International Student Orientation

International Students

Welcome to International student orientation. We understand that starting at university in another country can be both exciting and challenging at the same time. The International Orientation Program will help you in your transition to Southern Cross University and to a brand new chapter of your life.

Download the Term 3 2023 International Online Orientation Program Term 3 2023

Our friendly staff and student ambassadors will guide you through the whole process and be there to support you every step along the way. Your Orientation is online and delivered through the FYI Module.

Login to FYI here

International Students are advised to prepare to join Orientation activities held all week which will ensure you are attending your International essential sessions alongside Support Staff, the Course Information Sessions with your Academic Faculty and the social connecting and wellbeing activities! 

We can’t wait to meet you and help with your study journey!

Steps to prepare for Orientation week

  1. Work your way through all of the essential steps in the FYI Module that’s designed to give you all the essential information you need to get started on your journey at SCU.
  2. Prepare an electronic copy of your passport and photo to use as identification and registration for your Student Identification card.
  3. Continue to check the SCU Covid updates for Students and the Department of Home Affairs information for Australia.
  4. Missed your Orientation or feeling lost? Contact the International Student Support team:
    Email: ioadviser-gc@scu.edu.au or Phone +61 26620 3876  / Afterhours: 1300 782 676 or text 0477 751 363

See more at your International student support website.

I come from Canada, so it’s pretty cold up there. I really enjoy how warm it is (here).

Having the warmer weather allows me to head to the beaches more often, be outside more often and be at the pool.  When one of the advisors Michelle, came to my university to talk about coming to Australia, I had wanted to come but when she mentioned that there was a Koala Centre on campus, I got very excited, and I looked it up that night and I decided I was coming right then.

And we rehabilitate them and them put them out in the wild when they are ready to leave.
In the study break we did the big Fraser Island trip and that was one of the coolest things I have ever seen.

The island itself is literally untouched. You have to drive around in the 4x. Probably the best part was seeing all of the wildlife.

We saw wild dingoes, on the lookout we saw whales with their babies, we saw dolphins and sea turtles. It was amazing to see all the wildlife that Australia has to offer.

There is a lot of local beaches within like in a 20 to 30 minute drive of Lismore. I have been to Byron Bay and Ballina.

Byron Bay is honestly really nice and reminds me a lot of home going there and having the little beach town.

Studying here is a little bit different. You come to class once a week for that specific class which gives you more time on your own to study.

I really love that because I’ve really got the opportunity to see Sydney and I am going to be going to Cairns soon, so with that independent type of studying you can really take the time to explore and see whatever you like in the country.

I like that the professors or lecturers as you call them here. They are really friendly and they are a little bit more open to answering more questions.

This is the furthest I have travelled away from home. Some of the friendships I have made here have been awesome. I wouldn’t have thought I would know people from Spain or France.

I can honestly say that I have met some many people from so many different places here, not just Australia. Friendships which I will definitely have for a lifetime.

That group supports each other because we are all in this together because we all come from so far away.

Studying overseas has given me a new outlook not only on my own culture but that other people have different cultures so I’ve got to learn about a whole country and their histories.

This is the first time I have gone away and lived somewhere and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wanted to explore the world and do different things.

Definitely I would recommend it. I would definitely recommend it and wish I could do it again.