Being an international student in Australia, I went though many ups and downs. I would like to share some important information with you and provide you with vital tips and tricks for survival in Australia.
1. Finding Accomondation ?
Answer: a) Best website - www.realestate.com.au and also www.domain.com.au
b) Uni - Notice board (most of the uni's have notice boards where you can find heaps of available accommodation. Most Unis also have online boards which you can access online before you come to Australia and hence make arrangements for yourself even before you land in Australia) usually near to student council offices and most unis have their own housing websites.
Word of Advice regarding accommodation
It would be very beneficial for you to live as near as possible to the university. If you cannot afford to live near the university campus, then live a few suburbs away from the university and commute to and from the university using a bicycle. I know many people who live far from the university but I still prefer living near the university because of the associated benefits. I will writing a more detailed article regarding living and lodging in Sydney.
2. Transportation ?
Answer: Best part I like is that you do not need to buy diffrent tickets for Bus, Tram, ferries and Train. Same ticket works for you everywhere in public transport. International students please remember that there is no concession tickets for you.
More info can be found at http://www.131500.info/realtime/default.asp
You even have a online trip planner.
3. Job Search ? What kind of jobs are in demand?
Answer: Best two sites are
a) www.seek.com.au
b) www.mycareer.com.au
Unis also have their own job boards. Keep an eye on them too.
Getting a professional job in your own field is a little bit difficult but not impossible. Most students from the sub-continent do not have the skills to make a good resume and give the right answers to all the knotty questions most employers ask in the interviews. If you are an international student, chances are that you will have a twenty hours per week work restriction on your visa. The study load combined with work rights limitations makes it very hard to find a job because most employers want full time employees. I will be providing more information on how to get a good job in Australia and how to make a good resume. Keep checking my blog.
4. Weather & Clothing
Answer: The weather is quite moderate through out the year in Sydney depending upon where you live. The farther you live from the coast, the more colder/warmer it is depending upon what weather conditions. In Melbourne it is very cold in winters and very hot in summers. Please note that because Australia is in the southern hemisphere, the summers and winters are not at the same time of the year as they are in other parts of the world. In Australia, winters come in June, July while summers come in December, January.
5. Vegitarian? Looking for cheap Vegetables and utensils?
Answer: Paddys market is the best place to buy cheap fruit and vegetables. Please note that vegetables as compared to meat, chicken and fish are expensive in Australia.
5. Electronic Items ?
Answer: Australian standard is 240 volts with frequency of 50 Hertz. Most of the universal converters are available in super markets.
6. Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service
Answer: Please read it carefully, Australians are strict and serious about this. Australian Quarantine Services.
If you don't pay attention to what is written above, you might get fined for violating Australian Quarantine rules and regulations. This might even happen on your first arrival.
7. Flying in Plane for the first time?
Answer: In your hand luggage you should carry
Migration Agent Registration Number: 0964018
1. Finding Accomondation ?
Answer: a) Best website - www.realestate.com.au and also www.domain.com.au
b) Uni - Notice board (most of the uni's have notice boards where you can find heaps of available accommodation. Most Unis also have online boards which you can access online before you come to Australia and hence make arrangements for yourself even before you land in Australia) usually near to student council offices and most unis have their own housing websites.
Word of Advice regarding accommodation
It would be very beneficial for you to live as near as possible to the university. If you cannot afford to live near the university campus, then live a few suburbs away from the university and commute to and from the university using a bicycle. I know many people who live far from the university but I still prefer living near the university because of the associated benefits. I will writing a more detailed article regarding living and lodging in Sydney.
2. Transportation ?
Answer: Best part I like is that you do not need to buy diffrent tickets for Bus, Tram, ferries and Train. Same ticket works for you everywhere in public transport. International students please remember that there is no concession tickets for you.
More info can be found at http://www.131500.info/realtime/default
You even have a online trip planner.
3. Job Search ? What kind of jobs are in demand?
Answer: Best two sites are
a) www.seek.com.au
b) www.mycareer.com.au
Unis also have their own job boards. Keep an eye on them too.
Getting a professional job in your own field is a little bit difficult but not impossible. Most students from the sub-continent do not have the skills to make a good resume and give the right answers to all the knotty questions most employers ask in the interviews. If you are an international student, chances are that you will have a twenty hours per week work restriction on your visa. The study load combined with work rights limitations makes it very hard to find a job because most employers want full time employees. I will be providing more information on how to get a good job in Australia and how to make a good resume. Keep checking my blog.
4. Weather & Clothing
Answer: The weather is quite moderate through out the year in Sydney depending upon where you live. The farther you live from the coast, the more colder/warmer it is depending upon what weather conditions. In Melbourne it is very cold in winters and very hot in summers. Please note that because Australia is in the southern hemisphere, the summers and winters are not at the same time of the year as they are in other parts of the world. In Australia, winters come in June, July while summers come in December, January.
5. Vegitarian? Looking for cheap Vegetables and utensils?
Answer: Paddys market is the best place to buy cheap fruit and vegetables. Please note that vegetables as compared to meat, chicken and fish are expensive in Australia.
5. Electronic Items ?
Answer: Australian standard is 240 volts with frequency of 50 Hertz. Most of the universal converters are available in super markets.
6. Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service
Answer: Please read it carefully, Australians are strict and serious about this. Australian Quarantine Services.
If you don't pay attention to what is written above, you might get fined for violating Australian Quarantine rules and regulations. This might even happen on your first arrival.
7. Flying in Plane for the first time?
Answer: In your hand luggage you should carry
- Your passport and student visa, aeroplane ticket, money, important documents and valuables
- Items that will be declared at Australian Customs
- A spare copy of the front pages of your passport and visa
- Emergency clothing and a jacket
- Suitcases and other luggage should be 'LOCKED' and tagged with your name, address and contact telephone numbers.
Migration Agent Registration Number: 0964018
9 comments:
Dear friend,
I was just reading through the link on 'Tips and Tricks for International Students in Australia' and came across the statement below.
'ACS has listed my degree as worth 60 points.'
Im also doing my masters in IT and the level accredited to this course at the ACS website is just 'Professional' I can find no mention of the number of points for my course. How did you know that your course was worth 60 points ??
I am not sure why they have taken away the points which were mentioned in front of every course.
Any how if you check the guidelines in the document, "Accreditation Manual",which can be downloaded at
http://www.acs.org.au/accreditation/accreditationmanual.doc
The document says
Professional Level: A Professional Level course comprises a significant major in information and communications technology designed primarily for information and communications technology professionals, and includes advanced computing topics which satisfy the requirements of the Core Body of Knowledge.
Associate Level: This Level applies to courses which include an information and communications technology component, but which do not meet the requirements of the Core Body of Knowledge, are supported by more limited academic staff, computing or library resources than that required for the Professional Level.
From the above definition, it is evident that the courses listed as professional are worth 60 points and the ones listed as associate are 50 points.
Kind Regards
what if a student defer the course to next available session...can he come to Australia 2 to 3 months b/f the semester starts..??
Actually I was coming for Feb Intake but unfortunately got my visa very late, therefore, I had to defer it to the July 2013 session, now the question is that can I come to Australia, months before my session which is starting from 15th July..my visa grant date as per GL is 14th Feb 2013, would I not be stopped at the Melbourne airport by the officials saying that you have reached too early...??(Heard from a friend)
I have a relative in Melbourne, so it would be very helpful for me to get there early n settle b/f the session.
2ndly to be very clear, it is my intention to get unofficial jobs within those two months and earn some cash for me, my friend living in Melbourne said that it would b easy to find such jobs n I know that I will not be allowed to work officially b/f the commencement of my classes...So how easy is this, or you can say RISKY to find n perform such job, Does Immigration Department really put a check on new arrivals, especially those who arrives too early..???
@Junaid
what if a student defer the course to next available session...can he come to Australia 2 to 3 months b/f the semester starts..??
If you defer your course then by law your visa is cancelled and you are required to leave the country and apply for another visa which is granted again.
The new visa granted specifies which dates you can re-enter the country again.
months before my session which is starting from 15th July..my visa grant date as per GL is 14th Feb 2013, would I not be stopped at the Melbourne airport by the officials saying that you have reached too early...??(Heard from a friend)
No one will stop you. But as per requirements of your visa, you have to inform the department that you will not be continuing with your studies for the semester.
You might even go unnoticed and no one would know about it. But why take risk and chance?
Also, the university informs the department as well of the course being deferred.
So dont take risks.
I have a relative in Melbourne, so it would be very helpful for me to get there early n settle b/f the session.
First thing would be to contact the embassy and ask them whether you can still travel early or not as you have deferred your course. If they are OK with it, you can go ahead and travel early.
2ndly to be very clear, it is my intention to get unofficial jobs within those two months and earn some cash for me, my friend living in Melbourne said that it would b easy to find such jobs n I know that I will not be allowed to work officially b/f the commencement of my classes...So how easy is this, or you can say RISKY to find n perform such job, Does Immigration Department really put a check on new arrivals, especially those who arrives too early..???
It is very risky and I would not advise you to break the law as you can be deported for breach of visa conditions.
Yes, every one does it. Depends how much risk you want to take.
Thanks a lot for the quick response..
Quote:
"If you defer your course then by law your visa is cancelled and you are required to leave the country and apply for another visa which is granted again."
M going for the 1st time n still in Pakistan, n I applied for my visa in order to go for Feb session but couldn't get it in-time, so got new COE from uni for the July session, now my studies will start from July 2013, So I think there is no need to reapply for the visa as I already own it and valid till August 2017.I will be needing extension of 6 months later as the visa duration is actually starting from Feb 2013, but now I will go for July 2013 so 6 months will have been passed with the start of my session in July....???
@Junaid
If you are in Pakistan then yes there is no need to re-apply.
Also, there is a entry date on the visa by which you must enter Australia. Make sure you enter Australia by that date.
Yes, you can apply for extension later on when visa is about to expire.
Well, there is no need to reply to ur last post i think...but m really thankful to you, u r really very helpful in solving the queries..Thanks
Hello junaid...
You are doing a great job.
I have a few doubts.
I have a ug degree.. b.tech in mechanical engineering from india with no experience.
Now i got the offer lettr from curtin university for 2 year masters degree in subsea engineering..
Here lies a few doubts.
1. Its a new course started in2014. So it s not having an accreditation from engineers australia. Its a commmonwealth registered course.
After completion will i be eligible for post study temporary work visa for 2 years.
2. Its not on sol list.. but the course is closely related to petroleum. Can i apply with that in sol.
Hello junaid...
You are doing a great job.
I have a few doubts.
I have a ug degree.. b.tech in mechanical engineering from india with no experience.
Now i got the offer lettr from curtin university for 2 year masters degree in subsea engineering..
Here lies a few doubts.
1. Its a new course started in2014. So it s not having an accreditation from engineers australia. Its a commmonwealth registered course.
After completion will i be eligible for post study temporary work visa for 2 years.
One of the requirement for applying for the graduate skilled visa subclass 485 is that you should be able to nominate a profession listed on SOL related to the 2 yr study which you have completed in Australia
http://www.immi.gov.au/Visas/Pages/485.aspx#stream
So if your studies are related to a profession on SOL then yes you can apply for the visa provided you fulfill the requirements listed on the web link I provided.
2. Its not on sol list.. but the course is closely related to petroleum. Can i apply with that in sol.
If you can gain a positive skills assessment in Petroleum then yes can apple for the visa.
However, please note that Engineers Australia only issues skills assessments based on undergraduate degrees. Not post graduate degrees.
So you post graduate degree can be in any thing but what you will get assessed based on will be the undergraduate degree which is Mechanical engineering.
So check if engineers Australia will give you a positive skills assessment in Mechanical engineering AND whether mechanical is on the SOL or not.
So you can still study the 2 yr degree you plan to study AND
then if you can get a positive skills assessment in mechanical AND
then mechanical is also on SOL
THEN yes you can apply for 2 yr work visa.
Kind Regards
Junaid
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