Before you arrive ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
All below information is taken from Griffith University Student Support website.
Pre-departure information
Before you leave home, you must prepare for your journey to Australia and your studies at Griffith. We recommend you start by downloading and printing-out the Student Essentials guide. It is full of important information to assist commencing international students such as, accommodation, transport, and on-campus services for students. It also has contains a very helpful departure checklist to work through as you pack your luggage and prepare to travel.
Where to begin?
Student Visa
All international students must obtain a student visa to study in Australia. For information please refer to your Letter of Offer and contact your nearest Australian Diplomatic Mission.
For further information visit – www.immi.gov.au
Bringing your family?
There are many things to consider if you are intending to bring your family to Australia with you whilst you study. Some examples of the issues you may face are: social adjustment, finances, work, schooling and health care. For more information refer to our Orientation Information page, Info Sheet 12. Information for Families or contact an International
Student Advisor for advice and support.
Health Insurance
We're organising your health cover for you!
It is a condition of an international student visa that you obtain and maintain Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of your studies in Australia. To make sure our International students meet this visa condition, Griffith University will charge Overseas
Student Health Cover in each semester of your enrolment. As long as you are a student at Griffith University you will be covered by OSHC Worldcare, Griffith University's preferred provider.
You will be required to pay your OSHC to Griffith University by the Census Date (end of
week 4) each semester. If you fail to pay by the Census Date this will mean cancellation of enrolment. You will be charged $175 per semester* (fees are subject to change)
Students not wanting the university to arrange their cover, may do so independently. However, Griffith University International Office staff will require you to provide proof of
cover by the Census Date. Upon evidence of your other health cover, Griffith will reverse
the charge. As Griffith charges on a semester by semester basis and we want to make sure you are insured, proof of cover and payment will be required each semester.
An international student who obtains and provides proof of Australian Permanent Residency prior to the Census Date will be eligible for a refund.
No refund will be considered if enrolment is cancelled or withdrawn after the Census Date. Refer to Section 3.7 of the fees and charges policy.
Below are some questions and answers which may arise.
- If I am already covered with OSHC Worldcare will I be charged again?
Students who are already covered with OSHC Worldcare will be refunded the
length of their current cover so that they can be charged automatically and billed
via the student system.
- If I don't want to be covered by OSHC Worldcare what do I do?
You will have to provide evidence to Griffith that you are covered by another health care provider each semester. We want all of our students to be health insured and 'institution cover' provides us with that insurance for you.
- I am a Swedish or Norwegian Student who has reciprocal arrangements -
will I be charged?
You will not be charged.
- What if I want my family to be covered?
We will cover your family but you will need to alert either OSHC Worldcare staff or Griffith International staff to this issue.
For further information visit the OSHC Worldcare website – www.oshcworldcare.com.au
If you have any questions, please contact Griffith International directly on: +61-7-3735 7200
Australian Quarantine and Customs services
The Australian Quarantine and Customs service will be waiting for you at the airport as you enter the country. Australia’s quarantine laws are very strict and many foods, plants, animal products and some medicines may not be brought into Australia. This means that you must 'declare' these items on the Incoming Passenger Card that you receive during your
flight. If you are unsure about any item that you intend to bring with you, find out before you leave. Visit the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) website at – www.aqis.gov.au - for information on prohibited goods and restrictions.
Airport Reception & Temporary Accommodation
Griffith University Campus Life (Brisbane & Logan) and the Student Guild (Gold Coast) can organise for an Airport Reception service to meet you at the airport and take you to some Temporary Accommodation for your first 2-3days. TO use this service you must book in advance and confirm your travel details during the week before you arrive in Australia or
after the issue of a Confirmation of Enrolment form (COE). The service will collect you at the Brisbane Airport (International and Domestic) or Coolangatta Airport (Gold Coast) and take
you directly to your accommodation and is provided free-of-charge by Griffith International for all commencing international students, only.
Please Note: Airport reception is not available to students who have not received their COE.
How to apply
- Application forms and contact details are available at the following
websites:
Brisbane & Logan students - Campus Life www.griffith.edu.au/ocs
Gold Coast students - Student Guild www.gugcstudentguild.com.au
- You can also use the Airport Reception & Temporary Accommodation
forms that are available for download in the Student Essentials guide,
pages 10 & 13.
- For Study Abroad and Exchange students, the relevant Airport Reception and Temporary Accommodation forms will be sent with your CoE. Alternatively, please refer to the websites above.
Make sure you include the following information:
Airline / Flight number / Arrival date / Arrival time / Terminal
*Reminder - A minimum of 72 hours notice is required.
If you have family members or friends travelling with you who would like to use this service also, please notify the Accommodation Office at Campus Life (Brisbane & Logan students)
or the Student Guild (Gold Coast students) before your arrival as additional costs will apply
for this service to non-students.
Finances - money & banking
You need to prepare your finances for your arrival in Australia. Don't overlook basic costs like food, transport temporary accommodation for the first 2 to 3 days. You will need to:
- Find out about the banking services that are available to you and how they work
here in Australia. You can even organise a bank account before you leave home. Griffith University has an association with ANZ, a major award-winning bank in
Australia. To find out how visit the ANZ website: www.anz.com/griffithadvantage
- Check out the latest currency conversion rates to match your national currency
against the Australian dollar (AUS$). For a helpful online currency converter, visit - www.xe.com
- Get some money exchanged into Australian dollars before you arrive for basic food
and transport costs
- Prepare for the cost of getting set-up in long-term accommodation e.g. rent & security deposits (known locally as a 'rental bond'), food & groceries, furniture & bedding, telephone & electricity connections, public & private transport
- There are University costs as well, such as tuition fees, texts books and campus facilities
For information that can assist you, refer to your Student Essentials guide pages 20 & 21,
and visit the Orientation Information page to download Info Sheet 7 - Money Matters
Starting-Out at Griffith
Some important things to think about before you arrive!
Whether you are at University for the first time or have studied elsewhere, you may find
the environment, systems and teaching methods quite different to what you are used to.
To gain a better understanding of how the university system works at Griffith use the following link to access our online guide to the Griffith System.
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