Get ready

You’re almost there! Now it’s time to get planning for the trip itself. Our to-do list below outlines a bunch of important tasks you need to complete before you travel.

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Important information

Before leaving for your overseas study program, check your enrolment via my.unimelb to ensure you're enrolled into your Placeholder subjects. If you can't see your enrolment, please contact Stop 1 immediately.

As you get ready to leave, we recommend that you do not pay for any bookings until you have received an acceptance notification from your host institution.

Must do

  • Once you have been accepted into your host institution, they will do all they can to help you find suitable accommodation. Some overseas institutions, particularly those in large cities, may have accommodation shortages and find it difficult to find a place for you before you arrive. If that's the case, may need to seek your own alternatives. If your host institution cannot find accommodation, they will contact you prior to your departure and advise you on who to contact and what to do upon arrival.

    Unless you already have accommodation plans with family or friends, you will usually choose between on-campus or off-campus accommodation.

    On-campus

    Visit your chosen host university's website to identify available on-campus housing options. Applications for on-campus accommodation are typically made through either:

    • An application form provided as part of the application process to the host university
    • Via their website.

    Off-campus

    Many students will take up accommodation off-campus. Most partner institutions will have housing offices that will assist with this. In addition, your Education Abroad Adviser may be able to put you in contact with students who can provide advice about where to stay and where not to stay.

  • It is always a good idea to shop around and, where possible, book early for the cheapest ticket. However, we still recommend not to book and pay for flights until you have received your acceptance notification from your host institution.

    Keep in mind that for some institutions, acceptance can be granted quite late and close to your departure date.

  • You will need to submit your acceptance via an enquiry to Global Learning. To do so, please ensure the following:

    • Include the following information in the subject line ‘OUT - – Acceptance Letter – Name of Host Institution’

    Following this, you will receive a 'Placeholder questionnaire’ to confirm your Placeholder enrolment during your overseas study period. Once you have responded to the request, you will be enrolled into the relevant Placeholder subjects.

  • The University offers free, full coverage travel insurance to students who are travelling overseas for approved University programs.

    For more details, please see our travel insurance page.

    For semester and year-long exchange students, and short-term program students

    Once you have received your acceptance notification from your host institution:

    • Provide a copy of this to us
    • We will issue your official University of Melbourne acceptance letter including confirmation of your travel insurance.

    You are not required to submit a separate application for travel insurance, you will be automatically covered once the University receives your acceptance documentation.

    The date of cover are listed in your University of Melbourne Acceptance letter and will include cover for any incidental personal travel for a total of 20 days either before or after the dates listed on the acceptance documentation.

    If you are incorporating personal travel before or after your study, you will need to purchase travel insurance the entire period you are away.

    Travelling to high-risk destinations

    You are not permitted to travel to a country for which the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has issued an alert level of ‘do not travel’ or ‘reconsider your need to travel’, unless you have gained special permission from the Registrar.

  • Buying health insurance isn't always compulsory, but some institutions require their exchange or non-partner students have it. You will be contacted by your host institution if health insurance is required to study there.

    Some host institutions offer their own health insurance policy, which will cover the period you spend there, and in some cases it is mandatory that you purchase this insurance.

    If you do take out your own health insurance, make sure it will be accepted as an appropriate alternative to any host institution insurance (especially if you are travelling to the U.S.A).

    If you are incorporating personal travel before or after your study, you will need to purchase health insurance the entire period you are away.

  • Once you have been accepted into a host university and your acceptance documents, you will need to contact the appropriate consular offices to find out whether a visa is required prior to departure. In most cases you will need to apply for your visa while you are still in Melbourne. Should you require official documentation to submit your visa application, this will be provided to you by your host university upon acceptance.

    It is your responsibility to ensure the correct visa has been obtained.

    International students and Australian visas

    If you are an international student and currently hold an Australian student visa, you must ensure the validity period of your Australian visa covers your overseas study period or you may find it difficult to re-enter Australia upon completion of your studies. We will provide a letter verifying the host university semester dates and your status as a student studying overseas. We will advise the Department of Home Affairs that you will be outside of Australia studying.

    Please note that you are still subject to the visa condition 8202. You must satisfy course requirements, while you are on your overseas study program.

  • It’s always a good idea to have a copy of your important documents in a safe place in case of loss or theft of originals. Scan and save the following documents onto a cloud system:

  • Many host universities will provide a pick-up service for you. However, in the case they cannot provide this, it is recommended that you arrange transport options before you leave Australia.

  • Scholarships are awarded on a monthly basis. You should receive an outcome by email within 6 weeks of submitting your completed Melbourne Mobility Award application form.

    The Melbourne Mobility Awards are only paid after you have enrolled in the University of Melbourne subject(s) for which the Scholarship was awarded. This will be placeholder subjects or a University of Melbourne overseas subject (UMOS).

    Other awards are also available – see our Scholarships page for more information.

Good to do

  • We always recommended you do extensive research on your destination before departure. Laws and customs vary, so being informed may make all the difference to help you understand local culture and behave appropriately. We recommend visiting and registering on the Smartraveller website for more information.

  • If you are a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) student undertaking an overseas study program towards your undergraduate degree, the Australian Government loan scheme (OS-HELP) can assist you in financing your expenses. Check out our Funding options page for more information.

  • If you receive support from Centrelink while studying, you may still be able to receive payments while you are overseas. To be eligible, you will need to remain in full-time study. If you are switching from part-time study to full-time study for the duration of your overseas program, you may become eligible for payments.

    If required, photocopy and use the University of Melbourne acceptance letter to confirm your study with Centrelink.

  • You will be invited by your Education Abroad Adviser to attend a pre-departure session. The session will cover invaluable information on maximising your time abroad, keeping safe and protocols you should follow in case you face an emergency overseas. It will also give you a chance to hear from returned students and connect with other students who will be attending your host destination with you!

  • It is highly recommended that you get necessary health checks and vaccinations before travelling to your destination. If you have a medical condition that may be affected by travel, it is important to speak to your GP.

    Some vaccinations require more than one dose to be effective, so you may need to plan your health checks at least six weeks in advance to account for this.

    The University of Melbourne offers a health service that can help you prepare for travel. Many vaccinations are available on site for a reasonable price. We also sell a range of travel products such as mosquito nets and medication travel packs.

  • We suggest you have a think about how you plan to access your money while you’re away.

    You should never carry large amounts of cash, so it may be worth using a combination of methods, such as cash, debit card and electronic transfers.

    Foreign currency

    To cover the first few days abroad, we suggest exchanging the equivalent of $200 (AUD) before you leave.

    ATMs

    ATMs are available overseas. It’s important you check with your bank prior to departure to know if fees are incurred for this service.

    Credit cards

    Credit cards are great for emergency backup. Check which locations your card is accepted in advance.

    Foreign banking

    It may be possible to open a bank account overseas once you arrive at your destination. Some banks offer student accounts that have added benefits.

What's next?

Step 7: When you arrive