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FAQ- Student Life |
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I am under 18 years old what do I need to do?First you need to make sure of your visa requirements from the Department of Immigration, then read and complete the requirements for Under 18 Students found on this DIAC page. Then if you do not have an approved relative to live with while you are studying, you need to go to ISS page on homestay information and complete the required forms after you have received your letter of offer. How do I make friends?Settling into a new environment can be difficult in terms of study and making friends. QUT offers opportunities to make new friends, but this mostly depends on you. There are many clubs and societies associated with the Student Guild where you will be able to make friends and enjoy yourself. Similarly there are opportunities in the community to meet others through community groups, sporting clubs and other interest groups. However this will require you to do the footwork and to take the initiative to join in. Introduce yourself to a person sitting near you in lectures or tutorials; join a club on campus; volunteer at university or in a community organisation. There are other tips on making friends in the fact sheet 'Networking' produced by ISS. If you feel homesick or a bit down, you can see an International Student Adviser at ISS. Sometimes two heads are better than one in looking at alternatives. How do I find accommodation at QUT?ISS provides personal accommodation assistance to all international students studying at QUT. Visit our accommodation pages for more information. When is my course completion date?The date of course completion is when your results come out. Assuming you have completed all the necessary units for your course, passing your final subjects ( ie after the results are released) will result in your student status changing from 'enrolled' to 'course completed'. It is the date of the 'course completed' status that is meaningful for visa compliance purposes. Do I have to stay for my exam results?Exam results are available two weeks after the end of the exam period. Students are not required to be in the country and will be able to access their results on QUT Virtual. If students have any queries in relation to review of grades, publishing of results or requesting further information about exams and results, they should contact the Student Centre . Students in their final semester have access to check their results on QV up to 90 days after completing their course Can I stay for my graduation?Some students are able to stay for their Graduation Ceremonies depending on their Student Visa expiry date and conditions. Check DIAC's FAQ section for their advice to students who have completed their course. It is important that students obtain current and update immigration information regarding their visa status. Please ensure that your contact details and mailing address on QUT Virtual has been updated. To assist Student Centre staff with your question, please have your passport with you. Contact the Student Centre. Students will also need to ensure that they are eligible to graduate. They can contact Graduation and Ceremonies to see if they are eligible. Is QUT/Brisbane a safe place?Most students consider Australia a safe place. However when you are in a new environment, it can be hard to judge where and when it is safe. QUT is like any large community and has the same risks as a large community. Therefore you should use common sense to ensure your safety both at QUT and in Brisbane generally. This means that you should exercise care, especially at night. Avoid dark and lonely places both in Brisbane and at QUT. Use the free night bus into the city, or ask to be escorted to your car by a QUT security person. Make sure you know where the "emergency call points" are on campus and how to use them. QUT's security page gives you security advice on a number of areas including on campus, at home, and in the community. What can I do if I experience racism?If a student experiences racism, they are encouraged to contact the Discrimination Contact Officers (DCO) on QUT campuses. A DCO is usually the first point of contact for staff and students involved in a complaint of discrimination or harassment (eg race, gender, sexuality, or disability discrimination). The DCO will then assist the student to investigate matters further. For a list of DCO's call Equity or contact International Student Services (ISS) with their concerns. Where do I go if I want to make a complaint?You may have a complaint about the university or something else regarding studying and living in Brisbane. For guidance on how to deal with the issue, you are encouraged to make an appointment to see an International Student Adviser for confidential advice or through International Student Services adviceline. Should you wish to make a formal complaint, you can consult the procedures for doing so through the Ombudsman's Office. The grievance procedures are set out in the QUT Manual of Procedures. Do I need to have an Australian Bank account?QUT no longer accepts cash payments at the cashier offices over $500.00. Having a local bank account makes it more convenient when it comes time to pay your tuition fees or household expenses. It is also much safer to have a local bank access card so that you do not have to carry large amounts of cash. Most of the larger banks offer a special student account which carry no fees if you use that bank's ATM and these are usually valid for the life of your Student Visa and can be extended if you continue to study. What's a tax file number for and do I need one?A tax file number is a unique number issued to a person by the Australian Tax Office (ATO). You will need one if you intend on working in Australia. Even after you leave Australia you keep the same tax file number. See employment for more details. |
