Australia is an immigrant country that advocates multiculturalism. Students studying in Australia should pay attention to all aspects, including customs and habits, living habits, etc., and understand the common sense of daily life, such as Australian dollars, banking, transportation, accommodation, communication, part-time jobs, shopping, etc. The followings are 8 tips for studying abroad in Australia.
1. About currency
There are two kinds of currency in Australia: paper currency and coins. The denominations of paper currency are 5 dollars, 10 dollars, 20 dollars, 50 dollars and 100 dollars; coin denominations are 5 cents, 10 cents, 20 cents, 50 cents, 1 dollar and 2 dollars. Here, 1 Australian dollar = 100 cents.
2. About the Bank
There are four major banks in Australia: Commonwealth Bank of Australia, National Australia Bank, ANZ and Westpac. The transfer fees and withdrawal fees between different banks are high, and the application fee and interest tax can be waived for applying for a student account. Most Australians keep their money in online banking, and the interest will be higher than that of personal accounts.
3. About accommodation
In terms of accommodation, you can choose from on-campus dormitories, off-campus rentals or homestays. If you live on campus, the rent will be relatively expensive, but it will be very convenient in all aspects of life and study, and three meals can be solved on campus; off-campus renting is relatively cheap, but you need to deal with all kinds of life chores yourself, and you need to consider transportation. If you choose a host family, you need to take into account the landlord’s living habits, and various things need to be communicated and consulted. The host family will provide two meals on weekdays and three meals on weekends.
4. About transportation
Australia’s public transport operates according to the prescribed timetable, with fewer trains on weekends and more trains on weekdays. If you are taking the train, try to choose an off-peak ticket (there will be discounts). If you are a car owner, you need to understand the traffic rules in Australia, such as the vehicle must drive on the left, the speed limit, etc., to ensure driving safety.
5. About communication
Different companies in Australia have different mobile phone charges. Generally, there are many international calling cards for calls between different cities. Now you can use Facebook, Wechat and other Internet calls to make calls back to your family.
6. About part-time work
Australian international students have 40 hours of part-time work every two weeks. Before starting work, they need to apply for a tax ID number at the tax bureau. The tax bureau can track each person’s tax payment situation. Students can only pay taxes according to law and personal tax refunds by relying on tax ID numbers.
7. About shopping
Well-known shopping centers in Australia include Melbourne Central, Myer, David Jones, Emporium, etc. You can choose to buy daily necessities in supermarkets such as Coles, Woolworths, Aldi, and Costco. In addition, Kmart, Big W, and Target are also good places to buy cheap daily necessities. Most of the clothing is “made in China”, and the average brand is about 30-100 Australian dollars. It will be cheaper in the discount season. Local Australians mostly buy clothes in large quantities during the discount season.
8. About business hours
Australian shops are mostly open from 10am to 6pm, supermarkets and restaurants are mostly open from 8am to 9pm, and banks and post offices are mostly open from 9am to 5pm. In addition, Australia does not have the habit of tipping, and hotels and restaurants do not include tips on their bills.
The above is the introduction of the guide for studying abroad in Australia, which is related to all aspects of the life of international students in Australia. Wish they can help you better study and live in Australia. For more information about studying in Australia, you can visit CatEight.
