For the latest Covid19 information, please visit the Home Affairs website.

1. Check your dates

Students must arrive for orientation, which is in most cases mandatory. Usually orientation is many days prior to the actual commencement of classes. It is important that you read the information on the Offer Letter to find out when your orientation is. Your OSHC should start 28 days before your commencement date, which is also when you can arrive in Australia on your student visa. 

2. Find a cheap flight

Book your Flights as soon as possible! If you are considering trying to find a last minute deal, it is generally not worth the risk. As a general rule, the longer you wait to book, the more expensive your flight will be. We would you encourage you to use our flight search form as it searches all airlines (via Jetradar).

3. Book somewhere to stay

If you haven’t already found accommodation for your first few months in Australia, Urban Student can help you with purpose-built student accommodation, Homestay, and other options! Please contact us directly if you would like us to help organise your accommodation. If you are looking to find your own share house or rental, we would recommend checking out: Flatmates.com.au and Domain.com.au

4. Check your bags

Before you hug your loved ones and jump on a plane, please check Australia’s customs and import biosecurity requirements, and identify any items you cannot bring (or those that you will need to declare at the airport on arrival). Refer to agriculture.gov.au

5. Things to pack

While you can buy anything you need in Australia, we would recommend you bring the items below (just don’t forget to check with your airline what the maximum your luggage can weigh so you don’t have to pay excess luggage charges).

• Bath towels, bedsheets, pillowcases
• Toiletries
• Umbrella
• Micro recorder for lectures
• Spare glasses or contact lenses
• Your prescriptions
• A month of any regular medication you may be taking
• Photos of friends and family
• Swimming costume
• A hat
• Small gifts from home
• Australian power adapter

6. Make a budget

It is important to make sure you will be able to afford day-to-day living costs in Australia. Accommodation, food, transport etc. Can quickly add up. After reading about what student visa work conditions are like we would recommend you create a simple budget to help manage your money.

7. Say hello!

Let us know when you arrive in Australia… our service does not stop when you commence your studies. We are here to provide support and advocacy throughout your student journey, so if you need something please get in touch. If you have time, we’d also really enjoy meeting with you face-to-face after you’ve spent a few weeks at your new College or Uni so we can get some feedback on the course, learning environment and facilities.