The International Student Essentials (So You Can Hit the Ground Running in Australia): Part I

Studying abroad is often described as the experience of a lifetime, but it can also be pretty stressful.

We’ve come up with a list of things all incoming international students need to know; from basic stuff like finding accommodation and opening a bank account, to ordering coffee and knowing the local lingo.

(For public transport details, coffee sizes and local lingo, check out Part II!)

Finding Accommodation:

Most universities offer some sort of student accommodation; these can be on-campus or off-campus. You may hear them referred to as "dormitories", "villages" or "colleges". Find out whether the university you’re going to has student accommodation here.

There are also privately-run dormitories that aren’t affiliated with universities, but cater towards students. Some of the most popular ones are UniLodge, Urbanest and Iglu.

Of course, you can also rent your own place. Start your search on websites like Domain or RealEstate. When you’ve picked out a place you’re interested in, get in touch with the agent who looks after the property. Their contact details are usually listed alongside the advert, so contact them via e-mail or phone. Be aware you may be required to provide some of your own details; things like name, age, occupation, income, tentative move-in date and so on.

The next step is to organise a viewing or “inspection” of the property. These can be overwhelming, but not if you’re equipped with the right questions. Make sure you write down what you want to ask the real estate agent beforehand. Some important ones might be: “Is rent due weekly, fortnightly or monthly?” “What’s the minimum and maximum contract length?” “How much is the bond?” “Is there on-site or off-site parking?” Questions are always worth asking, and it’s better to do that upfront than too late.

Once you find a place that suits your needs, you’ll need to go through the rental application process. Generally speaking, you’ll be asked to provide the following: forms of identification (passport, birth certificate), documentation of income (payslips, bank statements) and written references (from an employer, friend or previous landlord). Try to have all this ready as early as possible, because the last thing a real estate agent wants to do is chase up missing bits of paperwork.

If you really want to secure a place, have your deposit ready. In some cases, it may take several days or upwards of a week to process your application. In that case, offer to pay a “security deposit” on the property so that other potential tenants can’t snap it up before you. The security deposit might be negotiable, but often it is the same price as the bond.

If your application is accepted, all that’s left is paying a bond (if you haven’t yet already), doing a thorough inspection and signing contracts. A bond is a deposit you pay at the start of a tenancy, and it is paid back at the end of your tenancy, provided no damages are made. During the inspection, take note of any already existing damages to the property (stained carpet, dirty walls) and take photographic evidence. Better than taking the blame!

If you need to find a share-house, check out Flatmates and search by location. Another great place to find share-houses is on Facebook. If you type in “housemates”, followed by the general area you’d like to live, chances are there will be a Facebook group that you can join and search through.

If it’s temporary accommodation you’re after, there’s Airbnb and a variety of hotels and youth hostels available.

Setting Up Your Utilities:

You’ll need electricity, gas and water if you want to, you know, shower and cook. Here are some relevant sites for your state or territory:

ACT: Electricity and gas, water.

QLD: Electricity and gas, water.

NSW: Electricity and gas, water.

NT: Electricity, gas and water.

SA: Electricity and gas, water.

TAS: Electricity and gas, water.

VIC: Electricity and gas, water.

WA: Electricity and gas, water.

Opening a Bank Account:

When you open a bank account you’ll be asked to provide “100 points of ID” which is essentially where you provide different forms of documentation to prove your identity. A list of acceptable documents can be found here.

The major four banks in Australia are ANZ, Commonwealth, NAB and Westpac.

Commonwealth Bank has the most ATM machines across the country. However, all of the major banks have some form of online banking available, which you should find easily on your smartphone’s app store.

For public transport details, coffee sizes and local lingo, check out Part II!

Photo: iStock