Preparing to Arrive
You will need to make your own travel arrangements to Australia. Your affiliated college will notify you regarding how soon before the start of Overseas Student orientation you should arrive to allow enough time for settling-in, adjusting to the climate and overcoming jet-lag. There are a number of things you need to consider before and after your arrival.
Please click on the topics below to find more information.
After Your Arrival
Orientation
The affiliated college shall assist students to adjust to study and life in Australia, including an age and culturally appropriate orientation programme that includes information about:
- student support services available to students in the transition to life and study in a new environment
- legal services
- emergency and health services
- facilities and resources
- complaints and appeals processes,
- student visa condition relating to course progress and/or attendance as appropriate.
- information on their employment rights and conditions, and how to resolve workplace issues
ACT and its affiliated colleges provide a range of programs and services to enhance the transition, engagement, and overall student experience of the ACT’s overseas students. We have resources and facilities to support you throughout your studies.
The following are some of the programs and services provided to overseas students at ACT colleges:
Academic, Language, and Learning Support:
- Academic coaching and counselling
- Seminars on essay writing, exam preparation and critical thinking.
- Study skills program or workshop
- Editorial assistance
- Study groups
- Pastoral care
- Course progress planners
- General tutor service
Welfare related support services
Affiliated colleges assists students by providing information, support, advice, and referrals on a range of issues including financial, legal, educational and welfare concerns. Students can also receive advice and information on grievances and appeals.
The student support officers are available to overseas students to help them access study support and welfare-related services such as;
- Legal Services – ACT and the affiliated colleges can refer a student who requires a legal practitioner, the referral is at no cost to the student. Student would be responsible for any cost related to the legal advice provided.
- Accommodation – Accommodation advice and assistance is available to all overseas students free of charge. The fees for external agencies will be at the cost of the student. Some of the affiliated colleges has their accommodation services.
- Emergency and Health Services – During orientation students are advised on campus safety and how to access emergency and health services in Australia.
- For non-urgent services students are encouraged to talk with their college’s point of contact.
- For medical or other emergencies students are instructed to contact the appropriate services, eg 000 and inform the enrolling college as soon as appropriate.
- Facilities and Resources – At orientation students are given a guided tour of the campus and all facilities and during that process they will become aware of all the resources available to them.
- Complaints and appeals processes – The complaints and appeals policy and procedure is detailed on the website and made available from administration at anytime. The policy is specifically explained both in the Student Handbook and during orientation.
- Any student visa condition relating to course progress and or attendance as appropriate – Students are advised at orientation of their requirements to continue to meet their visa conditions, specifically the expectations for course progress and attendance.
You can also refer to information about government services for overseas students