Welcome aboard this pre-departure guide from SCU international non-stop to your new study
experience.
Where the temperature is amazing and the cultural experience is whatever you choose.
Sit back, relax and fasten your seatbelt and focus your attention to your screen in a comfortable
upright position.
In case of an emergency simply press pause and follow the links to SCU international.
All information is for your convenience and safety.
And if we can be of anymore assistance, please contact an SCU international representative.
Again welcome aboard the SCU international pre-departure guide
Hi I’m Simon a second year media student right here at Southern Cross and I was went
on exchange to America and this is my story.
On exchange I did things I never thought I would ever do.
I went to Hawaii and learnt to surf.
I then went to Vancouver and Whistler and then I hired a car and drove down the west
coast of America, from Seattle to Vegas.
I hiked in the giant forest and tracked through Yosemite and Sequoia national parks, I saw
the Grand Canyon!
I made some amazing friends, had lots of laughs and created a truck load of memories.
My study in America was wonderful I sat classes on screenwriting, news presenting and a whole
lot more.
I even went to a sport game for the first time ever!
Everything about the international study experience was more than I ever expected and I wish I
could just go back and experience it all again.
My exchange really helped me grow as a person, I got to meet new people, I got to live in
a different culture and experience new and exciting things.
I would highly recommend anyone that's thinking of going on exchange to just do it's awesome.
I went to Northern Arizona University in America and I studied media and I got to grow this
awesome mustache.
So Southern Cross University really helps you get where you need to go and it really
is all about is all about you.
G’day my name is Simon.
Welcome to Southern Cross University’s pre-departure video.
Congratulations on being accepted to participate in an overseas study experience.
This is a wonderful opportunity to change your life, broaden your connections and add
an international experience to your qualification.
This amazing opportunity will enhance your study at Southern Cross while you complete
part of your degree at an overseas partner university, combining study with travel and
adding an international experience to your qualification - enabling you to immerse yourself
in a different culture and gain invaluable international contacts.
I’ll be taking you through some of things you kneed to know before your international
study experience.
This video is in three parts, each with a small multiple choice quizz at the end.
Some topics we’ll be going over are: The Nitty Gritty – where we’ll look at:
Passports and visas Enrolment
Flights and loans Packing
Accommodation.
Part two Health and safety, here we will cover: Insurance
Medication Smart traveller And DFAT registration.
And part three Culture Adjustment here find out about:
Dealing with culture shock LGBTIQ community questions
And being and SCU ambassador
So let’s get started.
Did you know that passports need to be valid for at least 6 months after your return date
as some countries won’t allow you entry if it’s near the expiry?
For all international study experiences you will need a current passport and student visa.
Passport applications are available from the local Post Office.
They cost over two hundred dollars and are valid for 10 years.
Don’t leave this to the last minute as it usually takes 2-3 weeks from the time you
apply until the time you receive your passport.
There is no need to apply for your passport until your acceptance at the overseas institution
has been confirmed.
It is however, a good idea to ensure that you have a full-certified copy of your birth
certificate, which is required for your passport application.
You will also need four colour passport- size photographs.
It is your responsibility to check what visas you may require.
Do you need more than one if you are travelling before or after your study, or, will you need
a work visa?
Visas for America and Spain require an interview at the Consulate in Sydney.
Appointments need to be made in advance and often there is a wait of several weeks.
Visas cannot be applied for until you have all documentation including your acceptance
letter in to your overseas institution and a medical history for proof of vaccinations.
It is a good idea and your responsibility to contact embassies and consulates to determine
if a visa is required and confirm application details.
Although it might be tempting, we advise that you do not book flights before receiving acceptance
from the partner university and/or your visas.
This can be risky and not advisable to do so until you have every thing all sorted out.
Again don’t leave these applications to the last minute as processing times can vary,
give your self plenty of time.
We know that many of you go overseas to travel and have an in-depth experience of the local
culture, but don’t forget that your studies should be your number one priority.
Many of you will have academic issues that come up, so be sure to attend to them promptly.
While you are overseas, you will remain enrolled at SCU, and will continue to accumulate a
HECS-HELP debt, (or pay tuition fees to SCU).
Units both overseas and at SCU must be approved by your course coordinator.
It is your responsibility to ensure that your enrolment is completed prior to departure
at both your host institution and SCU.
This should be done before the start of Southern Cross’s semester to avoid a fail for the
subjects you’re enrolled in.
All fees payable in your absence must be paid by their due date.
If there is a change in your overseas enrolment either before you depart, or while you are
overseas, you will need to contact your student advice team and submit a new credit transfer
form (with your course coordinator's re-approval).
Please keep in mind some classes maybe full or cancelled completely.
It’s better to be approved for more than you require.
Take it from me two of my units were already full and I have to re-submit a credit transfer
form my advice would be to get approved for as many units as you can.
Finance, Converting money and dealing with different currencies can be confusing.
We suggest you take travel cards, traveler’s cheques, debt and credit cards as these are
available from most financial institutions and often the easiest.
I found travel cards the easiest way to deal with my money while I was overseas, and I
got a better exchange rate.
For some SCU students Centrelink benefits maybe available while you study abroad.
You need to apply for these in person at a Centrelink office no earlier that 13 weeks
beforehand but not later than 6 weeks prior to your departure.
OS help loan will assist in offsetting the cost of your international experience and
can be applied for twice, you need to be aware that this loan will be added to your help
debt.
There is a six month wait between each time you can apply for the OS help loan, and it's
great it just gets added to your hecs debt.
When it comes to packing, pack the essentials but pack light and check what the climate
is going to be like at your destination.
Check airline regulations as luggage size and weight allowance can vary between airlines.
I flew with Virgin and United to the states and didn’t realize I had to check my baggage
in Hawaii, I wish I had double checked before I left.
Your hand luggage should include things like: your ticket with evidence of a return
your host universities letter of acceptance your passport
receipts for all medications and prescriptions.
It’s a good idea to have your medication close-by in your hand luggage and available
when you may need it.
Now don’t forget about your accommodation in your host country this is your responsibility
it is a good idea to check with your host university before your departure as to what
will best suit you On campus or off campus living or have you
considered a host family and be sure to ask when check in is.
Keep in mind on campus living is in high demand at most universities and your accommodation
might not be available right away.
If so, you will need to make other arrangements until your situation becomes more permanent.
I had to stay in a hostel for four days until my accommodation was available, wasn’t so
bad because I did make some great new friends, but then I got to move into on campus living
and it was amazing, and I highly recommend it to everybody.
It is important to keep regular contact with southern cross be sure to check your emails
as this is how we will be able to correspond with you.
Now just a few quick questions before we look at the health and safety.