Support for international students
Find out about the support available to you as an international student, including accommodation, career, emergency and personal.
Starting your studies at an Australian university can be a daunting experience. At Swinburne, we have a variety of support services available to assist you. This includes a specialist International Advisory & Support team who can help you settle into the university community, whether you are in Australia or studying from your home country.
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’re an international student needing urgent assistance, or in a non-life-threatening emergency, please call us on +61 3 9214 6741.
International student advisers
International Student Advisers (ISAs) are here to help with any questions you might have, whether big or small: from balancing life demands while adjusting to study, all aspects of living in Melbourne, and when life becomes complicated. They will also refer you to other services when you need specialist or personal advice.
Make an appointment with an International Student Adviser
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.
Services
At Swinburne, we have several on-campus accommodation options for students, including shared and private rooms.
For international students we have a designated Accommodation Adviser who can help you through the process of finding a place to stay or advise on lease or contractual issues. Please don’t hesitate to contact him with any queries relating to accommodation.
Sam Tsering
Accommodation Adviser
accommodation@swinburne.edu.au
As a Swinburne student, you can access several services to help you improve your employability including access to the SwinEmploy database. Extra employability support and tailored workshops are available for international students, to enhance your opportunities and employability skills.
Olivia Doyle
International Career Adviser
odoyle@swinburne.edu.au
Want to improve your English-speaking skills and meet new people? Join our English Conversation Sessions 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!
Swinburne provides support when you're affected by an emergency, whether it's in Australia or your home country.
Local
Melbourne is a city with low crime, and Swinburne campuses are safe places. However, it's important to know what to do if anything goes wrong. In life-threatening emergencies dial 000 for police, ambulance or fire services.
If you require security on-campus, contact Swinburne security immediately on +61 3 9214 3333. (or simply dial 3333 on any Swinburne phone).
In a non-life-threatening emergency or if you’re hospitalised, contact the International Student Advisory & Support team for support.
You can call the International Student Advisory & Support 24 hour urgent assistance line on +61 3 9214 6741.
If you find yourself anxious or stressed, or would like assistance from 5pm to 9am weekdays or on weekends and public holidays, you can call the Swinburne out-of-hours crisis line on 1300 854 144 or text 0488 884 145.
Home country emergencies
If you’re directly affected by or concerned about an issue in your home country that impacts you personally, register your details with International Student Advisory & Support. To do this, email isa@swinburne.edu.au with the name of the disaster or event in the subject line (e.g. Paris/Beirut terrorist attacks, Nepal earthquake). In the email, provide your student ID number and phone number. For urgent support or advice after hours, call +61 3 9214 6741.
We can provide advice on managing the situation or give you access to a private room with a telephone so you can contact close relatives you’re concerned about in your home country. If you need to return home urgently, we can assist with your study obligations accordingly.
Swinburne is collaborating with Shandong University of Science and Technology (SDUST) in China to open an Overseas Learning Centre (OLC) to assist students who remain in China due to the current travel restrictions.
Students will have access to the on campus facilities and resources as well as various support services. Available to current coursework students.
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
Meet and talk to the International Student Advisory & 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 and 24-hour support for students who are living and studying in Melbourne.
You’ll have access to the International Student Resource Guide in Canvas throughout your studies and you can return to it anytime.
Module 1 – Letter to self: This can be a valuable resource just for you. Wherever you are, we are all living through ground-breaking and historic times. This is a letter written by you and stored just for you to re-visit whenever you find you might need to re-focus on your plans and dreams. These messages are inspiring, and it is private to you. If you wish you can choose to share your inspiration with other students by submitting it to our international student newsletter, freetime.
Modules 3 and 4 – These modules include important information on how to start the semester well, including enrolment, timetable and academic support.
Module 6 – This module features very important information about your rights and responsibilities as an international student, wherever you may be.
Events
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.
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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)
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Student visas
Here’s everything you need to know about the type of student visa you’ll need, and how to apply for it.
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Fees for international students
Find all the information about your international student fees including Foundation Year, UniLink diplomas, vocational education, undergraduate and postgraduate study, or research options.
Living costs, banking and financial advice
Melbourne is a relatively expensive city, but there are ways to manage your money to make it go further.
Set-up costs
You need to budget approximately A$,6000 for the initial costs of establishing yourself in Melbourne, relating to temporary accommodation, advance one month rental and bond payment, travelling and other expenses. We also recommended you allow A$1,000–A$2000 to buy a computer if you aren't bringing one with you. Generally, if you choose accommodation within walking distance to the campus it will be more expensive, but you will have lower transport costs; if you live further away, accommodation is more affordable, but transport costs more.
Living costs
Besides the costs of establishing yourself, the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) suggests student visa holders budget at least A$21,041 for each year of study to cover living expenses. We recommend that your budget is a minimum of A $25,000 – and more realistically, around A$33,000 per year – depending on your living arrangements and lifestyle choices. These costs do not include tuition fees.
If you are bringing your family, you will also need a minimum of A$7,362 per year for your spouse and A$3,152 per year for each child (not including school fees and uniforms). For more information on on-going living costs, refer to our Sample Budget or visit the Study in Australia website.
Banking
If you plan to work at a job or have money paid to you by anyone from your home country while you live in Australia, you will need an Australian bank account. You can compare banks here.
To open a bank account in Australia various amounts of personal identification, proof of your current address, contact details and some money to deposit is required. If you open a bank account within the first two weeks of your arrival, your passport and flight ticket showing your recent arrival is acceptable identification along with a current address and some funds to deposit. You may also be required to show your student visa and/or your Confirmation of Enrolment.
Note: if you intend to do any paid work while you study in Australia, you will need an Australian Tax File Number.
Financial advice
If you’re looking for financial guidance, feel free to contact the Student Equity Adviser. They can help you budget and, if required, source emergency financial assistance. For more information, read our financial support and advice page.
Need assistance?
Our International Student Advisory & Support team are here to help you with all aspects of living and studying in Melbourne. To speak to an International Student Adviser, call +61 3 9214 6741 or visit Room AMDC106, Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm.