The better prepared you are for life at Macquarie University, the more likely you are to enjoy it. Many things should be considered before you begin your studies in Australia and it is important that you read this information, as it provides a comprehensive guide for a smooth transition to Macquarie and Sydney. The following information highlights a lot of details to organise before leaving home. Address these priorities as soon as possible, as official paper work will take time to register and cannot be left until the last moment.
Please read your offer letter carefully as it contains important information on your plan of study at Macquarie. The offer letter is an official notification that you have been accepted into a particular course of study. It will feature your student number, course duration, fee structure, links to the fees refund policy, and information on obtaining a student visa.
Please quote your student number in any correspondence with Macquarie International Student Services (ISS) and be sure to bring the original copy of your offer letter with you.
To secure a place at Macquarie University, you must accept your offer by the deadline clearly stated in the offer letter, or the offer will lapse. You must fill out the Payment and electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) Request Form, and return it with payment or evidence of payment.
The commencement fee for most programs is a set rate of AU$12,500 and must be paid along with the Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) fee to accept an offer of place. The offer letter also serves as an invoice.
Students are expected to pay the fees at the first enrolment. The fees quoted in the course templates are based on current rates for the next available intake. However, there may be some cases where offers are made for a future semester and that semester's fees have not been officially set by Macquarie University at the time of offer. Tuition fees are subject to change with each academic year and students will be liable for any increases. Click here for more information about accepting your offer.
Overseas Student Health Cover is a requirement of entry into Australia for all international students and accompanying dependants. This means that you MUST have your OSHC for the entire time you are studying at Macquarie University while you stay in Australia.
Experience has shown that many international students do not maintain their health cover and do not take this condition seriously - too many students let their cover lapse after their first year in Australia. A significant number of uncovered students and their families have been charged large hospital bills and are faced with unnecessary financial burdens.
To ensure you always have valid cover and to make things easier for you, Macquarie University together with OSHC Worldcare (our preferred provider for OSHC) have arranged a special package and price for all new international students commencing study at Macquarie University.
All new Macquarie University international students will be guaranteed Health Cover for the entire length of their study program at Macquarie. Having guaranteed OSHC cover for the entire length of your program means you do not have to worry about your health cover expiring whilst you are studying at Macquarie University and breaching your visa conditions.
:: Rate Protection and Discount
(for longer-term students)
Our arrangement with Worldcare protects you from future OSHC price raises as well as including discount for longer term students of up to 10% for those with long-term cover. If you are enrolled to study at Macquarie University for three years you will save around $100.:: Easy Refund Policy
For whatever reason, if you have to cancel your study in Australia and return home (i.e no longer requiring a student visa), Worldcare will provide you with a pro-rata refund of the unused portion of your policy.:: Peace of Mind
This arrangement gives you guaranteed health cover and lets you concentrate on your studies and enjoy all that Australia has to offer.
Your OSHC Worldcare membership card is issued upon payment of your Overseas Student Health Cover, and combined with your Macquarie University student identification card, this ensures entry and assistance when visiting a Medical Service on or off-campus.
International students with OSHC are able to have most charges reimbursed by Worldcare.
Macquarie University arranges payment of OSHC to Worldcare when you pay fees and the first year of OSHC, before you are issued with your Confirmation of Enrolment (COE).
For more information about Overseas Student Health Cover go to:
All international students need a student visa to study in Australia. When you accept your offer of a place at Macquarie University by payment of your tuition fee and Overseas Student Health Cover, you should receive an electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) from Macquarie International.
You will then need to apply for your student visa, by presenting the CoE to the nominated Australian High Commission/ Embassy/Consulate in your country. The CoE contains information such as the date of commencement of your studies, end date and other codes used by the Department of Immigration to issue the student visa.
There are different assessment levels for the student visa, depending on the type of course you are studying. For example:
For further details please see: http://www.immi.gov.au/study/visas/subclasses_assessment.htm
:: Visa
The student visa is entered into your passport and is issued for the duration of the initial course of study. It will enable you to re-enter Australia if you leave the country. Be sure to check your passport expiry date in advance of departure, as renewing your passport can be a lengthy process in Australia.
It is important that you understand that the conditions and rules of your visa are set by Australian Law, and cannot be changed or disregarded to suit your circumstances, as DIMIA may cancel your visa if you breach these conditions.
International students who arrive on a visitor's visa will NOT be permitted to enrol in a registered course with duration of more than 12 weeks. You must be granted your student visa BEFORE enrolling in courses. If you enrol on a visitor's visa, you are in breach of that visa, and are liable to have the visa cancelled and may face a three-year exclusion on entry to Australia.
Check with the Department of Immigration for the most up to date information on assessment levels, student visa requirements and application fees.
For more information about your student visa visit:
Book your flight to Australia soon after you accept the Letter of Offer as seats are in high demand during this time of the year.
Macquarie University has a Meet and Greet team who will meet you personally at Sydney International Airport. Please be sure to notify Macquarie International's Accommodation Office one week in advance of your confirmed flight details. You should receive an email confirming your airport reception no later than three days prior to your arrival date. Please contact Macquarie International via e-mail if you do not receive such confirmation.
To book the free airport reception service and for more information visit:
Macquarie International has a list of residences regularly used by students for temporary accommodation.
They range from on-campus residential college rooms to guesthouses and youth hostels. Locations include:
North Ryde (about 5 minutes to Macquarie University by bus).
St. Leonards (about 25 minutes to Macquarie University by bus).
and Sydney city (about 45 minutes away by public transport but central to all city locations, including tourist attractions, restaurants and entertainment venues).
For more information visit:
Given heightened international security measures, packages coming into Australia are now screened by quarantine for prohibited items. Post offices in major towns and cities are open from 9am to 5pm, Monday through Friday. Large parcels and certified mail will need to be picked up at the post office. Please ensure that you label and address mail to Australia correctly. Do not ship luggage/boxes to Macquarie International, as there are no storage facilities available for this purpose.