Your first semester: make campus work for you

The first week can feel like a calendar full of unfamiliar rooms. Give yourself a simple goal: know where to go, who to ask and one thing you would like to join.

Use orientation to answer practical questions

Find the library, student services and international office. Ask where timetable changes appear and how to contact your teaching team. Check which orientation sessions your course expects you to attend.

Put the semester on one calendar

When unit outlines are available, add assignment dates, classes and personal commitments. Leave space for commuting, cooking and sleep before you promise every free evening to work. Review the plan after your first fortnight rather than expecting to get it perfect immediately.

Pick one way to meet people

Try a club meeting, a campus event or a study group. It is easier to build a routine around one activity you enjoy than to join everything at the welcome fair. Ask the student association where its current events are listed.

Ask early when something is difficult

Find out what academic skills, accessibility, counselling and international student support your institution provides. Availability and appointment processes vary. If you are struggling with an assessment, contact your teaching team before the deadline and ask about the formal process.

Further reading: Study Australia’s life in Australia hub (opens in a new tab). Your own provider is the source for campus services, attendance expectations and assessment policies.