Arriving and settling in

The Australian government has strict rules about what you can and cannot bring (opens external site) into Australia. Check these rules before you depart, and never carry any prohibited materials for anyone else.

There are severe penalties for bringing prohibited materials into Australia, which may affect your freedom to travel to and study in other countries.

During your flight to Australia, you will be given an incoming passenger card (opens external site). This is a short form where you must write your name, intended address, reason for travelling, and other details. You must also state whether you are carrying any goods that are restricted or prohibited in Australia.

Complete this on the plane before disembarking. When you land, an Immigration Officer will check your passport and incoming passenger card. You will then go to the baggage claim area to collect your luggage.

If you have stated that you have goods to declare, you may have your bags inspected by a Customs Officer. However, your bags may be inspected even if you do not declare anything. If a Customs Officer finds an item that you failed to declare, you may be fined and the item may be confiscated. If you are unsure of whether you can bring an item into Australia, always declare it.

When you arrive in Sydney, visit the International Student Welcome Desk in the International Arrivals terminal. Staffed by international student volunteers, this friendly service welcomes thousands of commencing students to NSW each year.

Transport from Sydney Airport

You can take the train from Sydney Airport directly to the city for around A$19. You will need to purchase an Adult Opal single trip ticket or an Opal card from select Sydney airport retailers (opens an external site). Opal is the ticketing system used for the entire Sydney transport network. To learn more, visit our Transport in Sydney page.

You can check the train times and fares on the Trip Planner page (opens an external site). From Central Station, it’s a ten minute walk to the UTS campus. Most Sydney train lines connect at Central Station.

Alternatively, you can take a taxi, however they tend to be more expensive than public transport. If you are staying at a hotel for your first few nights, your hotel may run mini buses from the airport.

The UTS Housing service can assist with arranging suitable on-campus or off-campus accommodation. Due to the high demand for UTS housing we recommend that you apply as soon as possible.  

If you require short-term accommodation there are other options such as hostels around UTS. You can also visit UTS Housing in Building 6, level 2 for more information about living and renting in Sydney.

It is a good idea to have sufficient funds ready for the first few weeks of your stay. You can exchange currency at the airport, but it may be cheaper in the city or with a bank. Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) are available at Sydney Airport and throughout Sydney, and they accept most of the major cards (Mastercard, Visa etc).

Safety on campus

UTS has 24-hour security staff patrolling at the campus. In an emergency, you can dial 6 from any campus phone or 1800 249 559 from any phone to contact campus security. Save this number in your mobile phone. You can ask for help at any time if you feel unsafe or unsure of your surroundings.

Safety off campus

Sydney is a fairly safe city; however, you should be aware of your surroundings especially when you are out at night. Keep all your belongings in a secure place and do not leave them unattended. If you travel at night by public transport, it is best to travel with someone or stay in well-lit areas when waiting for the bus, train or ferry.

If there is an emergency and you need to contact the Police, Ambulance or Fire Department call 000 any time of the day or night. You can call this number from any phone, free of charge. For any other police matters within Sydney City, contact the relevant Police Area Command (PAC).

While you make the most of your time in Sydney, trying new activities and experiences, it’s important to keep these safety tips in mind.

On the beach

 Swim only between the flags on patrolled beaches. Do not swim at night, and remember to wear sunscreen!

Transcript

Hi, what’s up everybody? My name’s Chris and I was a previous student at UTS, studying Bachelor of Health Science in Traditional Chinese Medicine. I also volunteered as a life-safety advisor at the Sydney airport where I was giving beach safety advice to international students who were coming to Australia for the first time.

So just a few points I want to cover for beach safety. You might want to know which beaches are appropriate to swim in, and the main way to see it is to look for the red and yellow flags; as long as you see two flags in-between, it is appropriate to swim in-between them.

The second point is that you never know what you’re going to run into at the beach. Which is why it is most important to swim with some friends and never swim alone.

So third point is try to understand the currents and the rips that occur at the beach. Whenever you get stuck in a rip or a current, always raise your arm like this and try to remain calm. Float on your back to conserve the energy against the waves and wait for the nearest lifeguards to come over to you. 

So now that we’ve got beach safety out of the way, we’re. going to cover a few points about sun safety. So even on cooler days, the sun’s UV rays are so strong, that it is able to burn our skin. 

And as always, with the most Aussie iconic phrase, slip on a t-shirt, slop on some sunscreen, slap a hat on, and don’t forget to slide some sunnies. And don’t forget to stay in the shade!

On one final point, people believe in this myth that tanning isn’t dangerous. However, tanning is a sign of UV damage that builds up over time in the skin. Which is why it is important to put on sunscreen before and after you’re swimming at the beach. 

This is why it’s important to always put on sunscreen before and after swimming.

For more information you can check out the Beach Safety app, and don’t forget to have fun!

Hiking

Inform someone if you go on a hike and make sure you take a map, plenty of water, wet weather gear, warm clothes and a phone. Always walk with other people and take an emergency beacon, available from camping stores. Always inform someone of where you are going and when you intend to be back. Learn more on the NSW National Parks page (opens external site).

Driving and alcohol

In Australia, it's illegal to have more than a small amount of alcohol before driving. Don’t drink and drive or get into a car with a driver who has been drinking. Get a taxi home instead.