Just landed? Your first few days as a student

You do not need to solve your entire Australian life in the arrivals hall. Start with tonight, then work through the things that will make the next week easier.

Before leaving the airport

Have your accommodation address, check-in instructions and transport plan saved offline. Tell someone you trust that you have arrived. If your provider offers an airport pickup, confirm the meeting point directly with them rather than assuming someone will be waiting.

Make the next day easy

Get your phone connected, buy a few groceries and work out the journey to campus. Leave yourself time to recover from the flight before making expensive or long-term decisions. Keep your passport, visa information, enrolment documents and insurance details accessible in a secure place.

Visit your international student team

Ask about orientation, your timetable, student ID, arrival administration and support services. Make a short list of the tasks they say apply to you. Your provider’s instructions matter more than another student’s checklist.

Then move on to banking, tax and health cover using our official arrival resources. Check your own visa conditions before accepting work.

Before the first class

Log into the learning portal, find the rooms on your timetable and check how your course communicates changes. Save the international office and accommodation contact details in your phone.

Source: Study Australia’s plan your move hub (opens in a new tab). Use your institution’s current arrival instructions for your course.