Arrival Guide QUT Global TO QUT AND BRISBANE ... opportunities to help you discover your place in the world and make the most out of your time ... Arrival Guide QUT ...

Arrival Guide

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More information: www.qut.edu.au/study-abroad | [email protected] |

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QUT Global

Arrival Guide for

Study Abroad and Exchange Students

Arrival Guide

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More information: www.qut.edu.au/study-abroad | [email protected] |

CRIOCOS No. 00213J

Table of Contents

WELCOME TO QUT AND BRISBANE .................................................................................................... 3

ACCOMMODATION ............................................................................................................................. 4

ARRIVING IN BRISBANE ....................................................................................................................... 5

AIRPORT RECEPTION ........................................................................................................................... 5

ORIENTATION ...................................................................................................................................... 5

QUT ONLINE ACCESS ........................................................................................................................... 6

ENROLMENT AND CLASS REGISTRATION ............................................................................................ 7

STUDENT ZONES ................................................................................................................................. 7

ACADEMIC CALENDAR ........................................................................................................................ 8

MAPS ................................................................................................................................................... 8

PREPARING FOR UNIVERSITY LIFE ....................................................................................................... 8

OVERSEAS STUDENT HEALTH COVER (OSHC) ..................................................................................... 9

HEALTH AND SUPPORT AT QUT .......................................................................................................... 9

OBTAINING YOUR STUDENT ID CARD ................................................................................................. 9

PUBLIC TRANSPORT .......................................................................................................................... 10

QUT EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES ........................................................................................................... 10

QUT EXCHANGE BUDDY CLUB (QUTEB) ............................................................................................ 11

QUT GLOBAL AMBASSADOR PROGRAM ........................................................................................... 11

MONEY EMPLOYMENT AND LEGAL HELP ......................................................................................... 11

HELPFUL LINKS AND WEBSITES ......................................................................................................... 12

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WELCOME TO QUT AND BRISBANE QUT is a major Australian university with a global outlook and real-world focus. We are ranked 24th in the world and within the top two in Australia as of 2017 (Times Higher Education Young Universities Ranking 2017). We host nearly 8,000 international students from more than 100 countries with many of our academic teaching staff and tutors having international qualifications and overseas working experience. We promote and celebrate our cultural diversity on campus through social activities, festivals and university-wide events.

Your study abroad expereince will be life-changing, and we are excited you have chosen to study here at QUT as part of that experience! We provide support, social activities and development opportunities to help you discover your place in the world and make the most out of your time studying with us.

So far, you most likely would have received correspondence from the QUT Global office, that’s us! We will continue to be your main point of contact throughout your program at QUT. We have put together this booklet for you that provides key sessions to attend in your first weeks at QUT, information on accommodation, how to enrol into units and a lot of other helpful advice. We also organise many events and social activities for all of our incoming students to meet and find friends as part of your QUT experience.

On arrival, if you need any assistance please visit the QUT Global office, we’re open Monday to Friday, from 9am to 5pm and are located in A-Block, Level 1 at Gardens Point Campus. You can also email us anytime: [email protected].

We look forward to welcoming you to campus soon and wish you safe travels to Australia.

All the best from the QUT Global team!

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ACCOMMODATION We understand that finding accommodation can be overwhelming in a new country, so here are some recommendations to get you started.

Temporary Accommodation

There are many temporary accommodation options available for you to choose from when you first arrive in Brisbane, including hotels and backpacker resorts. If required, we strongly recommend that you arrange temporary accommodation before arriving in Brisbane.

Permanent Accommodation

For helpful advice on arranging accommodation in Brisbane, please visit out QUT Accommodation Website.

We recommend the following student apartments, located in close proximity to QUT’s Gardens Point and Kelvin Grove campuses. These websites will give you lots of information about pricing, location and facilities and services provided as part of your weekly rental cost. Booking is easy and can be done online, prior to your arrival!

Iglu

Student One

Atira Student Living

UniLodge

Urbanest Southbank

Brisbane Students

Tips and advice when considering accommodation:

You may wish to seek furnished accommodation to avoid having to pay for new furniture, kitchenware, linen and other basic start up appliances. The extra cost may work out cheaper in the end.

A typical minimum rental lease in Australia is 6 months; however, the accommodation providers listed above usually do shorter leases for study abroad and exchange students. Be sure to confirm that you are only studying at QUT for one semester when making any enquiries.

If you choose to rent a private house or apartment (not on the list above), we strongly recommend that you arrange temporary accommodation to cover your first week or so in Brisbane so you can personally inspect the accommodation prior to signing a contract.

Please be sure you understand what you are committing to before signing a rental agreement and gain advice from QUT Accommodation Services on arrival, if you need it.

More helpful tips are available here: https://www.qut.edu.au/study/student-life/life-in-brisbane/accommodation

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ARRIVING IN BRISBANE We encourage you to arrive in Brisbane just before semester starts so that you have time to be settled and familiarise yourself with our great city. A comprehensive guide to your first couple of weeks in Brisbane and at QUT can be found at Getting started. We strongly recommend that you take some time to browse this website and its associated web links.

We’re trying to keep Australia beautiful so our customs laws can be very strict. Make sure you know what you can and cannot bring into the country before packing your suitcase!

What you can and can't bring into Australia (Australian biosecurity)

Australian travel information for international students

Australian quarantine information in languages other than English

AIRPORT RECEPTION QUT offers a free airport reception service for new international students!

We will pick you up at Brisbane airport and take you to your accommodation.

Please register for this service after accepting your program at QUT: Airport Reception

Please ensure that you book your airport reception at least 3 working days before arrival!

ORIENTATION

Study Abroad & Exchange Orientation Session (compulsory)

As a study abroad or exchange student, you must attend the Study Abroad & Exchange Orientation Session – this is a requirement of your Australian student visa. This orientation session allows us to officially welcome you to QUT and includes important information about enrolment, immigration, QUT access, insurance, health and safety, and more. The details for this session are:

Monday 17th July, 2017

1.30pm to 3.30pm

Location: Gardens Point campus, Z Block, Room 411 (Z411)

If special circumstances prevent you from attending the compulsory orientation sessions, you must contact [email protected] with supporting documentation that explains your non-attendance. If special consideration is granted, we will provide you with an alternative orientation session that you must attend.

Please note that students granted special consideration for late arrival must be on campus and be attending classes no later than Monday, 31st July. Students who are unable to start classes by this date will need to consider postponing their studies at QUT.

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Orientation Session for Nursing Students (compulsory)

Students undertaking nursing units must also attend Health Faculty orientation sessions. Details will be provided to you soon.

Further specific advice about orientation sessions will be emailed to you soon.

Orientation Week

Our Semester 2, 2017 Orientation runs from Monday 17th July to Friday 21st July.

Further information about events and sessions to attend will be emailed to you soon but be prepared to sign up to lots of great student clubs, food stalls, social activities and development opportunities!

Jump to the website to watch our Hello #QUTLife! Video and take a look at the other fun stuff that happens during O-Week!

QUT Global Welcome Party

A party in your honour will be held during orientation week! This is a great opportunity to meet other students studying abroad at QUT. The event will be hosted at a QUT venue, with great music, tasty food and drinks available for purchase. Be sure to pack your dancing shoes!

The formal invitation for this event will be emailed to you soon and will include a link to register for the event.

Check out our Facebook album to see some great pictures from last semester’s event!

QUT ONLINE ACCESS Your QUT Student Number, QUT Access Username and QUT Access Password are located at the top right corner of your Offer Letter. You will use this information to login to your personal web portal, called HiQ, and to access your QUT student email.

If you require help with accessing QUT’s online system or setting up your devices (smart phones, laptops etc.) or connect with QUT, please contact or visit the IT Helpdesk once you arrive in Brisbane.

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ENROLMENT AND CLASS REGISTRATION

Step 1: Enrolment

You may now enrol via HiQ. This is known as your Study Plan and will be made up from the units that you have had approval to study at QUT. These units were confirmed on your offer letter.

It is a requirement that you study full-time while here on your exchange or study abroad program. This means 3 or 4 QUT units (36 or 48 credit points). To confirm, the minimum enrolment is 36 credit points per semester.

The QUT Global Enrolment and Class Registration Guide will help you complete this step. This has been emailed to your QUT student email.

Step 2: Class Registration

Once you have enrolled in your approved units, you must complete your class registration. Class Registration opens 2nd June 2017 and closes on 7th June. Classes can fill up fast, get in quick!

Tips to support your class registration:

Each unit may deliver classes on a range of days and times throughout the week. Usually, this consists of 1 lecture and 1 tutorial per week.

During the registration process, you will be prompted to select the appropriate number of tutorials, lectures or workshops required for each unit you plan to study.

The QUT Global Enrolment and Class Registration Guide will help you complete this step. This has been emailed to your QUT student email.

Please remember these important dates:

2nd June 2017 o Class Registration opens – get in quick, classes can fill up fast!

4th August 2017 o Last date to add a unit without financial penalty.

18th August 2017 o Census Date: The last possible date to withdraw from units without financial

penalty.

STUDENT ZONES QUT is all about YOU and we have great student zones and spaces available to help you get the most out of your exchange and study abroad experience. Each university is different, so we recommend that you read some the helpful hints on HiQ regarding Learning and Assessment, Health and Wellbeing, Student Life and Zones!

In addition to our office, you may access support services through HiQ. Located in the library at both Gardens Point and Kelvin Grove campuses, you can find. There are also interactive digital screens to give you information about Brisbane and events that are popping up around campus! Find out more about HiQ here.

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The Library also offers some great workshops that can assist you with QUT’s academic writing, referencing and submission requirements. You can view their workshop offerings and appointment details here and check out the student page for more information on booking study rooms and computer availability.

ACADEMIC CALENDAR To make sure you know the most important dates during the semester!

All key dates

Full year academic calendar

MAPS To familiarise yourself with the campuses, you can download the campus maps below!

You may also like to download the QUT App on your phone for easy access.

Gardens Point Campus Map

Kelvin Grove Campus Map

PREPARING FOR UNIVERSITY LIFE Preparing for university in a new country can be daunting, so QUT has put together a useful ‘Preparing for Uni’ checklist to get you started! This covers topics such as navigating the academic world, searching for student groups, career planning and managing uni on a budget.

For more information and other topics, visit the Preparing for Uni page.

What to expect in your classes at QUT

Each university is different in how learning content is delivered. Here at QUT, the normal structure is 1 lecture and 1 tutorial class per unit, each week. However, other units may involve several laboratory classes each week. Please visit our “Navigating the Academic World” page to understand QUT’s lectures and tutorials.

To confirm, your course will be one of the following as per your QUT Offer Letter:

U082: Study Abroad Semester

U083: Exchange Semester

U094: Study Abroad Year

U095: Exchange Year

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OVERSEAS STUDENT HEALTH COVER (OSHC) If you purchased Medibank OSHC as part of your acceptance to QUT, you will be able to order your Medibank Membership Card online at Medibank OSHC Card Registration. You will be required to supply a current Australian mailing address so we recommended you complete this step after arrival to Brisbane.

If you did not purchase Medibank OSHC through QUT, you will need to contact your insurer for information on how to obtain your membership card.

Please be aware of the following:

If you chose to purchase a Medibank policy through QUT, your policy document will be sent to your QUT student email address. This could take up to 14 business days. Your login details for your QUT account can be found on your QUT offer letter.

Students arriving early, who wish to extend their OSHC coverage, can email Medibank Private on [email protected] to arrange extension of the coverage after receiving policy documents. You will be required to provide a copy of your flight itinerary.

Read all the OHSC requirements when applying for your student visa online. Please read to the very bottom of the page to see which supporting documentation may or may not be required. See Student visa (subclass 500) for more information.

HEALTH AND SUPPORT AT QUT

International Student Services (ISS)

This team of dedicated professionals is there to support your entire journey at QUT including arrival support, events and activities to help you meet people, academic support and free counselling services. More information is available here:

www.qut.edu.au/about/services-and-facilities/all-services/international-student-advice-and-counselling

Health Services

QUT offers a range of health and medical services on campus: www.qut.edu.au/international/get-support-at-qut/health-services

OBTAINING YOUR STUDENT ID CARD Your QUT ID card is what officially identifies you as a QUT Student and welcomes you to the QUT community! This card will give you access to a number of QUT facilities and services such as:

Attend exams

Borrow books from the library

Use computer labs

Travel on the QUT shuttle bus for free

Access to your copy/print account to print at QUT

Access some rooms and buildings

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On arrival at QUT, you will need to obtain your Student ID Card as soon as possible. You must be enrolled in at least 36 credit points. Your Student ID Card can be obtained at HiQ:

● Gardens Point Library, V-Block, Level 3

● Kelvin Grove Library, R-Block, Level 2

For identification and verification purposes, you will need to present your passport showing your Australian Student Visa. It will also help to have your QUT student number, which is on your QUT Offer Letter.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT QUT offers a free shuttle bus service that runs every ten minutes between Gardens Point and Kelvin Grove campuses. You must present your QUT Student ID card to use the service. For more information, please visit the Shuttle Bus page.

Brisbane is an easy city to get around in with many transport options available such as buses, trains and river ferries. Translink operates the general public transport system, and you will need to purchase a prepaid “go card” in order to use these services, as cash is not always accepted.

As a full-time QUT student, you will be eligible to apply for a 50% concession discount after you purchase your go card. To purchase your go card and apply for your discount, please follow the steps below:

1. Finalise your full time enrolment at QUT. 2. Purchase an adult go card (blue) from a retailer in the city:

https://translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/go-card/locations 3. Register the card and create an account. 4. Apply online for tertiary concession fares to be activated on your go card.

Planning travel around Brisbane

We recommend using the Journey Planner to plan your trip!

You should also download the Translink App for up to date travel advice.

QUT EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES To find out what’s happening on campus and to get involved in events and activities, we recommend that you like the QUT Study Abroad Facebook Page. Weekly posts can provide some useful tips and recommendations on what to explore in Brisbane to make your experience immersive and unique!

You can also visit Student Life for more information about QUT events and activities, including a clubs, social activities, sport, leadership and development, LGBTIQ, and personal communities.

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QUT EXCHANGE BUDDY CLUB (QUTEB) QUTEB is a student club closely affiliated with QUT Global. The club is dedicated to enhancing the experience of inbound study abroad and exchange students by connecting you with Australian students who share an interest in cultural exchange. Every semester the club organises a variety of social events and camping trips to ensure you get the very best out of your QUT experience.

For more information, please ‘Like’ the QUTEB Facebook Page or email [email protected].

QUT GLOBAL AMBASSADOR PROGRAM A volunteer opportunity where you can gain valuable work experience and promote your home university and country to prospective outbound QUT exchange students. Your main task will be to handle student enquiries and assist with various office projects but we may also offer opportunities to assist with events planning and organisation.

As part of the program, Inbound Ambassadors will be provided with a formal day of training, based on communication. At the end of the semester, certificates will be awarded to all students who participated so you can use this experience on your resume/CV.

More information about the Inbound Ambassador Program will be emailed to you closer to the start of semester.

MONEY EMPLOYMENT AND LEGAL HELP It is recommended that you have some Australian cash on you when you first arrive, to help with initial expenses like transport. Currency exchange stores can be found within Brisbane Airport if required. ATMs can be found all over Brisbane, as well as at both QUT campuses.

For financial assistance, including information about opening an Australian bank account, please visit Financial Help. If you don’t intend on opening a bank account, you may be able to continue using your personal credit/debit card (Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted) however be sure to check that you don’t get charged unwanted fees.

If you wish to obtain employment while here on your exchange or study abroad program, please visit our Employment page for more information.

If you require legal help while in Australia, please visit Legal Help.

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HELPFUL LINKS AND WEBSITES

QUT

QUT Global (Study Abroad and Exchange): o https://www.qut.edu.au/international/study-abroad-and-exchange

Social Media: o Facebook: QUT Study Abroad o Instagram: #qutglobal

Campus facilities and transport at our QUT campuses: o https://www.student.qut.edu.au/campuses-and-transport

QUT Library Tours and Workshops o https://www.library.qut.edu.au/study/

International Student Fee and Refund information: o https://www.student.qut.edu.au/enrolment/fees-and-finances/costs-for-

withdrawing-from-courses-and-units/refunds-of-course-and-unit-fees

Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP)

http://www.border.gov.au/

Brisbane and Australia

http://www.visitbrisbane.com.au/

http://www.australia.com

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WE WISH YOU SAFE TRAVELS TO BRISBANE AND LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOMING YOU TO QUT!

QUT International Student Mobility Office

Level 1, A-Block, Gardens Point Campus.

Office hours: Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.