International students

international students

Courses

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE

GRADUATE DIPLOMA OF STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP

Future Students
Current Students

Visa Entry

Applying for an Australian Student Visa

To apply for a visa you need to contact either our representative in your region/country, or a diplomatic representative of the Australian Government at the Australian Embassy in your country. You can obtain information about study in Australia and Australian Student Visas in the Australian Government websites. These websites provide you with the official current details regarding the entry requirements for a Student Visa, your responsibilities after you receive your Student Visa and the documents you are required to submit with your Student Visa application. Depending on the country in which you are living and the course of study you wish to undertake, the processing time for the approval of your visa application may vary.

Application

How to apply and enrol at UPC

1. Complete your UPC application form

Send your completed form to UPC admission@upc.edu.au or one of our Representatives. Certified copies of all the documents that are requested in the Application Form must be provided. Application checklist – Have you:

Completed all sections of the application form, particularly your email?
Read and signed the declaration?
Enclosed certified copies of your passport?
Enclosed certified copies of qualifications?
Enclosed certified copies of English test?
Enclosed any other certified documents requested in the application form?
Enclosed a Statement of Purpose to justify you are a genuine student?

2. A Letter of Offer

UPC will assess your application and a Letter of Offer will be sent to you if your application is accepted.

3. Accepting an offer and payment of fees

If you accept the offer you are required to sign the Acceptance Letter and pay tuition fee for the first two terms (6 months) of your enrolled courses plus overseas student health cover and any other fees as detailed in the Letter of Offer. Instalments of the remaining tuition fees should be paid two (2) weeks in advance before each term (every 3 months). A fee and payment schedule will be listed in the Letter of Offer.

4. Electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCoE)

After the relevant fees are settled, an official eCoE will be issued to you, or your agent, by email. You must then submit the eCoE to the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) to apply for your Student Entry Visa for entry to Australia.

5. Submit your Australian Student Visa application

Application for a student entry visa can be complicated and the success is dependent on many different factors. Most importantly, in recent visa reforms, the Australian government has emphasised that you must be a genuine student. For more information please contact our representatives, your nearest Australian diplomatic mission, or visit the Australian Immigration website.

Pre-Departure

Checklist of things to do before leaving home

Make sure your student visa is valid for the whole period of time shown on your Confirmation of Enrolment.
Contact UPC to confirm the starting date of your study and advise your travel details.
Arrange medications from your doctor if required.
Apply for a credit card and/or arrange for sufficient funds to be available for you to access in Australia. Confirm overseas access to your funds with your bank.
Make sure you have exchanged enough Australian dollars before you leave so that you can buy a mobile phone SIM card right away in the airport when you landed in Australia. Having a cell phone and cash with you are particularly important especially in emergency situation.
When packing your luggage and bags, make sure you
- do not bring any kind of food and
- include contact details of UPC in Australia:

University Preparation College If you study in Sydney - Ground floor, 1-5 Randle Street, Surry Hills, NSW 2010 or If you study in Melbourne - Level 1, Room 125, 1 Queens Road, Melbourne, VIC 2004. Tel.: 02 9791 6020

Important documents

Prepare a folder of official documents to bring with you to Australia, including:

Valid passport
Electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCoE)
Receipts of payments (e.g. tuition fees, OSHC, bank statements)
Insurance policies
Original or certified copies of your academic transcripts and qualifications
Other personal identification documents (e.g. birth certificate, ID card, driver’s licence)
Medical records, prescriptions and generic names of medications.
Reference letters for potential employers and accommodation providers.

Before you leave, make copies of all your documents and leave them with someone at your home country who can send them to you if the originals get lost. During the flight, keep all the above mentioned documents with you in your hand carry luggage.

Arrival to Australia

REPORT ON YOUR ARRIVAL FOR THE ENGLISH PLACEMENT TEST

After spending one or two days becoming familiar with your surroundings and the public transport system, you should contact the College at 02 9791 6020 (between 9:00 am and 4:30 pm) to inform us of your arrival in Australia. You will be:

Instructed on how to open your new bank account and activate your health insurance and
Provided with details of the orientation session on your first day at the College.

If you are beginning your studies with an English course, you are required to attend the English Placement Test before the orientation day. This test includes reading, writing, and listening assessments, as well as a one-on-one interview with an English teacher to evaluate your communication skills. Based on your test results, you will be assigned to an appropriate English class to start your course.

Orientation on arrival

Orientation will be conducted on your first day at UPC. It is designed to introduce the course you enrolled and the college life. In addition, you will meet your trainer as well as other college staff, and have a familiarization tour of the college.

Recognition of your past training and skills

Your study path and course length in the Childcare or Leadership & Management program can be adjusted if you receive credit from your previous studies and/or Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) based on your experience in the relevant field.

Maintaining a full time study load (20 hours per week)

Overseas students must maintain a full time study load. However, if you reach the final semester and have to repeat units/subjects, the full time study load is not required.

Course Timetable

Each course has a different timetable for each term and you must be able to manage your commitments to ensure attendance at all your classes. Timetables will be issued at the beginning of each term. All courses are offered on a full time basis and the study load is 20 hours per week.

visa obligations

Your Responsibility

As an overseas student on a student visa, you have the responsibilities to:

Maintain your Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the whole period of your stay
Fulfill the terms and conditions of the written agreement with UPC
Inform UPC if your address is changed
Maintain satisfactory course progress (VET students)
Maintain satisfactory attendance (ELICOS students)

ELICOS (English) Program

Attendance

Since English courses require intensive training and extensive practice, English students must maintain a minimum class attendance of 80%. It is recommended that students aim for 100% attendance to allow for a buffer in case of illness or other extenuating circumstances.

Academic Course Progress

English students are required to successfully complete various tests and practical exercises in reading, writing, speaking and listening. These assessments are carried out throughout the course and a final test will be conducted in the 10th week.

VET Program

Academic Progress Counselling

Academic progress counselling for students who are experiencing academic difficulty will be planned and conducted during the four weeks following the receipt of academic progress reports by the Head of Department. The Head of Department, in consultation with the academic staff, will decide upon appropriate strategies and develop an individual education plan for the student. This may include additional small group and/or one-to-one study periods; an individual self study plan; additional assessment tasks or enrolment of the student in a lower level class.

Attendance Intervention

The Head of Department, College Counsellor and/or the Student Support Manager will counsel a student if his/her attendance rate falls to an unacceptable level. If the attendance rate falls below 70%, a warning letter will be issued requesting the student to meet with the Head of Department and the Counsellor in order to show causes for the unacceptable level of absenteeism. In the warning letter, the student's right to access the complaint and appeal within 20 working days will be explained. In addition, a follow-up email or phone call will be made within five working days if there is no response from the student. A second letter will be issued to the student, indicating the need to meet with the Director of Studies to rectify the situation, if the attendance record continues to be below 70%. Otherwise, the student will be reported for the breach of visa conditions.

The college is aware that part of the reasons for students falling behind is emotional difficulties involved in adjusting to new culture, new life and new environment. Counselling and extra support will be made available to students who demonstrate their genuine commitment to studies.