UniSC will organise airport transfer for all awardees once flight details have been provided. You will be emailed your airport transfer details directly. Please check your email regularly in the lead up to your departure.

UniSC will also assist awardees with organising suitable accommodation. Accommodation arrangements are made on a case by case basis to ensure awardees' individual needs and preferences are met wherever possible.

You may also choose to arrange your own accommodation independently. If this is the case, please notify UniSC of your intentions to do so. Please be aware that rental lease agreements are legally binding documents. UniSC recommends awardees avoid committing themselves to long leases until they have been able to carefully inspect a rental property in person and determine whether it will be suitable for them.

Information about the different accommodation options available to UniSC students can be found on the Accommodation pages.

On your arrival, UniSC can assist you with opening an Australian Bank Account. This bank account will be used to deposit your establishment allowance (if applicable) and your stipend into. Awardees are able to open a different bank account with their preferred bank once they have arrived in Australia.

Australia Awards awardees are provided with a once-only establishment allowance of A$5,000 on arrival in Australia. No re-establishment allowance is paid when an awardee transfers between institutions, or returns from a period of suspension. The allowance is paid in a lump sum for you to use at your discretion. Awardees should use it as a contribution towards expenses, such as rental bonds, text books, study materials, additional medical insurance and home contents insurance.

UniSC endeavours to deposit the establishment allowance into your bank account prior to your arrival, however where flight details were not available with sufficient notice it may take a number of days for UniSC and the bank to process the payment.

You should come prepared with funds in Australian dollars to ensure you have enough money to cover any costs that may be incurred before you receive your establishment allowance.

Your fortnightly Contribution to Living Expenses (CLE or stipend) is paid into your Australian bank account automatically. The CLE is paid to help you meet everyday living costs, such as accommodation, transport, food, entertainment and stationery. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade reviews the payment rate regularly and UniSC has no influence over this.

The Introductory Academic Program (IAP)  is mandatory and intended to provide awardees with support during their first weeks in Australia. The program aims to assist in preparing you for study in Australia, to enhance your ability to meet the demands of Australian academia and maximise the likelihood of completing your course by the scholarship completion date.

The IAP is usually conducted over a four to six week period directly prior to the commencement of your studies at UniSC.

Attendance at the IAP is compulsory for all awardees and failure to attend may result in the termination of your scholarship.

Personalised IPA schedules will be provided to awardees upon arrival at UniSC.

Deciding on whether your family should join you in Australia is a big decision.

Please be aware that the Australian Government does not provide any financial or other support for the family members of awardees.

Awardees who intend to bring family with them are strongly encouraged to come to Australia on their own for at least the first six months. This will allow you to attend the Introductory Academic Program (see above) and become established in your program of studies without the distraction of family responsibilities.

If you bring family to Australia, you are responsible for making arrangements for accommodation, as well as schooling and child care for dependents. You are also responsible for the visa application, including all costs associated with the visa requirements for your family members. You should contact the Department of Home Affairs for information about current visa requirements for accompanying family.

Please remember, the Student Contact Officer may be able to provide information but is not responsible for making arrangements on your behalf.

The Australia Awards Handbook provides essential information for Australia Awards participants. It specifically outlines the roles and responsibilities of awardees and should be used as a primary source of information for all topics surrounding your Australia Awards experience.

The most recent version of the handbook can be accessed via the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website.

Your UniSC Australia Awards Student Contact Officer (SCO) is 

Mr Elliot Escott-Kenny
sponsoredstudents@usc.edu.au
+61 7 5430 2843

Australia Awards recipients are asked to make an appointment prior to visiting UniSC International to speak to their SCO.

To make an appointment, please use the contact details above. Your appointment request should include a brief outline of the topics you wish to discuss and your preferred date and time to meet. We will endeavour to accommodate your preference wherever possible.

You must notify the Student Contact Officer (SCO) immediately of any personal, financial or family circumstances or incidents (e.g. family or financial problems, medical conditions, etc.) that might affect your ability to succeed in your studies at UniSC.

You must also keep your contact details current on UniSC Central at all times.

If you would like to have your stipend deposited into a different bank account, please contact the SCO.

The While you are studying pages give an excellent overview of the support pages available to all students studying at UniSC. Australia Awards students are encouraged to make use of these services throughout their studies.