International Students

New South Wales is a south-eastern Australian state, distinguished by its coastal cities and national parks. Sydney, its capital, is home to iconic structures such as the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Inland are the rugged Blue Mountains, rainforests and outback towns where opals are mined. Along the coastline are long surfing beaches. The Hunter Valley region, in the north, has dozens of wineries.
New South Wales also known as NSW has the largest population in Australia. The state’s capital city is Sydney. Sydney is Australia’s most populated city with an estimated population of over 4.4 million people. NSW is located in south-eastern Australia. It has a total area of 800,642 km² and covers 10.4 percent of Australia. New South Wales’ coastline is only 2137 km long.

Sydney is the state capital of New South Wales and the most populous city in Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia’s east coast, the metropolis surrounds the world’s largest natural harbour, and sprawls towards the Blue Mountains to the west. Residents of Sydney are known as “Sydneysiders”. Sydney is the secondary official seat and secondary official residence of the Governor-General of Australia and the Prime Minister of Australia.
The Sydney area has been inhabited by indigenous Australians for at least 30,000 years. The first British settlers, led by Captain Arthur Phillip, arrived in 1788 to found Sydney as a penal colony, the first European settlement in Australia. Since convict transportation ended in the mid-19th century, the city has transformed from a colonial outpost into a major global cultural and economic centre. As at June 2016 Sydney’s estimated population was 5,005,358. In the 2011 census, 34 percent of the population reported having been born overseas, representing many different nationalities and making Sydney one of the most multicultural cities in the world. There are more than 250 different languages spoken in Sydney and about one-third of residents speak a language other than English at home.
Despite being one of the most expensive cities in the world, the 2014 Mercer Quality of Living Survey ranks Sydney tenth in the world in terms of quality of living, making it one of the most liveable cities. It is classified as an Alpha+ World City by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network, indicating its influence in the region and throughout the world. Ranked eleventh in the world for economic opportunity, Sydney has an advanced market economy with strengths in finance, manufacturing and tourism. Its gross regional product was $337 billion in 2013, the largest in Australia. There is a significant concentration of foreign banks and multinational corporations in Sydney and the city is promoted as one of Asia Pacific’s leading financial hubs. Polytechnic Institute Australia (PIA) is located right in the heart of Sydney, which was named the top destination in the world for international students by the A.T. Kearney 2014 Global Cities Index and Emerging Cities Outlook.
In addition to hosting events such as the 2000 Summer Olympics, Sydney is amongst the top fifteen most-visited cities in the world, with millions of tourists coming each year to see the city’s landmarks. Its natural features include Sydney Harbour, the Royal National Park, and the Royal Botanic Garden. Man-made attractions such as the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Tower and the Sydney Harbour Bridge are also well known to international visitors.
(Reference; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney)
The Study Sydney web site is a useful source of information, established by the New South Wales government with information specifically on Sydney and regional cities in New South Wales. The web site address is http://www.study.sydney/

Much emphasis is placed upon private (individual) study along the lines of assignments, on research and learning to analyse data and present arguments about subject matter, and on being willing to defend one’s argument. All these involve heavy use of libraries, intensive note taking in lectures, and active participation in the learning process (as opposed to passive listening and rote learning).
PIA offers the use of a Learning Management Platform for it students to interact and engage in after lectures and Tutorials. Student are required to have basic digital literacy prior to commencing.
To be a successful student, you will need to adapt to these methods of learning, but most education institutions in Australia are very willing to help as they offer counselling services and assistance to develop effective study skills. Many lecturers in Australia have vast experience teaching overseas students, they understand the difficulties in getting used to different study methods and they will be patient in helping you to develop new skills

Sydney enjoys a temperate climate with four distinct seasons in the year – spring, summer, winter and autumn. Below is a guide to the average daily temperatures.

Spring September – November 11-23 degrees
Summer December to February 19-30 degrees
Autumn March to May 15 – 22 degrees
Winter June to August 9 – 17 degrees
Sydney does not have a specific wet season – it can rain at any time of the year.
Sports and other outdoor activities are possible at all times of the year.

For a full list of festivals and events please visit http://www.sydney.com/events-festivals-and-celebrations

• Annual Sydney Comedy Festival
• Pyrmont Wine, Food and Art Festival
• Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia
• Sydney Writers Festival.
• Sydney Film Festival
• Australian International Music Festival
• Sydney Fringe Festival
• Sydney Underground Film Festival
• Octoberfest
• Woolworths Carols in the Domain

• Invictus Games
• Golf Australian Open
• Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
• Sydney International (tennis)

9.30 am – 4.00 pm Monday to Thursday
9.30 am – 5.00 pm Friday
Some banks are open Saturday mornings.

Credit cards are widely accepted around Australia. The most commonly accepted credit cards are American Express, Diners Club International, Mastercard, Visa and their affiliates.

Australia uses a dollars and cents system of decimal currency with 100 cents in a dollar. The bank notes in use are $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100. Coins used are the silver coloured 5-cent, 10 cent, 20 cent and 50 cent, and the gold-coloured $1 and $2 coins.
Australia’s development of the polymer (plastic) banknote heralds the introduction of advanced banknote technology for the new millennium and rewrites world standards in design. Not only does this leading-edge polymer technology offer immense security benefits but its concepts of cleanliness, environmental responsibility and recyclability set an example for the world to follow.

Tipping is not the general custom in Australia and service charges are not added to accounts by hotels and restaurants. In better-class restaurants, it is usual to tip food and drink waiters up to 10% of the bill for good service.
Porters have set charges at railway terminals, but not at hotels. However, at any time, tipping is a matter of individual choice.

The following types of accommodation are available for International students:

• Hostels and Guesthouses – $90 to $150 per week
• Shared Rental – $85 to $215 per week
• On campus – $90 to $280 per week
• Homestay – $235 to $325 per week
• Rental – $165 to $440 per week
• Boarding schools – $11,000 to $22,000 a year

• Groceries and eating out – $80 to $280 per week
• Gas, electricity – $35 to $140 per week
• Phone and Internet – $20 to $55 per week
• Public transport – $15 to $55 per week
• Car (after purchase) – $150 to $260 per week
• Entertainment – $80 to $150 per week

* Source: studyinaustralia.gov.au

This accommodation can be booked prior to arrival. Two weeks’ advance notice is required before you depart for Australia. Further details can be obtained from the Student Support Officer.

Some useful internet sites for housing are:

Share Accommodation

Youth Central Housing and Accommodation

Student Accommodation

Australia has an efficient public transport system (buses, trains, trams and ferries) in all cities. Many students ride bicycles and some even have their own car for longer travel. There are also train, bus and air services between cities and towns. Domestic students using public transport can apply for a student concession card that entitles them to discounted fares.

International students are required by the Government to join a private health insurance scheme. The OSHC premium cover must be paid before a student visa is issued. You will need to pay the OSHC premium at the same time as the tuition fees. The OSHC entitles you to free hospital cover and 85% of standard doctors’ fees.

Indicative annual rates are AU$544 for single coverage, AU$3062 for couples and AU$5373 for family coverage. OSHC is also charged on a pro-rata basis for shorter courses.

For information relating to health cover please click here to visit the Department of Health web site or to visit PIA preferred provider BUPA website to get a quote click here.

Sydney is a reasonably priced city providing good quality affordable living and abundant accommodation. You should work out a budget covering accommodation, food, transport, clothing and entertainment. Childcare, if applicable, should also be taken into account.

The Department of Home Affairs has financial requirements you must meet in order to receive a student visa for Australia. From 1 July 2016 the 12-month living cost is:

• You – $20,290
• Partner or spouse – $7,100
• Child – $3,040

Australia is a sophisticated, friendly and affordable country that enjoys one of the highest standards of living in the world. The average international student in Australia spends about $440 per week on accommodation; food; clothing; entertainment; transport; international and domestic travel; telephone; incidental costs. School students in Australia typically spend about $299 per week on accommodation and food, entertainment, transport and associated items. While this is a realistic guide, it is important to remember that individual circumstances will vary by location, course and lifestyle.

The cost of living depends a lot on the kind of accommodation a student chooses. A married student with dependents will need approximately an additional AU$2,970 per year for each dependent plus AU$6,940 for their spouse or partner.

The lifestyle in Australia is safe and friendly. Australians have a high standard of living. The climate is pleasant, there is plenty of food and the vast natural resources in Australia enable most people to live well.

Fruit, vegetables and meat are available fresh and at reasonable prices. Clothing and personal effects are usually good quality and available at a wide variety of prices.

Below is a price table of typical daily items. This is only a guide. Remember that you can shop around for items such as clothing and shoes to find a cheaper source.

PIA is only a 5 minutes’ walk to the heart of the Sydney CBD and its magnificent retail, cultural, dining and business districts.
As well as the local retail, entertainment and dining facilities in Sydney has to offer.
For more information on Life in Australia, please visit http://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/Trav/Life/Aust/Life-in-Australia-book
(Translated copies are available)