Welcome to UNSW Canberra. From the moment you arrive, we want you to feel welcome. The Research Student Unit, counsellors and student-led organisation Arc Canberra can assist as you settle into life here. We can refer you to help with living in Canberra, personal wellbeing and academic performance if you need advice but don’t know where to go.
Your Student Visa
International students studying at UNSW require a confirmation of enrolment from UNSW and a visa for the length of their program. For most international students this will be a student visa, a category of visa that has different subclasses depending on the program you are studying.
Students and their dependents can find out their visa conditions, study entitlements and work entitlements online using VEVO, a free service that is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Visit VEVO or the UNSW International Support page.
Living in Canberra
Canberra is a modern and connected city offering big city amenities without the traffic, congestion or pollution. The median age is well below that of the Australian average, providing an opportunity to connect with like-minded peers from all over the world. Higher than national average education levels mean students in Canberra are part of a community that encourages you to learn and further your knowledge.
Spend your free time exploring the wide-open spaces and natural surrounds of Canberra. Engage in social events such as sports, concerts and festivals. Enjoy unique access to major exhibitions and take the opportunity to learn and engage with Australia's story, both past and present. Visit the national cultural institutions such as theNational Gallery of Australia, the Australian War Memorial, the National Museum of Australia and the National Library of Australia.
You'll need the capacity to cover the costs of airfares, tuition fees and living costs for the duration of your stay. The Australian Government also requires you to have sufficient funds while in Australia. This means being able to cover your accommodation, food, transport, clothing, fuel, power, telephone and entertainment.
The cost of studying and living in Canberra in particular for international students varies according to what you are studying and your personal lifestyle preferences. You should research these costs before you commit to ensure you have funding to meet these requirements.
Housing & Accommodation
UNSW Canberra is located near the airport on the north side of Canberra in the suburb of Campbell. There are no accommodation options on campus for non-Defence students. However, depending on your taste, budget, location and the length of your stay, there are several accommodation options available. Many students choose to live off-campus in a unit, townhouse or house and will usually share the costs with other students. You will often find advertisements for rooms within share accommodation on university noticeboards and online. If you have the budget, you may wish to rent your own place.
The Arc student group provide a guide to renting. We encourage you to read this to understand your rights and obligations as a tenant.
Further information on rental accommodation is available.
Scam Alert
Unfortunately, our modern digital society has an ever-increasing risk of scams. Our students are not immune to being targeted. Please be aware of the way scams work, so you can limit the risks.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) runs Scamwatch. This is a useful resource to recognise, avoid and report scams.
For further information visit: https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/
Contact Us
For questions, advice, or more information, contact the Research Student Unit.
T: +61 2 5114 5000