
- University accommodation (including meals) $5500 to $ 7700
- Private accommodation $3000-$5000 (Plus Food $2500)
- Food $2500
- Incidental costs (books, fares, clothing,entertainment) $3000
- Overseas Student Health Cover $312 (single)
Some costs you can expect to pay are:
- Bus fare from Wollongong to University (student fare) $1.40 per trip
- Return fare by train Wollongong to Sydney, $17.60 return trip (peak times), $10.80 return trip (after 9 am and all weekend), $50 for 7 day RailPass
- Shuttle bus from campus to North Wollongong station $0.60 per trip
Average costs:
- Shirt $25 - $50
- Jeans $40 - $100
- Sweater $40 - $80
- Shoes $40 - $80
- Cup of coffee $2.50
- Hamburger and fries $4.00
- Rice (10 kg bag) $10
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Q: What does Overseas Student Health Cover [OSHC] include?
OSHC helps you with cost of medical treatment while you are studying in Australia. It will contribute towards the cost of doctors, hospital treatment, ambulance cover, prescription medicines, other services like x-rays and blood tests. It does not cover treatment by dentists, optical, physiotherapy, cosmetic surgery or treatment for medical conditions that you had before you came to Australia. Usually you pay for the medical service then keep the receipt to claim your benefit online, by phone or by mail. Visit www.ahm.com.au for more information.
Students who commenced their studies prior to 2003 may have health cover with Medicare Private. Click here to visit their website for more information.
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Q: How do I get permission to do part-time work?
A: After you arrive in Australia you may apply for a student visa with work rights. You will need confirmation from the University that you have commenced your course of study. The visa application fee is $55. Students with work rights are permitted to work a maximum of 20 hours per week when their course is in Session and can work full-time during their Session breaks.
Q: Can I get part-time work in Wollongong?
A: It is not easy to get part-time employment and you must not rely on the idea that you can cover your living costs or tuition fees by getting a job. You can check the University website for casual jobs available (for example in the Library, URAC or UniCentre. Newspapers such as The Illawarra Mercury or the Sydney Morning Herald have ads for positions vacant. The campus Careers Service also offers advice on job hunting. You may not be able to find work related to your area of study. Some students find jobs in restaurants, shops and supermarkets - others get work doing tutoring, telephone sales, deliveries, etc.
Q: Will I get help to find a job after I have completed my course?
A: The University has a Careers Service to assist students with their career plans. It has a resource library and information about organisations that recruit graduates overseas. Students may make individual appointments to speak with a careers counsellor and can also take part in workshops on topics such as job applications and interview skills.
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Q: How will I adapt to a new education system?
A: Information will be provided during Orientation Week to help you learn what is expected in the Australian education system. Learning Development provides a free service to assist students who seek to improve their academic performance. Regular workshops are held on a variety of subjects, such as essay writing, seminar presentation, study skills and academic English. Also individual consultations are available. Tutors and lecturers from your Faculty are also available to help you if you are having difficulty understanding any part of your course.
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Q: I don't know anyone in Wollongong. Will I make any friends while I am there?
A: There are many organised activities on campus to improve your social life and provide opportunities for you to meet people. You can become involved in student activities through the international student associations or through groups such as the Illawarra Committee for International Students. You may form friendships with students in your classes and there are opportunities to meet families or other people in the community.
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Q: I'm worried about my English - will I find it difficult studying in Australia?
A: It is quite normal for you to experience some difficulty when you first arrive, even if you have spent many years learning the language. Australians speak fast and their accent may be new to you. Their language is quite informal with a lot of slang. Expect that it may take several weeks before your ear 'tunes in' to the Aussie accent. You will find that you will learn new words quickly and the slang used by lecturers and students will soon become familiar to you. Try to be patient during this time - most students say these initial difficulties disappear after about 3 or 4 weeks. There are services to help you feel more confident with your English. Learning Development provides free workshops on academic English as well as pronunciation and conversation. ICIS holds lunchtime groups for students where you can practise your English.
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Permanent Residence
Q : Can I apply for permanent residence after I finish my studies?
A : One way international students can apply on-shore for permanent residence is under the Graduate Skilled category. You will need to have completed your degree in Australia after at least 2 years study here and meet other immigration requirements. You should obtain information from the DIAC website and click here for Booklet 6 – General Skilled Migration, which you will need to read before you apply for Skilled Migration. The SEDLOs are not authorised to give immigration advice. You can obtain immigration advice for a fee from one of the registered Migration Agents listed on the MARA website .
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Q: Will I be safe in Wollongong, especially as I may look different?
A: Wollongong is a relatively safe place to live but, as in most cities in the world, you should take sensible precautions so that you do not become a victim of crime. You should lock your car and your flat when you leave them, do not carry large amounts of cash, try not to go out at night on your own. We have a security service to look after your safety on campus.
It is true that some racism exists in Australia, as it does in other countries. Racism probably stems from a fear of anything different and ignorance of other societies. There are laws in the State of New South Wales which make it illegal to discriminate against people because of their race. Australia is a multicultural country and it's population is made up of people from many different nations. You will discover that Australian students and the University staff come from many different cultural backgrounds.
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