All you need to do before you study abroad in Australia

6/4/2018

there are some things you need to take care of besides just enrolling into uni.

Guest post contributed by Zara Lewis.

You finally enrolled in your desired university and you’re feeling so free and relaxed. All your troubles have seized and now you can just enjoy the next big part of your life that university brings. You’re on top of the world and everything is perfect. Well, not quite. Actually, there are some things you need to take care of besides just enrolling into uni. You need to do some research and prepare for your life there. You’ll be moving and changing your routine entirely and you need to be prepared. So, unfortunately, your troubles aren’t over yet. As a foreign student you will be faced with several bureaucracy issues, as well as cultural changes, so get to it ASAP.

All you need to do before you study abroad in Australia. Australian Flag portrait.

Visa

If you want to study in Australia for more than three months, you’ll need to get a visa. The bad news is that it costs money, but the good news is that the process itself is fairly a formality, so you shouldn’t be worried about whether or not you’re going to get it. You don’t even have to go to the embassy since the whole thing can be done online and it’s virtually linked to your passport, so the only actual cost to this is financial. Everything else is a piece of cake. Of course, not doing this on time can cause you some unnecessary inconvenience, so don’t let it happen.

Health insurance

This is also a part that future students often forget about. Luckily, their parents are usually there to remind them of these formalities. Take a close look at you uni contract. If your programme is done via an organization or agency, chances are high that health insurance is already included. However, if you enrolled through direct contact with your university, you probably don’t have health coverage and you need to get one. Ask around and find the best possible option, both health and money wise.

All you need to do before you study abroad in Australia. Country girl looking at map.

Accommodation

A lot of Australian universities are located in major population centers, as smaller towns simply lack the infrastructure to support them. Naturally, you’d like to get a comfy place at a good location. This is quite a challenge. Luckily, you can find student accommodations that fulfil these criteria and are affordable to boot. For instance, there are some amazing student accommodation options in Sydney, Brisbane or Melbourne that provide plenty of space, new furniture, wi-fi, as well as a great location just outside the campus and close to various places where you can spend your leisure time.

Budget

Another elementary fact you need to know is that Australia is expensive. You need to learn about prices and estimate your daily budget. Depending on which country you’re coming from and your family’s financial status, you might be forced to change your daily habits to a significant degree. In that respect, you might have to calculate your expenses and make some cuts, as well. For instance, you might have to cut back on coffee with friends and make your own coffee-to- go. There may be student restaurants that offer cheaper food, so you should know their location and their cost.

Working student

After knowing about your budget, you’ll be able to decide whether you need to get a job or you can manage without it. Regardless, there are options of being a working student in Australia, whether you’re in need for money or you just want to make some on the side in order to travel or be able to afford a few luxuries for yourself. These include working in a car wash, library, tutoring and all sorts of part-time work that doesn’t demand any previous certificates or experience. All in all, we hope you know a bit more now than you did when you started reading this article. It’s just like we said – the worst part is over, but there are still things you need to take care of before you’re actually ready to just sit back and relax. So, give your best to resolve them and after that, you’ll be able to relax guilt-free until it’s time to move and start uni.

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Contributed by Zara Lewis.
Zara is a regular contributor at ripped.me, plus a traveler and a mother of two. Originally from Chicago, she found her place in the sun in Perth, Australia, and is passionate about spreading the word about fantastic places to visit and creating a better world for the generations to come.