Life in Australia

The currency of Australia is the Australian Dollar. Ideally, you should change your money into Australian dollars before you arrive but if you haven't, you will need to change some as soon as you arrive - you will usually be able to do this at the airport.

Once you have arrived into Sydney you can also change more money into Australian dollars at any bank or currency exchange. Note, however, that banks are not open on the weekend and while airport currency exchanges are generally open, the rate is usually not as good as with a bank. You should not carry large sums of money with you and it is best to only have the money that you will need for the first few days and then arrange to have the rest of the funds transferred to you in Australia.

The amount you will need to bring with you will depend on whether you have already paid for your accommodation before you arrive. Think about how much money you will need to last you for a couple of weeks.

Find out more about money matters by visiting http://www.studyinaustralia.gov.au/en/Living-in-Australia/Money-Matters

International Students studying in Australia have various housing options, they can choose to stay in Homestay Accommodation, Renting, Shared Accommodation.

Typical accommodation costs in Sydney are as follows:

• 1 bedroom flat - $250 to $300 per week
• 1 bedroom flat - $250 to $300 per week
• 2 to 3 bedroom flat or house - $450 to $550 per week

If you intend to bring your family with you, they will also need to have a visa and be covered by health insurance. Family members include your partner (married or de facto) and your children under 18 years of age. You will need to provide proof of your family relationships with official documents including birth certificates and marriage certificates. For more details, visit www.immi.gov.au

Where you have dependent children that need to attend childcare or school, you should be aware of the following costs:

Typical childcare costs in Sydney are as follows:

• Centre-based childcare $100+ per day
• Family day care $12+ per hour
• Nannies $15+ per hour
• Au pairs (living in your home) $500 to $600+ per week

Find out more at: www.mychild.gov.au

Schools fees apply to most dependents of temporary residents in New South Wales. There are some exceptions, for further information visit the DEC International website.

To find out more about application processes and costs go to: www.humanservices.gov.au

You should also be aware that the above costs for childcare and schooling are in addition to living costs. According to www.studyinaustralia.gov.au the figure given below is an estimate only to give an indication of the basic rate of living costs under Australia's migration regulations.

Australia has a special system of health cover for international students called Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). You will need to buy OSHC before you come to Australia to cover you from when you arrive. The Department of Immigration and Citizenship requires you to maintain OSHC for the duration of your time on a student visa in Australia.

You can choose to take out OSHC with a provider recommended by us, or with the Australian OSHC provider of your choice. There are five providers of OSHC in Australia. Visit these websites to find detailed information on what they cover and to decide which provider is right for you.

• Australian Health Management OSHC : www.ahmoshc.com
• BUPA Australia : www.overseasstudenthealth.com
• Medibank Private : www.medibank.com.au/Client/StaticPages/OSHCHome.aspx
• OSHC Worldcare : www.oshcworldcare.com.au
• NIB OSHC : www.nib.com.au/home/newtonib/overseasstudents

As a student visa holder, you can work up to 40 hours a fortnight during term time (in session) and as many hours as you like during holidays (out of session).

Visit the following website to find out more about working in Australia, including how to find a job.

Immigration regulations in Australia require international students to show evidence that they can contribute to the cost of living and studying in Australia. This helps to ensure students are better able to make the most of their studies and have a safe and enjoyable experience in Australia.

While international students can supplement their income with money earned through part-time work in Australia, the 'living costs' requirement helps to support the success of students in their studies by ensuring that they do not have to rely on such work to meet all their expenses.

The basic rate of living costs under the migration regulations increase with Australia's cost of living. Under these regulations prospective student visa applicants must have access to at least the following funds to meet living costs requirements (excluding tuition fees):

• A$19,830 a year for a student. This includes clothing, food, accommodation, transportation, entertainment and travel costs in Sydney - but excludes tuition costs.

Students must demonstrate that the funds they are relying upon to meet the costs of studying in Australia will be genuinely available to them during their stay in Australia.

The figures above are indicative only and that costs can vary significantly depending on where you live in Australia. You should be prepared in case your living costs are greater than the indicated figures.

For further information about studying and living in Australia refer to website Study in Australia, this is the Australian Government's official resource for international students.