Prepare to arrive in Sydney

Some helpful tips on being ready for your exciting move.

YouTube
Tencent

Things you need to know

Welcome to the UNSW Community, now that you have received your UNSW College offer you can begin preparing to arrive in Sydney and start your journey towards a UNSW degree.

Once you’ve accepted your offer to study with us, it’s time to do some important preparation to help make your journey to UNSW as smooth and stress-free as possible. Here’s what you need to prepare before you arrive.

CoE and Student visa

After you have accepted your offer to study at UNSW College and paid your required tuition fees, we will issue you with your relevant Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE).

Your CoE is required for all international student visa applications. Once your offer is accepted, and you have received your CoE, you can apply for your Student Visa. You can’t study in Australia without it, so we recommend you apply as soon as possible so your visa will be processed in time. This is also a great time to ensure that your passport is current and valid.

It’s your responsibility to make sure you satisfy all visa requirements and processes for obtaining your student visa. This includes COVID-19 requirements, which are outlined here. You should also take the time to understand all conditions of your visa, the Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) system is a great resource.

And don’t forget to print and keep with you a copy of your visa while travelling!

Questions? Contact your agent or email enquiries@unswcollege.unsw.edu.au

Overseas Student Health Cover

It is a visa requirement that all students have Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC).

Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) provides affordable access to medical and hospital treatment and subsidises most prescription drugs and emergency ambulance transport. It does not cover dental treatment or physiotherapy.

Health services on campus include a medical clinic, optometrist, dentist, doctor, physiotherapist and UNSW Counselling and Psychological Services (CAPS).

Find out more about OSHC with Medibank* – our preferred provider.

*There are many suppliers of OSHC. Our contract agreement with Medibank Private Ltd, allows us to receive a standard industry commission from Medibank Private Ltd to act as a preferred supplier of OSHC for our international students.

Find out more

Accommodation

Since you’re moving here, you need somewhere to live! Do you want to live alone, with friends, with other students, on campus or close to the beach? There are plenty of accommodation options close to campus in Sydney; you just have to choose what will work best for you. Think about booking some short-term accommodation before you arrive, then settle on somewhere long-term once you’ve had time to explore. If you are under 18, there are some additional requirements, but we can help you every step of the way.

Explore accommodation options

Bring your own device (BYOD)

You will need to bring your own PED (Personal Electronic Device) and headphones to all classes. This is how you will access learning materials, and participate in learning activities in and outside the classroom. We recommend you purchase and get used to your own device and headphones before you arrive, so it’s one less thing to have to figure out while settling in and starting classes. It’s also great for communicating with friends and family back home, anytime.

What kind of device?

A laptop or notebook computer is considered the most suitable option for all study activities. Here are some things to keep in mind when making your choice.

Size and weight: You’ll be carrying your device around all day and taking it to classes, so make sure the weight and size is practical for you. Try and make it under 2kg.
Battery life: If you can’t recharge your device during the day, you want it to last throughout class time. Look for devices with good battery life, ideally 10 hours or more.

Check out our guidelines for more information on BYOD.

Device Guidelines (English)

Device Guidelines (Chinese)

Cost of living

When moving to a new city, it’s important to understand how much money you’ll need to be able to live, study and socialise the way you want. The Australian Department of Home Affairs requires students to have the financial capacity to cover living costs of at least $A21,041 per year (not including course fees).

Find out more in our cost of living guide

Booking flights and airport pick up/transfer

When your visa is approved, you should look into booking your flights to Sydney. We would recommend arriving around a week before your Orientation date, so you have some time to settle in and prepare for the adventure ahead.

Before you leave your home country it is a good idea to familiarise yourself with the most up to date boarder policies and international travel requirements.

When you arrive at Sydney airport, there are many ways to get to your accommodation. If you’ve travelled before, you can use public transport, a taxi or rideshare service. Just follow the signs in the arrivals hall to direct you where you need to go. The easiest option is our Airport Pickup service.

For ease and simplicity, you can also pre-book UNSW College's airport pickup service, at an additional cost, once you have accepted your program offer. Under 18 students must use the approved airport pickup service. Please arrange and pay for this at least two weeks before arrival.

Simply complete our Airport Reception Form and we’ll handle the rest.

Over 18s

If you are over the age of 18 years you have the option to travel independently from the airport to your accommodation provider. You can choose from a range of different transport options including, public transport, rideshare or taxi services. Alternatively, you can book our airport pick up service at an additional cost.

Under 18s

If you are part of the UNSW College Under 18s Care Plan you must use the airport pick up service.

What to pack for your trip

Essential items to consider when packing

You won’t be back home for a while, so it’s important to make sure you’ve packed to essentials for your arrival in Sydney. Here are a few tips from us

Your passport.

A document folder containing printed copies of your:

Offer letter

Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE)

Original academic transcripts

Your orientation letter

Tuition payments receipts

Identification documents

Important contact numbers

Details of pre-arranged accommodation

Important medical records

A copy of your passport

A laptop or tablet and headphones.

Chargers for your phone, camera, laptop and other electronic devices, plus a converter for Australian power outlets.

Money – you want to have about A$2000 available when you arrive in Sydney, but this doesn’t have to be all in cash.

Any medication and prescriptions, plus spare glasses or contact lenses.

Clothes for many different seasons. We experience extreme heat and cold in Sydney, so best to be prepared for anything.

Basic toiletries, but you can buy whatever you need when you get here.

Confirm your Timetable

From 30 June 2023 onward, all students will be expected to study in-person on campus and will be timetabled into face-to-face classes from the start of their program. If you are unable to study in-person from 1 March 2023 to 30 June 2023, please complete the form below related to your course.

Once you have arrived in Sydney

We are excited for you to join us at UNSW College. Once you have arrived there are a few simple things you can do to help you get ready for student life in Sydney.

At the airport we recommend that you purchase an Australian local mobile SIM card. Telstra, Optus or Vodaphone are all located in the Arrivals Hall inside the terminal.
Call, text or email your family to let them know you’ve arrived safely.
Buy an Opal Card to travel on Sydney public transport. You can use an Open Card to access public transport, your Opal Card can be ordered online or purchased at select retailers. If you are a full-time student, you may be eligible for concessions, contact student services for more information.
Check your personal email, you provided, for any important messages about your Orientation Day.
Locate all the essentials – your closest supermarket, doctor, chemist, shopping centre and public transport stops.
Open an Australian bank account
Register for your face-to-face classes if you haven't done so.
Apply for a Tax File Number (if you want to work while studying). You will need to check your eligibility to work in Sydney while you study.

Our Student Support team is available to help you with any questions you have. Connect with a professional from our team.

Student Support

UNSW Global Pty Limited ABN 62 086 418 582 trading as UNSW College™.

Diploma & Foundation Studies
UNSW Global Pty Limited ABN 62 086 418 582 trading as UNSW College™ currently delivers Diplomas and Foundation Studies on behalf of UNSW Sydney - CRICOS Provider Code 00098G; UNSW Sydney TEQSA Provider ID: PRV12055 (Australian University).
From 26 August 2024, UNSW College™ will commence delivery of Diplomas under its own CRICOS Provider Code - 01020K and TEQSA Provider ID: PRV13020 (Institute of Higher Education).
From 13 January 2025, UNSW College™ will commence delivery of Foundation Studies under its own CRICOS Provider Code - 01020K and TEQSA Provider ID: PRV13020 (Institute of Higher Education).

Pre-Masters Program & Academic English
UNSW College™ delivers the Pre-Masters Program and Academic English programs under CRICOS Provider Code 01020K and TEQSA Provider ID: PRV13020 (Institute of Higher Education).