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Australia, like many countries around the world, has significantly tightened its immigration and customs procedures in recent years. These days it will take you at least 45 minutes from the time you step off the plane until you walk out into the International Arrivals terminal in Sydney. For those with a weak bladder, be sure to use the toilets before joining the queues at Immigration!
Students who have been accepted into Study Abroad at Macquarie can find the current orientation schedule here.
First stop after getting off the plane in Sydney is Immigration. Holders of Australian passports and permanent residencies are directed to one set of counters, whilst international visitors are directed to another. Once you arrive at the counter you will be required to present your passport (with your student visa), Letter of Offer and CoE, along with your landing card, to the Immigration Official.
After immigration you will collect your baggage from your designated baggage carousel, and then proceed to Customs and Quarantine.
More information on immigration procedure is available from:
After collecting your baggage you will arrive at Immigration and Customs and be presented with two choices – the Green ‘Nothing to Declare’ channel and the Red ‘Goods to Declare’ channel. See below for information on what needs to be declared.
If you have nothing to declare, you can proceed through the Green channel, however, most bags going through this channel are x-rayed to ensure that quarantine and customs are being enforced. Sniffer-Dogs are permanently posted at the Green channel to ensure that food stuffs and other illegal items are not brought into the country.
If you have something to declare, you will need to proceed to the Red channel where your goods will be assessed.
When entering Australia, you will be asked to declare certain items including items of value, food, alcohol and cigarettes. If you are carrying more than the specified limit for those items, you will be required to pay ‘duty’ or tax on them. Before leaving for Australia, be sure to check the Australian Customs Service webpage at http://www.customs.gov.au/.
Australia is a very isolated place and, as a result, has an environment that is highly susceptible to foreign pests – diseases, plants, animals, and other foreign bodies. As a result, quarantine is strictly enforced in Australia to protect our invaluable environments and industry.
The list of goods you must declare is very comprehensive, ranging from food to items made of wood. If you have recently been near a farm, or are arriving from certain destinations in South America or Africa, you may be required to make a declaration.
More information on quarantine is available at
Declare everything! If you are in any slightest doubt, ask an official.
As a study abroad or exchange student you are entitled to an Airport Pick-up, which you will need to register for before you arrive in Australia (see Accommodation and Airport reception).
A representative of Macquarie University will greet you at the arrival gates. There are two arrival gates ‘AB’ and ‘CD’, and there is a Meeting Point located halfway between the two. Your Macquarie representative will be waiting there for you with a Macquarie University sign. After 30 minutes if you cannot find the "pick up person" do not panic, call either 9850 7965 (9am - 5pm Mon-Fri) or 0419 014 745 or 0414 443 754 (other than office hours) and Macquarie International will advise you what to do next.
Australia has automatic teller machines (ATMs) like everywhere else in the world, and it is usually possible to withdraw money directly from your bank account at home from a machine in Australia. Check with your bank to see what conditions and fees are attached to this service.
When you first arrive in Oz, you’re going to need some cash before you have time to open a bank account or transfer money from home. You can either convert cash at the airport in your home country, or there are currency-converting services available at Sydney International Airport when you arrive. Alternatively, think about carrying traveller’s cheques, which can be converted in most Australian banks for a fee.
In lots of universities, orientation is a bore, something to be endured not enjoyed. At Macquarie, this is definitely NOT the case! We spend a lot of time thinking about how we can make orientation the most fun whilst still giving you all the critical info you need. We think we’ve come up with the magic formula and guaranteed you won’t want to miss a minute of it.
Orientation is held the week before classes start and is generally formatted as follows:
:: Weekend before orientation
The Macquarie Abroad Orientation Camp takes place for partner and direct entry students who have signed up. We go for a great weekend away near Sydney – to the World Heritage listed Blue Mountains. It is the perfect time to make new mates with some of the people you will study with in the months to come. There is an additional cost for this activity.
Please note that many study abroad programs conduct their own orientation camps or similar programs to help you adjust to life in Australia (eg. Australearn, ISFA-Butler, AIFS, Arcadia, Study Australia). The Macquarie Abroad orientation camp is not available to these students.
:: Wednesday/Thursday
One of these days will be your official multimedia orientation session. This is a great half day where we have a theme and mix the crucial information about studying in Australia with prize giveaways, hilarious activities and classic Australian performances. We’ll even provide you with a free lunch because we’re good blokes.
On your other day we’ll help you through the nitty-gritty of enrolment, get you into your classes and get you your student card. Then the Exchange Students’ Club kicks off a massive free lunch and ‘University Fair’, including representatives of some of the university’s clubs and societies, the Sports Association and some tour and activity groups who will try to convince you to travel, skydive, scuba dive, hike, surf and ski with them.
One of the evenings is Macquarie International’s massive Welcome Party, run by the Exchange Students’ Club. Meet the other newbies at Macquarie, or befriend an Australian at this top night out.
The other evening is Travel night, featuring a special guest. Our staff give you the low down on travelling Australia. We give you tips on where to go and how to do it. Then, just for fun, we have a special guest make an appearance to top it off. Our current favourite is 'Crocodile Man’, who brings his collection of snakes, crocs and other creepy crawlies for you to check out.
:: Friday
We kick it off with Brunch Under the Bridge at Milson’s Point – enjoy a brilliant brunch on us, and check out beautiful Sydney Harbour. Then we launch straight into the Sydney Scavenger Hunt: form a team, roam the city, score points and win prizes. This day is all about chilling out, making new friends and discovering a side of Sydney you would never imagine! You’ll never believe what can happen on the Scav Hunt – one group even met former US President, Bill Clinton!
:: Saturday
In the past we’ve had some laid back activities to get you through the day, but essentially this is a cool day off. Someone from the Macabroad team always has an idea about how to spend this day!
:: Sunday
Our final day of orientation. Depending on the season, we either take you by bus to one of Sydney’s most secluded and beautiful beaches for swimming, hiking and a BBQ, or take you to the spectacle, that is, Australian Rules Football. What is that? 30,000 people in a stadium yelling their lungs out - you’ve got to see it to believe it!
:: Activities
The University’s Exchange Students’ Club run stacks of great, tailor-made activities for all the study abroad and exchange students at the uni. This is your chance to meet all the Australians that you possibly can! It all kicks off with a huge Harbour Cruise in the second week of class, then there are more events – Hunter Valley winery tours, Blue Mountains trips, surfing trips, this list goes on and on.
Check out the Club’s webpage at