FAQs

WILL I FEEL HOMESICK?

It is actually quite normal to feel 'down' or 'homesick' after the excitement of leaving your home, meeting new people, finding your way around a new place and absorbing so much new information. Some students regret leaving home when they face all these new challenges, including having to shop and cook for themselves. Most students who move to Canberra feel homesick at some stage. It is a good idea to prepare yourself for this and to remind yourself that you have already done very well in becoming independent by travelling all the way to Australia and dealing with all the new experiences along the way. This feeling is natural and it will pass after a short time. But if this feeling persists you might want to talk to one of counsellors at the institution you would be studying at.

Studying in Canberra

What should I bring with me?

Important Documents:

Airline tickets
Valid passport with student visa
Certified copies of your academic records - especially if you are seeking credit or exemptions for study you have already undertaken. Make sure you bring of your transcripts, curriculum and syllabus with you
Travellers cheques and/or currency
Other forms of identification such as a certified copy of your birth certificate, driver's licence, country ID card, marriage certificate (if applicable)
Your offer letter from the institution you have applied to study in
Bank account details
Medical records

Other Items (optional)

You may be able to buy warm clothing cheaper in Canberra than at home. But you should probably bring one or two items of warm clothing with you in case the weather is cold when you arrive.

Please also consider bringing with you:

Bed sheets and a pillow
Clothing for hot and cold weather
Sports equipment
Electric plug/adaptor (Australia runs on 240 volt electricity)
Covered shoes and sneakers
Towel
Spare spectacles if you wear them
Bi-lingual dictionary
Some personal items such as photos of friends and family to decorate your room, and help remind you of home
Electrical appliances: such as a portable CD player, mini disc or MP3 player, calculator, personal computer or lap top (you do not need to pay duty or sales tax on a computer that is brought to Australia, provided you take it out of Australia at the end of your studies. However it is advisable to declare the computer in the Travellers Statement especially if it is less than 12 months old).
You should bring a medical prescription with you if you take medication. You should use this if you need to see a doctor in Canberra in case the medication here has a different name. If you are bringing pharmaceutical drugs you should bring a letter from your doctor stating why you need the medication.
A guide to Australia, such as Lonely Planet. These can be really helpful when travelling.

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WHAT ARE SOME IMPORTANT TRAVEL TIPS I SHOULD KNOW ABOUT?

Leave a photocopy of all of your documents (including your student visa) with someone at home.
Carry all of your important documents with you as hand luggage on the plane.
Always keep your passport with you while you are travelling.
Do not agree to bring a bag or other items to Australia for someone else, it might contain something illegal.
Make sure all your luggage has your name, address and the University's address on it.
Have a lock and a strap around your suitcase for safety.
The check-in baggage allowance for economy class is 20kg.
Drink lots of water on the plane to make sure you don't get dehydrated.
Get up and walk around the plane frequently to stretch your legs.
Take ear plugs and eye shades with you on the plane if you have an overnight flight.
Make sure you have enough currency with you for when you arrive.
Keep any items you need to declare at Customs in an easily accessible place
Ask an official for help if you are unsure.

Regulations

STUDENT VISA As an International student studying in Australia you MUST hold a current student visa. The Australian Government attaches regulations and requirements to holders of student visas that students must adhere to.

Please note the following regulations apply to your student visa:

You must maintain a full-time study load and full-time attendance in a study program.
You must provide the university with your current address in Canberra and advise the University of any changes in your contact details.
You must achieve and maintain a satisfactory academic record. - You are not permitted to study a subject more than twice.
You are not permitted to change your education provider or transfer to another institution until you have studied for 12 months with the original institution.

It is your responsibility to make sure that while you are in Australia both your visa and passport are valid. Remember that the expiry date on both these documents can be different from other students so it is important to keep track of it. As a student you will be issued with a visa for the length of your course. If at the end of this period you have not completed all of your course requirements you will have to renew your visa.

For further information on Student visas, refer to:

www.immi.gov.au
www.studyinaustralia.gov.au

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WHAT DOES MY INTERNATIONAL STUDENT VISA MEAN?

Your international student visa has a number of regulations attached to it that are very important for you to be aware of. Some of the most important are:
You are required to study full-time each semester.
You must have valid Overseas Student Health Cover for the length of your stay.
You must let UC College know if you change address, within 7 days of you moving.

You must maintain your enrolment and a satisfactory academic record throughout your entire stay. If you are not enrolled, change your student status or transfer to another institution (usually only possible after 12 months) we are required to notify the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs.

CAN I WORK IN AUSTRALIA?

It is possible for you to work while studying in Australia. If you want to work once you arrive in Australia you need to apply for a student visa with working rights. You do this by contacting the Department of Immigration and Citizen (DIC) after you have started studying. The cost of a work permit is $AU60.00 and is subject to change without notice. The work permit will entitle you to work for up to 20 hours per week during each semester and full-time during semester break. However, you should not plan to work to cover your living expenses or tuition fees; you should make sure that you have enough money to pay for these expenses before you arrive in Canberra. Any work you do should only be for work experience or extra 'pocket money'. Your main reason for coming to Canberra is to complete your studies, and if you spend too much time working you may fail subjects that you have to re-do and pay for again! It can also be challenging to find part-time work in Australia and you should not rely on this to be able to live here.

For further information, refer to: www.immi.gov.au/e_visa/students.htm

WHAT I CANNOT BRING WITH ME?

You should be aware that Australia's quarantine laws are very strict and many foodstuffs, plants, animal products and some medicines MUST not be brought into Australia. When you board the plane in your country you will be given an Incoming Passenger Card and this is where you need to declare any of the items that have restrictions (see the list next page). If you DO NOT declare these items you may receive a fine, so if in doubt declare the item. If you declare an item as you arrive in Australia, or if it is sent through the mail, it will be inspected by a quarantine officer and returned to you if it passes inspection. Articles may need to be treated before being returned to you. In this case, you may choose to pay for the treatment or re-exportation of the article, or have it destroyed. These restrictions also apply to items being mailed to Australia, so please tell your friends and family overseas so they know about declarable and prohibited goods.

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GOODS WHICH MUST BE DECLARED

Herbs and spices of any kind
Dried fruit and vegetables
Biscuits, cakes and confectionery
Noodles and rice
Teas, coffee, juices and other drinks
Salmon
All other foods
Holy water
Wool (unprocessed) and animal hair
Bee products
Pine cones and potpourri
Stuffed animals
Animal equipment (used)
Herbal medicines
Bamboo, cane or rattan basketware and mats
Fresh flowers
Dried flower arrangements
Seeds in any form
Straw packing and handicrafts
All wooden articles, artefacts, handicrafts and curios
Shells or coral in any form
Feathers, bones, horns and tusks
Sporting and camping equipment Australia's quarantine laws are very strict and many foodstuffs, plants, animal products and some medicines may not be brought into Australia.

GOODS WHICH CANNOT ENTER AUSTRALIA

Milk and milk products
Handicrafts and souvenirs that contain or are made from seeds
Popping corn or raw unroasted nuts
Banana products, including chips
Eggs and products containing eggs
Fresh fruit and vegetables
Live animals
Uncanned meat products
Live plants
Biological materials
Deer horn/velvet, edible bird's nest
Soil and sand
Illicit drugs, weapons or firearms Note: some goods may enter if prior arrangements are made. If you're unsure about whether your goods are prohibited or not, you should declare them anyway and ask a quarantine officer.

You can check in advance either at AQIS (Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service) offices or on the AQIS website: www.aqis.gov.au

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