Student Life in Sydney, Australia

The ICMS Northern Beaches Campus is one of the most picturesque campuses in the world. It’s a perfect location for a memorable student experience. You’ll study in a historic castle, with nine beaches at your doorstep.

Meanwhile, our City Campus boasts a convenient location in the heart of Sydney’s central business district. It’s perfect for students who want to immerse themselves in a vibrant city with great shopping, cafes and restaurants nearby.

ICMS offers both on-campus and off-campus accommodation to suit a range of lifestyles and budgets. Spaces fill quickly, so we recommend booking early to secure your preferred option.

If you choose not to stay in ICMS accommodation, you might consider living with family, sharing a house, or renting an apartment. Just keep in mind, Sydney is a large city, and traffic can be a challenge. We strongly recommend living close to the campus you’ll be attending to make daily travel easier.

Some helpful accommodation websites include:

• flatmates.com.au
• UniLodge Student Accommodation
• Iglu Student Accommodation

Under 18?
If you’ll be under 18 years old when you begin your studies at ICMS, you must have approved accommodation and welfare arrangements in place to meet Australian student visa requirements. Visit our Under 18s information page for full details.

At ICMS, our academic calendar may differ from those in other countries, so it’s important to check our Important Dates to understand how the year is structured and when your studies will begin.

Before you arrive in Sydney, we recommend reading our Starting at ICMS: FAQs for International Students. This helpful guide answers common questions about:

• Accommodation check-in times
• Orientation details
• Getting to ICMS from the airport
• What to pack and wear
• Parking options
• Sports and social activities

Whether you’re preparing for your first day or your first trimester, we’re here to help you feel confident and ready.

If you’ve never lived away from home before, it’s important to understand the costs involved in relocating to Sydney – beyond just your tuition fees. Your cost of living will vary based on factors like your choice of accommodation, location, and personal spending habits.

The Department of Home Affairs requires international students to meet specific financial criteria in order to be granted a student visa. As of 10 May 2024, applicants must show evidence of at least AU$29,710 in savings to cover annual living expenses.

To help you plan more accurately, use the Cost of Living Calculator provided by Study Australia. This tool can estimate your expected expenses based on your lifestyle and preferences.

Australia is widely regarded as one of the safest countries in the world. Still, taking the right precautions can help ensure a smooth and secure transition to life in Sydney. Here are some things to consider:

• Get Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC): This is a student visa requirement. You can arrange it independently, or ICMS can organise it for you – details will be included in your Letter of Offer.

• Consider private health insurance: For services not covered by OSHC, such as dental or physiotherapy.

• Think about travel insurance: To protect against unexpected disruptions like missed flights or lost luggage.

• Look into other coverage: If you plan to drive or bring personal belongings, consider vehicle insurance and home and contents insurance for added peace of mind.

NSW Police, in partnership with the Council of International Students Australia (CISA), has created safety videos for international students studying in Sydney and New South Wales. The videos are available in nine languages: English, Thai, Japanese, Spanish, Hindi, Chinese, Korean, Arabic, and Vietnamese.

You can set up a bank account before or after you arrive in Australia. You’ll need your eCoE (electronic Confirmation of Enrolment), passport, letter of offer and photo ID.

If you plan to work while studying in Australia, you will also need to apply for a Tax File Number.

A student visa is required to study in Australia – and it needs to be sorted before you leave your home country. The Department of Home Affairs website provides all the information you need about visa requirements, responsibilities and compliance.

Check your eligibility for a student visa.

Sydney has a great public transport network with buses, trains, ferries and a light rail running regularly. We encourage you to visit the Transport for NSW website to plan your trips.

You can use a debit or credit card to pay for public transport trips (just tap and go). Alternatively, you can apply for an Opal Card. This is the smartcard public transport ticketing system used in New South Wales.

ICMS offers students ample support. You can find information on our website for the following:

• • Accommodation support for under 18s
  • Academic Support and English Assistance
  • Wellness and Support
  • Library Services
  • IT/Computer Support
  • Health and Medical Services
  • Student Representative Council (SRC)
  • Advice and Advocacy
  • Disability Support
  • Safety and Security on Campus

When it’s time for you to do your Work Integrated Learning (WIL) professional placements, ICMS has a team of facilitators who will help you to prepare your resume, practise your interview techniques and secure a placement in an organisation applicable to your field of study.

We understand it can be difficult to organise everything yourself, so you might like to find an agent to help you with your application to study in Sydney. You should only use an approved ICMS Agent Representative (Education Agent).