Student Support Advisers

Orientation Information

What to do when you arrive on campus

The Orientation Program is a compulsory session held during the week before your classes commence. It is designed to help you make new friends and find out how the University of Wollongong operates. If travelling from Sydney, please allow enough time (about 2 hours) to travel to campus and find the orientation venue. Check here for UOW parking arrangements. If your student visa is delayed or some other circumstance prevents you from attending Orientation, the following steps will take you through the most basic points covered during the program.

Campus Tour

Tours of the campus are run regularly in orientation week. You can pick up a campus map at Student Central (17) or UniCentre Building (11).

Enrolling in your subjects

International Students should go to Student Central on the ground floor of building 17 where you can pick up an enrolment pack. This will have instructions on how to enrol via the Web and how to get your student ID card. No enrolments will be accepted from new students after the end of the second week of session except with the approval of the relevant Dean. You will find subject information and timetables [use the 'timetables' link on the left menu bar] on the Web.

Study Abroad and Exchange Students who arrive late should go to the Study Abroad Office located at Student Central (building 17) for their enrolment pack.

Course Information

If you need information about your course, your specialisation, core subjects, pre- requisites, etc. go directly to your Faculty Office (once you have collected your enrolment pack from Student Central) and ask who is available to give you academic advice. 

There are nine faculties: 

Where to get help

When you arrive, please introduce yourself to one of the Student Support Advisor (SSAs). They can assist you with any questions you have about living and studying in Wollongong. They can also help to link you with other students and members of the Australian community. They will give you an Orientation Handbook with more detailed information. You can download a copy of the Handbook [PDF Format] from here. There are five SSAs situated in different faculty offices, follow the link to find the SSA in your faculty.

Accommodation

If you applied for University accommodation before the closing date and have not had your accommodation confirmed, please contact Accommodation Services located at Student Central, Building 17 opposite Sal Paradise Cafe, office hours Monday to Friday 9 am - 5 pm or email accomapp@uow.edu.au If you wish to live in private accommodation off-campus you should go to the Accommodation Services for assistance. There is a noticeboard with details of places to share or rent.

Click here for the Accommodation Service.

Banking

There are banking facilities located on campus and nearby in the City of Wollongong. The National Australia Bank on campus handles international transactions. There are automatic teller machines on campus which accept many bank cards. To open your bank account you will need your passport and your student ID card.

Parking on Campus

Information on Parking on Campus is available from here. 

Health Cover

Your Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) was paid before your student visa was issued. Ask at Student Central (building 17) after you arrive and they will tell you when you can collect your OSHC card. You are covered by OSHC as soon as you arrive in Australia. If you need to see a doctor before you get your health card, you may have to pay for the service. If you keep the receipt for the doctor's fee, you can claim a refund from OSHC at a later date. You must ensure your OSHC premium is paid for the full length of your course. OSHC does not pay for services such as dental, physiotherapy, optical, some prescription medicines or treatment for pre-existing conditions in the first 12 months of membership. For more information see OSHC.

Student Visa

It is very important to comply with the conditions listed on your student visa if you are to remain lawful while you are in Australia. The main points you should remember are:

  • notify the University of your address in Australia within 7 days of arrival and within 7 days of any change of address.
  • renew your visa before it expires
  • be enrolled full-time - this means that you must be enrolled in a minimum of 18 credit points each session or 2 subjects per intake at the Business School
  • satisfy course requirements - this means you must meet the minimum rate of progress as determined by the University
  • comply with your work rights - students who break their work rights will have their student visa cancelled - (see below)
  • you must remain with your original education provider for the first 12 months
  • maintain adequate arrangements for health insurance 

Student Visa with Work Rights

You may apply for work rights after you arrive in Australia and have started your course of study. When applying for work rights, you must produce evidence from the University that you have commenced your course. Students are limited to 20 hours work per week while their course is in session. This condition is very strictly monitored by DIMA. Applications for Student Visas with Permission to Work can be made in three ways:

  1. by lodging over the internet
  2. by lodging at the Wollongong campus Post Office and
  3. by lodging through the post. DIMA do not accept applications at their Sydney Office for on-the-spot applications.

For the procedure to follow see applying for your work visa.

Travel Concessions

Bus timetables for the buses to and from the University are available from the SRC (ground floor, UniCentre [building 11]) or from the bus driver. Student concessions are available on Wollongong bus services to and from the University only. Take your student ID card to Student Central (building 17). International students are NOT eligible for concessions on other bus services or for travel on trains (with the exception of some Australian government scholars and exchange students). Be careful to purchase the correct full-fare ticket, especially if using a ticket machine at the station. There is a $200 fine for travelling without the proper ticket. Ticket inspectors make regular checks of train tickets

Part-time work

Information on part-time work is available from here.

Culture Shock

Whatever country you come from, you will find Australia unfamiliar at first. Many things will be new to you: the people, their clothes, the houses, the food, the smells, the countryside, the sound of another language. Like many other students you may find these changes upsetting and confusing. The sense of living among strangers may make you miss the comfort of your friends and family at home. You could feel hopeless, frustrated or angry. Your reaction could be to withdraw from your new surroundings by spending a lot of time on your own. If you are feeling distressed by the feelings you have in this strange new place, you are probably undergoing culture shock. All international students have some of these feelings - they are quite normal - but most learn to overcome them some time in the first few months of their stay here. There are some things you can do to help yourself.

  • You can talk to the Student Support Advisor (SSAs) situated throughout the faculties or Counsellors on Level 3 of UniCentre (building 11) and Student Central (building 17) who would be happy to help you with any problems you have settling in to your new life.
  • Find ways to meet as many people as possible. Join clubs, go to campus activities, play sports, be ready to talk.
  • Observe people, listen to them and ask many questions. It is important not to judge people before you understand their values and customs.
  • It's a good idea to learn to laugh at the mistakes you will make from time to time. People in Australia come from many different cultural backgrounds and they will be happy to help you.

 International Friendship Program

Information about the International Friendship Program is available from here,

Help with English or study problems

If you need help with grammar, speaking, essay writing, thesis writing or other language or academic issues, visit the Learning Resource Centre (LRC) in Building 19, Room G102. The staff there can see you individually, provide you with resources or enrol you in a workshop. All services at the LRC are free.

Plagiarism

The Western tradition places great emphasis on individuals creating new ideas. Once an individual has created a theory or argument, that idea is considered to belong to that person. In academic writing, it is extremely important to let the reader know who the ideas you are using belong to if they are not your own. You should always use a reference (give the name of the author and date of publication) when you have used an idea which is not your own. Detailed guidelines for referencing can be found in faculty handbooks and can be obtained from the Learning Resource Centre (building 19, room G102). Remember that plagiarism is a serious offence at the University and can lead to heavy penalties. It is easily detected by lecturers who are familiar with the text books and articles on the subjects you may be writing about.

Other questions

The SSAs can help answer your questions about many other issues such as, Australian customs and culture, students with dependants, road safety, health, living expenses, shopping and services and organisations that can help you.

  

 

 
Last reviewed: 25 October, 2011