Each school has a dedicated staff member to provide you with welfare support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Your teachers will support you with the knowledge and skills to pursue your dreams.
We know your classmates will enjoy having you study with them as you bring a wealth of new ideas, cultures and languages. Make sure you get involved in extra-curricular activities to help you settle in and make new friends.
We want you to feel secure and happy from the moment you arrive. We have lots of useful tips about student life in Victoria and what to expect when you get here. There are also important details like websites and phone numbers.
All students will receive the following resources:
Here is some information to help you get ready to travel and prepare for study in Victoria.
From September to March, Victoria operates in Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) which is only 2-4 hours ahead of many countries in Asia.
From October to April, Victoria operates on Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT) which is about 1 hour ahead of many countries in Asia.
Compared to many places, the Victorian climate is mild and comfortable. Weather can change quickly, sometimes more than once a day. Below is a chart of average daily maximum temperatures. These vary by location, e.g. closer to the mountains will naturally be cooler. You can find more Victorian weather information at the Bureau of Meteorology website: bom.gov.au/vic
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average maximum temeperature (° C) | |||||||||||
| 25.9 | 25.8 | 23.9 | 20.3 | 16.7 | 14.1 | 13.5 | 15.0 | 17.2 | 19.7 | 22.0 | 24.2 |
| Average minimum temeperature (° C) | |||||||||||
| 14.3 | 14.6 | 13.2 | 10.8 | 8.6 | 6.9 | 6.0 | 6.7 | 8.0 | 9.5 | 11.2 | 12.9 |
| Average rainfall (mm) | |||||||||||
| 47.6 | 48.0 | 50.4 | 57.3 | 55.8 | 49.0 | 47.5 | 50.0 | 58.1 | 66.4 | 60.4 | 59.5 |
Victoria’s mild climate offers plenty of opportunity for outdoor activity and an active, healthy lifestyle. Like all countries in the southern hemisphere, Australia’s seasons follow the sequence:
| Summer | Autumn | Winter | Spring |
|---|---|---|---|
| December-February | March-May | June-August | September-November |
Check your passport’s expiry date and ensure it’s valid for the full length of your student visa. Make two printed copies of your passport and visa. Bring one printed copy with you, but keep it separate from the originals. Leave the second printed copy at home with your family. You may also want to take a photo with your phone of your passport and visa, so you have a digital copy as well. Taking these precautions will help in case you lose the originals.
Wait until your student visa has been issued and tuition fees are paid before making travel plans. You should book flights to Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine) soon after this. If you will be staying in a homestay, once your flights are booked, your parents or education agent will be required to complete the Flight Details Form and email it to the Department of Education (the department). This is so that the International Student Coordinator (ISC) at your new school can plan for your arrival.
Once you have your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) letter and Australian visa, you can book your flight to Melbourne, Victoria.
Homestay students should not arrive earlier than one week before the first day of school. If possible, you should plan to arrive on a flight that arrives at Melbourne airport between 6am and 8pm. This timing ensures that your school can pick you up from the airport and take you to your homestay family. .
Your parents should contact the department if you cannot arrive in time as this will impact your studies and potentially your visa.
Your health and medical history are important. Make appropriate preparations for your health when travelling to Victoria.
You must continue to use your medication while in Victoria. Stopping your medication without professional medical advice is dangerous and can negatively impact your health and studies.
Before leaving your home country, ask your doctor for enough medicine for the first 3 months of study in Victoria and for a letter that includes the pharmaceutical name of, and reason for, any medicine you are planning to bring or may need to buy in Australia. A documented medical history will ensure you get proper care, keep you safe in an emergency and help you study effectively.
For more information, refer to the Australian Department of Home Affairs health requirements before leaving home at: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/meeting-our-requirements/health.
You should take out travel insurance in case you need medical care on your way to Australia. You will also need to arrange Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) as part of your enrolment process. The department can arrange OSHC for you which is an option on the application form. If you selected health cover, speak to your ISC once you arrive at school to arrange for your OSHC card to be sent to your home or school.
Your OSHC starts one week before your course start date, even if you don’t have the card yet. This medical insurance provides basic cover, so make sure you understand any limits or conditions.
Extended health insurance can be arranged once you arrive in Victoria. Your ISC will help you with this, if required. For more information on OSHC, see: studyaustralia.gov.au/en/plan-your-move/overseas-student-health-cover-oshc
It’s important to tell your current bank that you are about to travel and arrange to either access money in Australia or make payments in foreign currency. Your ISC or homestay family can help you set up a bank in Australia when you arrive.
Ask your mobile phone carrier if your phone will work in Australia. You might need a new SIM or handset to use while you’re here.
Victoria has varied seasonal weather, so you’ll need clothing to suit. Most Victorian government schools have a school uniform. So, you will likely only need casual clothes for extra-curricular activities and weekends.
You can go to school on your first day in casual clothes. Your International Student Coordinator (ISC) will give you uniform information, as part of the orientation. You may find it cost effective to bring some basic school clothing items with you if you have them, i.e. plain dark-coloured socks, warm underclothes for winter and black leather lace-up shoes.
Don’t forget enough personal care items to last you for the first few weeks in Victoria, i.e. a toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, feminine hygiene products, etc. You don’t need to bring too much if you are staying in homestay accommodation as many household items are provided by the homestay family.
To help with your transition, it’s also a good idea to pack photos of family and friends, or a small reminder of home.
Remember to pack your medicines if you are taking any. Stopping your medication without professional medical advice is dangerous and can negatively impact your health and studies.
If you need regular medicine for a medical condition (like diabetes, asthma or eczema), pack this along with a letter from your doctor and your medical history. For more information, see: Before you pack.
If you are not travelling with family, it’s a good idea to bring about AUD $400 in cash for unexpected or immediate expenses. You can take our cash at Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) at the airport and many shopping centres.
You can also change foreign currency at currency exchanges at:
The Australian Border Force has strict rules about what you can bring into Australia. These include how much money you can carry, vitamins and medicines (pharmacy or natural/traditional), food items, animal products and pets. In many cases, these types of items will be confiscated at the airport. Try to avoid bringing them with you, and always declare what you do bring on the Incoming Passenger Card given to you by the airline. Australian Border Force officers at the airport can advise you on what you can bring and what you should declare.
Victoria is a very multicultural state, we have many cultural shops, so we do not recommend bringing food from home. Ask your International Student Coordinator for the location of these multicultural shops.
For more information on the food items you can bring to Australia, see: Can you bring it in? (abf.gov.au)
To make your journey as smooth as possible, we have created a pre-departure checklist
