Australia is made up of eight states and territories. People from all parts of the world travel to live in or visit Australia. The country is surrounded by water offering beautiful beaches and amazing natural attractions like the Great Barrier Reef, many National Parks, deserts, tropical forests, canyons, mountains, and more. Some of Australia’s most popular recreational activities are surfing and skiing. Sydney was one of the first cities established in Australia. It’s also the largest and most popular. This cosmopolitan city boasts the famous Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. There are also numerous world class restaurants and shopping areas. Students joining us will always have something to do whilst in Sydney.
Living expenses can include accommodation, transportation, food, clothes, books and entertainment. You will need approximately AUD $20,000 to cover the whole year of study in Sydney (excluding tuition fees). Rent is fairly high in Sydney but this depends on whether you choose to share with friends and which suburb you choose to live in. Transport is easy to access as all trains, buses, ferry and light rails lead to the CBD.
Students should have at least AUD $2,000 upon arrival to cover your initial expenses. These figures do not include large household items such as a refrigerator or a car. For more information, visit www.studyinaustralia.gov.au.
The Australian government requires that all international students have Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). OSHC offers you access to a world-class health care system. This is great for the quality of treatment for anyone injured or sick in Australia; however, it can become quite costly. Having OSHC can assist in mitigating these costs. BUPA is a popular insurance company with international students.
International students are allowed to work for 40 hours per fortnight whilst studying full time. There are numerous casual and part-time jobs available for students in cafes, restaurants, or retail businesses. Working offers you the right to minimum wage as well as superannuation. For more information, visit www.fairwork.gov.au.
Whether it’s getting to our sydney campus or traveling around the greater sydney, there’s plenty to do by exploring Sydney, you count with an extensive network of transport by using trains, bus, ferry or light rail.
Opal is the electronic ticketing system used on public transport in NSW.
Opal cards are a quick and convenient way of paying for your travel. They can be purchased at most train stations, bus interchanges, some post offices, news agencies, convenience stores, supermarkets and other locations. You can find the retailers on the map (opens an external site) or order them online through Opal (opens an external site).
When using an Opal card, you need to tap on and tap off at the start and end of each trip and the fare is calculated automatically. When using an Opal Card, if you complete eight paid journeys (from Monday to Sunday), your fares for the rest of the week will be half-price. Travel rewards also apply, with a daily cap on adult fares of $15.40 per day or $61.60 per week. Travel rewards do not apply to single trip opal tickets. Travel on Sundays and pay a maximum of A$2.60 for your journey on trains, buses and ferries. For more information visit the Opal website (opens an external site).
Opal does not currently offer reduced fares for international students.