Support for international students
Find out about the support available to you as an international student, including accommodation, study, career, health and emergency.
Starting your studies at an Australian university can be a daunting experience – but don't worry! At Swinburne, we have support services available, including an International Student Advisory and Support team who can help you settle into the university life in Australia.
Chat with a current international student at Swinburne
Choosing to study overseas is a big decision. Sometimes it helps to talk to someone who has first-hand experience.
Chat to one (or many!) of our current international students about what it’s really like studying at Swinburne and living in Melbourne.
Need emergency assistance?
If you need police, ambulance or fire services, please call 000.
If you’re an international student needing urgent assistance, or in a non-life-threatening emergency, please call the International Student Advisory & Support team on +61 3 9214 6741.
What do International Student Advisors do?
International Student Advisors (ISAs) can help with big and small questions you might have – from adjusting to study at university to navigating through life in Melbourne. They can also refer you to other personal and specialist services when you need it.
Make an appointment with an International Student Advisor
Business hours
Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm
Room AMDC106, AMDC Building, Hawthorn campus
isa@swinburne.edu.au
For urgent support outside business hours
+61 3 9214 6741 (24 hours)
For Australia Awards and Endeavour students
ausawards@swinburne.edu.au
For students under 18 years of age
U18request@swinburne.edu.au
Virtual appointments are available when in-person appointments cannot be accommodated. The ISA will contact you to confirm the time for your virtual appoinment.
At Swinburne, we have several on-campus accommodation options for students, including private and shared rooms.
We also have an Accommodation Advisor for international students who can:
- help through the process of finding a place to stay
- advise on lease issues.
If you need help, please email Sam Tsering (Accommodation Advisor) at accommodation@swinburne.edu.au.
As a Swinburne student, you can access specific support services and tailored workshops for international students to improve your employability, including access to the SwinEmploy database.
For more information, please email Olivia Doyle (International Career Advisor) at odoyle@swinburne.edu.au.
Want to improve your English speaking skills and meet new people? Join our English conversation group run by Learning and Academic Skills (LAS).
Convened by an English language teacher, these free sessions are a great opportunity for international students to improve fluency and confidence!
Melbourne is a city with low crime and Swinburne campuses are safe places. However, it is still important to know what to do if anything goes wrong.
Within Swinburne
| Your situation | Who to contact | Contact details |
|---|---|---|
| You need security services on campus (e.g. to walk you to the train station) |
Swinburne Security |
(or 3333 on any Swinburne phone) |
You need urgent assistance (e.g. hospitalised) You're in an emergency, but your life is not in danger |
International Student Advisory and Support team | +61 3 9214 6741 (24 hours) |
| You feel anxious or stressed (outside of business hours) | Swinburne Crisis Line |
0488 884 145 (SMS only) |
| You want to report inappropriate, concerning or threatening behaviour | Safer Community | safercommunity@swinburne.edu.au |
Outside Swinburne
| Your situation | Number |
|---|---|
You need police, ambulance or fire service (e.g. in an emergency when someone's life is in danger) |
|
You need non-urgent police assistance |
131 444 |
Emergencies in your home country
If you are directly impacted by or concerned about an emergency in your home country, please register your details with the International Student Advisory and Support team.
Email your student ID number and phone number to isa@swinburne.edu.au with the emergency name in the subject line (e.g. Paris terrorist attack, Nepal earthquake). For urgent support outside business hours, please call +61 3 9214 6741.
We can provide advice to help manage the situation or access to a private space with a telephone, so you can contact your loved ones in your home country. If you need to return home urgently, we can assist with your study obligations accordingly.
If you’d like help to work out a budget or want some financial advice, speak with one of our International Student Advisors who can put you in touch with the right experts.
| Your situation | Who to contact |
|---|---|
| You're in an emergency (e.g. need an ambulance) |
000 (or go to a hospital's emergency department) |
| You're hospitalised | International Student Advisory and Support team +61 3 9214 6741 (24 hours) |
| You need non-emergency health support in Victoria | Department of Health's Nurse-On-Call 1300 60 60 24 (24 hours) |
| You need to see a doctor, nurse, counsellor, psychiatrist or physiotherapist | Wellbeing at Swinburne |
| You have Medibank Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) | Medibank Student Health and Support Line 1800 887 283 (24 hours) |
Free digital mental health support from SilverCloud Health
SilverCloud Health is a leading digital mental health and wellbeing platform providing evidence-based, confidential and judgement-free support. It is intended to complement the care you already receive from your GP or mental health provider.
With SilverCloud Health’s tailored programs, you can learn techniques to train your mind to overcome the symptoms of low mood, anxiety or depression, improve sleep and help manage stress. As a Swinburne student, you can access the platform for free.
Head to SilverCloud Health's website and enter code SUT-300 when you sign up.
SilverCloud Health also produces a series of podcasts with useful topics, such as achieving balance in your life, digital mental health for young people, men's mental health, money worries and more.
This initiative has been made possible by funding from the Victorian Government through the Study Melbourne International Education Resilience Fund.
International Student Resource Guide
You can meet and talk to the International Student Advisory and Support team via the International Student Resource Guide – a personalised space in Canvas, our online learning management system.
It includes key information about safety and wellbeing services, as well as 24-hour support for international students living and studying in Melbourne.
You have access to this guide throughout your studies, so you can return to it anytime. The modules include:
Module 1 – Letter to self
We are living through groundbreaking and historic times. This is a letter written by you and stored just for you to revisit – whenever you need to refocus on your plans and dreams.
These messages can be inspiring and valuable. The letter is private to you, but you can share it with other students by submitting it to our international student newsletter freetime.
Modules 3 and 4
These modules can help you start the semester well with information on enrolment, timetable and academic support.
Module 6
This module features important information on your rights and responsibilities as an international student.
Events for international students
Swinburne regularly hosts events for international students. Get involved in these to make friends, expand your networks, improve your academic skills and create unforgettable memories.
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Student Life
- Swinburne Advantage
International students: Gaining professional experience – internships, volunteering, placements and more
Swinburne's International Student Job Club will show you how to gain professional experience through placements, internships, industry projects, volunteering and more.
Register now (International students: Gaining professional experience – internships, volunteering, placements and more) -
Student Life
- Swinburne Advantage
International students: Preparing for graduate job search
Graduating soon? Swinburne's International Student Job Club invites you to learn about strategies to find graduate employment, job search mindset, graduate recruitment cycle and job search tool kit.
Register now (International students: Preparing for graduate job search) -
- Orientation
International Student Welcome and Briefing
Repeat session: Friday
Welcome! This session is for international students arriving in Melbourne for the first time and starting an undergraduate or postgraduate course at Swinburne.
Meet our dedicated support team and get all your must-have information at this introduction to life in Melbourne.
This is a repeat session for students who were unable to attend on 20 February.
Register now (International Student Welcome and Briefing) -
- Orientation
International Student Welcome and Briefing
Repeat session: Wednesday
Welcome! This session is for international students arriving in Melbourne for the first time and starting an undergraduate or postgraduate course at Swinburne.
Meet our dedicated support team and get all your must-have information at this introduction to life in Melbourne.
This is a repeat session for students who were unable to attend on 20 February.
Register now (International Student Welcome and Briefing) -
- Orientation
SSU International Student Mixers
Ready. Set. Meet new friends at the International Student Mixer hosted by the Swinburne Student Union.
Discover Hammer & Swine, Swinburne’s on-campus bar, to join the fun!
You must be over the age of 18 to attend.
Register now (SSU International Student Mixers) -
- Orientation
International Student Welcome and Briefing
Welcome! This session is for all international students arriving in Melbourne for the first time and starting an undergraduate or postgraduate course at Swinburne.
Meet our dedicated support team and get all your must-have information at this introduction to life in Melbourne.
This session also includes networking opportunities, lunch, and a traditional Welcome to Country ceremony. Don't miss it!
Choose one session to attend:
- 9.00am to 1.00pm
- 12.15pm to 3.30pm
Register now (International Student Welcome and Briefing)
Keep on exploring
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Plan your arrival in Melbourne
Received your Confirmation of Enrolment from Swinburne and organised your student visa? You can start to prepare for travel to Melbourne.
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Arriving in Melbourne
There are many different options for getting from Melbourne Airport to the Melbourne CBD, including our free transport service.
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Student support services
Need support? Swinburne’s student support services can help with your studies, career, health and wellbeing, accommodation, child care, IT, safety and more. -
International student stories
Discover how students from all over the world are enjoying life at Swinburne while successfully building a career in Australia and their home countries.
Need assistance?
Our International Student Advisory and Support team can help you with all aspects of living and studying in Melbourne. To speak to an International Student Advisor, please call +61 3 9214 6741 or visit AMDC106 on Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm.