UWA College pre-arrival guide
You’ve made the right choice! Australia’s top quality of education and high standard of living make it a popular study abroad destination. Discover a laidback lifestyle, plenty of outdoor adventures, plus unique wildlife you won’t find anywhere else.
You’ve secured your place at UWA College, the first step to becoming a student at The University of Western Australia (UWA) – a world top 100 university (ranked 77, QS World University Rankings 2025).
Now it’s time to make your travel plans and ensure you’re ready to arrive on campus. There are some important steps you need to complete before you can travel to Australia, but don’t worry – we're here to help you every step of the way.
What do I need to do before starting at UWA College?
Watch our video to find out all you need to know about accepting your offer, including paying your deposit and other important steps for preparing to study in Perth.
By joining us at UWA College, you have access to a variety of accommodation options. Choose from:
one of three UWA on-campus residential colleges
city center shared apartments in purpose-built student housing
a homestay experience
UWA College Rental Apartments.
You may have already selected your accommodation option when applying for your course. But if you didn’t, not to worry, UWA College can still help you find somewhere to live.
Find out more about your accommodation options and how to book.
You’ll need an Australian student visa to study in Australia as an international student. Normally, the visa you get will be a Subclass 500 visa, which allows you to stay in Australia for up to 5 years, in line with your study plan. On this visa, you’re usually allowed to work a maximum of 48 hours every two weeks during term time and unlimited hours during study breaks.
To apply for your Subclass 500 visa, you’ll need to provide several documents as proof that you’re studying and that you have the required level of English. You may also need to have a health test.
As an international student in Australia, you must have Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of your student visa from an approved Australian health provider. UWA’s preferred provider is Medibank. You should have confirmed your OSHC when you accepted your offer to study at UWA College.
Find out how to apply for an Australian student visa or watch our video that explains the whole process.
When flying into Australia to study as an international student, aim to arrive the weekend before your orientation program starts. This will give you plenty of time to settle into your new city and learn about university life before your studies start.
When it comes to the day of your flight, remember that things may take longer at the airport – such as going through security – so give yourself lots of time.
To help make your arrival into Australia easy and stress free, UWA College can organize an airport transfer to take you from Perth airport to your accommodation at an additional cost.
All you need to do is contact us in advance to book an airport transfer, and we’ll arrange for someone to collect you and take you to your accommodation: uwac-acccommodation@uwa.edu.au
If you haven't opted for an airport pickup service, you should make your own travel arrangements. Please plan your journey to UWA College before you arrive in Australia.
Helping you every step of the way
Join an online information session
Find out everything you need to know about UWA College – from support available to you to what student life is like – in one of our live digital events.
Discover your new home
Find out about the food, culture, travel and more in sunny Perth – and why students love living here!
Got a question?
Contact our Student Services team by emailing uwacollege@uwa.edu.au – they’ll be happy to help.
Your pre-arrival questions answered
As Australia’s sunniest capital city, Perth has a warm climate. The average temperature in January is 31°C (87.8°F); July is usually the coldest month at a mild 13°C (55°F). So when it comes to packing your suitcase, you’ll want to include a variety of clothing, such as t-shirts, shorts/skirts and a hat for hot weather, and sweatshirts and a coat for cooler days.
You’ll find that most students in Australia wear casual clothes on campus, such as t-shirts and jeans, or shirts with trousers or a skirt/dress.
If you’re planning to explore the great outdoors in Australia, you’ll also want to pack hiking boots, a rucksack, and any other kit you need for outdoor activities. Packing tip: buy bulky items when you arrive, as well as household items such as bed linen and towels. Shopping is easy in Perth – you'll find plenty of choice and reasonable prices. Watch our how to pack video to check that you’ve remembered all your study abroad essentials. Australia has strict border controls, which means there are certain items you can’t bring into the country. When you arrive, you must declare:
any food, plant material and animal items (there are some food items you won’t be able to bring into Australia, such as homemade foods, fresh fruit, rice, and some teas)
currency amounts of AUD $10,000 and over (or foreign equivalent in another currency)
some medicines (there are some medicines, including herbal medicines, that you won’t be able to bring into the country).
For more on what you can (and can't) bring into Australia, see Study Australia’s advice.
We advise arriving in Perth during the weekend before Orientation and welcome week starts. You may be able to arrive earlier if your accommodation contract allows.
It’s perfectly normal to miss the familiarity of your home life when you move abroad to study. Our dedicated Student Services team really care about your wellbeing and are there to provide all the support and help you need.
We understand that students under 18 need extra care and support. If you’re under 18, we’ve got you covered and have a bespoke U18’s team at UWA College who specialize in assisting students to settle into life in Perth. For any questions and advice, you can email us at uwac-under18support@uwa.edu.au
You'll receive your timetable via email, at the end of Orientation week.
Your first week at UWA College
When you arrive at UWA College, the Student Services team will help you settle into student life in Perth and remain your first point of contact for a range of non-academic issues.
You’ll take part in a full and fun Orientation and welcome program in the week before your studies start to give you the chance to meet other students, help you settle in and give you all the information you need to be successful at UWA College and understand your course.
During Orientation, you’ll:
be welcomed by the UWA College staff
get to know your teachers and fellow students
be given a tour of the campus and Perth
attend welcome sessions that help familiarize you with living and studying at UWA College
get the chance to shop for essentials
have the opportunity to ask questions
find out about the different clubs and societies at UWA
attend social events to help you settle in and make friends with your classmates.
Starting your UWA College journey with an English language course? The friendly staff at UWA's Centre for English Language Teaching (CELT) will provide an initial orientation and support you through your CELT course.
Career opportunities in Perth
Perth isn’t just a great place to study – it’s full of opportunities after university too. Find out the top five reasons why Perth is the perfect place to launch your career.
Exploring your passions at UWA
There are more than 160 clubs and societies at UWA – and UWA College students can join any of them. Discover the different types of clubs you’ll be able to choose from when you arrive.
Student life at UWA College
Want to know what it’s really like to live and study in Perth? Then join our Instagram community! You’ll hear from UWA College students, see our beautiful campus and more.
Got a question?
Contact our Student Services team by emailing uwacollege@uwa.edu.au – they’ll be happy to help.
Provider: The University of Western Australia (UWA)
UWA College in Partnership with INTO Perth
CRICOS 00126G, PRV12169, Australian University