Pre-Departure Stage
You are now officially in the Pre-Departure stage of your Exchange program!
This means that you will be completing the final bits of paperwork, applying for your visa, organising flights and starting to think about packing your bags...it's getting real!
Our Pre-Departure Hub contains pages that are designed to help give you information, advice and tips for all areas of your Exchange preparation. Have a look through each of the pages and read everything carefully.
You can contact our team with any questions you have along the way: exchange@swin.edu.au
This means that you will be completing the final bits of paperwork, applying for your visa, organising flights and starting to think about packing your bags...it's getting real!
Our Pre-Departure Hub contains pages that are designed to help give you information, advice and tips for all areas of your Exchange preparation. Have a look through each of the pages and read everything carefully.
You can contact our team with any questions you have along the way: exchange@swin.edu.au
Ambassadorship
It’s important to be aware that you are a Swinburne University and Australian Representative while you are overseas. You may want to have fun and challenge negative misconceptions some people may have of stereotypical ‘Australians’, but it is also important to be mindful to:
- Fulfill your academic responsibilities
- Understand the social norms of your host culture (business, dining, family, college life).
- Be respectful of all cultures
- Have the willingness, and friendliness to share your own and each other’s culture.
- Volunteer to represent Swinburne and Australia at your host university
- Offer advice and mentorship to students considering to study overseas.
Country Visas
What’s a visa?
A visa is a form of permission for a non-citizen to enter, transit or remain in a particular country. Each country has their own requirements and some can be particularly stringent, including having restrictions on further travel after your program, and working whilst abroad.
Be aware that transiting through a country may require a visa. Application for a visa may include the disclosure of past criminal records. Students must also advise a Swinburne Abroad Advisor of potential issues.
A visa is a form of permission for a non-citizen to enter, transit or remain in a particular country. Each country has their own requirements and some can be particularly stringent, including having restrictions on further travel after your program, and working whilst abroad.
Be aware that transiting through a country may require a visa. Application for a visa may include the disclosure of past criminal records. Students must also advise a Swinburne Abroad Advisor of potential issues.
Applying for a visa
Swinburne Abroad is not involved in the application process for student visas, and we can only provide general advice. You must be aware of the requirements for a visa application to your host country. Apply as directed by the host university.
Applying for a visa can be a stressful part of the process- the process will vary from country to country and it may involve some lengthy waiting time.
Due to the impact of COVID-19, we are seeing a lot of situations where visa processing may be delayed. Unfortunately Swinburne Abroad does not have any ability to assist with visa inquiries, processing or wait times. It is important to book flexible airfares in case you need to change your travel dates if your visa is not approved in time.
It is also possible to pay an additional fee to Swinburne's travel provider, REHO Travel, to get assistance with your visa application. See our Flights and Travel Advice page for more information.
General visa information can be found on embassy/consulate websites.
For more information, visit the Smart Traveller website, www.smartraveller.gov.au
Travel Smart
Research your Destination
Spend time learning about your host destination, such as climate and weather as well as information about laws, culture and history of the country. This’ll assist you to better prepare (i.e. what to pack, safety, cultural differences, etc.) and to settle in when you arrive.
Spend time learning about your host destination, such as climate and weather as well as information about laws, culture and history of the country. This’ll assist you to better prepare (i.e. what to pack, safety, cultural differences, etc.) and to settle in when you arrive.
- We encourage you to make photocopies of your insurance details, itinerary, tickets, bank contact details, medications, passport photo page etc.
- Leave a copy with your parents, guardian and/or other family members
- Email a copy to yourself so that you can access this while off-shore if needed
- Upload copies to the ‘cloud’ – like Skydrive, Dropbox, Google Drive etc.
- Carry a copy with you (in addition to the originals)
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