You should start preparing for a semester abroad outside of Europe at least 6 months in advance. After choosing Australia, I drove straight to the MicroEDU office, got personal advice and was given a list of the documents I needed.

The complete application is then submitted directly to MicroEDU and forwarded from there.

Documents

• Application form
• Proof of English
• Transcript of Records
• curriculum vitae
• Copy of the passport

You can also get all further information on this from MicroEDU.

Visa, health insurance, online application

The Australian visa is relatively straightforward and can be applied for directly online. I received my visa after just two days. However, since I wanted to stay in Australia for a year, I applied for a work and holiday visa and not a student visa. According to abbreviationfinder, SUT stands for Swinburne University of Technology.

With regard to health insurance, you should know the following: with a student visa, it is mandatory to complete the OHSC, which is prescribed by the Swinburne University of Technology. If you have a Work and Holiday Visa, you can choose health insurance. I can recommend AXA, which offers comprehensive insurance cover and only pays € 1 / day (possible up to 365 days).

If you are doing a semester abroad, you should, if possible, apply for the tuition fee waiver (note the deadline) and apply to the examination board for admission to study abroad.

If you no longer live with your parents, you should take care of a new tenant, apply for a forwarding order from the post office and arrange a rest period, for example, in the gym and other clubs. It is also a good idea to have at least two credit cards in case one is stolen. You can pick up cash free of charge in Australia using credit cards. I had the credit cards of the DKB and Comdirect and got along well with them.

On the Swinburne University of Technology website you can find out about the courses offered in advance. Agree on the courses you want to take with your home university beforehand, so that it is guaranteed that these will also be credited to you.

In terms of insurance, you should consider whether it is advisable to have your laptop and other valuables insured. I had also taken out liability insurance for myself that is also valid abroad (Allianz).

Accommodation

How do I find accommodation?

In Australia, you are generally advised not to look for an apartment from Germany, as you are often ripped off here. Either the apartment is much shabbier than in the photos or you are asked to pay a month’s rent in advance and then never hear from the landlords again. Generally speaking, as an international you can opt for either on- or off-campus accommodation. The on-campus rooms in shared flats are close to the university, clean and large, but also very expensive. I personally decided to spend the first few days in the hostel. It’s a great opportunity to meet new people, explore the city, and go on apartment tours. I can recommend the Hostel Nomads Melbourne, central location right in the CBD and always something going on. If you prefer to live off-campus and with locals, I can recommend the CBD, St. Kilda, Elwood, Brunswick or Fitzroy. You are a little further from the university, but you live close to the city or the beach. Useful websites are those of Swinburne Uni, Gumtree. com. au, and Flatmatefindes. com. au. In terms of costs, you have to expect at least $ 200 rent per week. )J(Tip: I sometimes rent my room on Airbnb, sleep in the living room during the time and get $ 100 a night

At the host university

Course offer / language

The range of courses is very diverse. You will be asked in advance to choose a course, but you will still have enough time and support on site to find out more about the courses and to make a decision. In the bachelor’s program you have to take 3 lectures and in the master’s 4 lectures of 12. 5 CPs. In terms of the scope of learning, this is also sufficient, you have to do a relatively large number of group / term papers, presentations, mini-tests and exams. If you go to lectures regularly, that shouldn’t be a problem. I have the lectures International Marketing and Research, International Trends in Business, Marketing Decision Tools and Marketing Strategy Development proven.

International Marketing and Research: I can’t necessarily recommend it, but can prove helpful for future research proposals or master’s theses.

International trends in business: super interesting and you learn a lot, but a lot of work.

Marketing decision tools: very boring, but rated well.

Marketing Strategy Development: a lot of work, but is also rated relatively well.

The language requirements are okay, as English is not the mother tongue for the majority of students.

On-site support

After arriving in Melbourne you can use an airport shuttle at Swinburne for free.

After you have settled in for a few days, the orientation week starts. There are events with general information about studying at the Swinburne, you get support in creating the timetable, you can do a campus tour and a city tour. I can only recommend it to get to know other internationals.

The level of study

The duration of a lecture is 3 hours (often only with a 10-minute break). There is no compulsory attendance. The level of study is similar in terms of content to that in Germany, but you have a higher workload during the semester because you have to submit a lot of tests and other study achievements.

everyday life and free time

Leisure activities

A great deal is already being offered through the Swinburne Study Abroad Office. I can also recommend the RMIT Surf Club and the Swinburne University Waterski and Wakeboard Club. Otherwise Melbourne is not “The most liveable City in the World” for nothing. There are an incredible number of bars, restaurants, cafes, festivals, concerts, sporting events (football, Asiacup, cricket, Australian Open, etc. ), and everything else that is fun! You can go running on the beach, kitesurfing, windsurfing, partying, enjoying the weather in rooftop bars and so on. I can recommend the group Newbies International Melbourne, through which you can explore Melbourne and the surrounding area with a large group of other newcomers at low cost. There are the following options: Great Ocean Road Trip, Grampians National Park, Wilsons Promotory, Yarra Valley Winetasting etc. The Mornington Peninsula is also worthwhile, there are the hot springs (preferably in winter) and offers for dolphin swims (more in the Summer). The Queen Victoria Market or the South Melbourne Market are particularly worthwhile at the weekend (fruit and vegetables are much cheaper there than in the supermarket). You can of course go shopping in the CBD or in the Chadstone Mall, but everything is quite expensive, so it’s best to wait for the sale.

Culture and tourism

It is very important to experience as much as possible and to drive away. In the semester break (7-10 days) it is worth taking a trip to Perth, the East Coast or Bali, for example). In no case should you go back to Germany immediately after the end of the semester, but plan a few more weeks to travel, as some tours simply need more time.

Conclusion

My best experience

I can hardly say which experience was the best because I had so many great and unforgettable experiences. You get to know a lot of nice new people from all over the world and every weekend there is something different going on in Melbourne. The horse races “Royal Melbourne Cup”, “Night Noodle Market”, “Australian Open” and “St. Kilda Festival ”were some of my highlights.

My worst experience

I actually haven’t had a bad experience. Everyone is very nice and helpful. However, don’t be disappointed when looking for an apartment, it takes a while to find something suitable and you may have to set your budget a little higher than expected.

Other tips and tricks

Cheap flights with student tariffs can be booked through STA-Travel. There is also the option of a flexible return date.

Of all important documents, such as B. Make copies of your passport and vaccination certificate and, if necessary, save them again on a USB stick.

Take care of vaccinations at an early stage (at least 6 months in advance).

Life in Australia is relatively expensive. However, it is possible to work on the side. There are many student jobs, be it as a waiter, nanny or fundraiser. Have a look at Gumtree or ask in the café next door. There are also job agencies such as Adecco, for example through which I got a job in customer service at the Australian Open.

If you buy vegetables, fruit, etc. at the weekly markets, you can save money (by the way, you can also find good jobs there).

Right next to the Swinburne University of Technology campus in Hawthorn there is a gym where students can work out for $ 40 a month. There is a relatively high registration fee, but you can avoid it if you register with as many people as possible. The associated swimming pool can even be used for free.