Departure
Preparing to go Overseas
The Australian Government has set up a website to assist Australian students preparing to go abroad. This site has vital links and information about Safety & Security abroad, Australian Embassies, Visa information and Centrelink payments & Travel Tip. This site should be your first stop when preparing to go abroad:
Study Overseas - Passport Applications
Travel Insurance
Make sure you arrange for travel insurance. You will not be approved for the SCU exchange programme without sufficient medical insurance. Some partner institutions require that you take out their cover. Medical expenses in foreign countries can be extremely expensive. The cost of medical insurance can range between $600-$1000AUD for a semester.
Comprehensive travel insurance covers are available which insure against luggage theft and damage, etc. This insurance may cost between AUD$250 and AUD$450. Travel agents and medical benefits funds also offer travel insurance.
Passports and Visas
It is strongly recommended that you check VISA REQUIREMENTS early. Please note that you are responsible for ensuring you have the correct visa for the country you are studying in and travel visas for countries you may visit whilst traveling.
You need a passport and generally you will need a visa to study and travel abroad. Passport applications are available from the local Post Office. They cost around $208 and are valid for 10 years. 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 you have a full certified copy of your birth certificate available. You will require this to get your passport, and delays are often experienced in obtaining birth certificates. You will need four colour passport-size photographs.
Visas for USA now require an interview at the American Consulate in Sydney. Appointments need to be made in advance and often there is a wait of several weeks. It is important to have all documentation prepared for the interview including your acceptance into your overseas institution.
Some visas may be applied for on line and others require an interview at the nearest consulate. For visa information for USA, Canada, UK, Germany, Holland, China and Hong Kong, Sweden, Norway, Spain, France, Japan, Korea go to:
Updated: 21 March 2011