As you can imagine there is quite a lot of preparation needed to move 10,561 miles across the world. From applying for your Student Visa, to mentally preparing yourself for leaving friends and family there is a lot to think about before you step on the 22-hour flight!
The process begins when you are informed by the team at the University of Nottingham that you have a place at one of your chosen locations. You will then be contacted by your partner university to apply through their respective system. This is simple and includes entering your personal information and attaching a grade transcript. After this you will have to wait to be sent over an offer letter, and you will be instructed to purchase ‘overseas health coverage’ (OSHC). The university will let you know who their preferred provider is, but they will usually accept any of the government approved providers. I would recommend making sure to do your research into the prices and reviews of each of the providers before purchasing. Once you have sent the university evidence that you have purchased OSHC they will process your Certificate of Enrolment, which is a necessary document for the VISA application.
The actual VISA application can be a confusing experience. Make sure to read each question carefully and answer in detail where written answers are required. Your student VISA should come through relatively quickly and once it has you are finally legally prepared to enter Australia.
Other than these steps you must also ensure to book your flight in advance to get a good deal and pack as much as you can into your suitcase, whilst staying within your luggage restrictions (I would recommend vacuum seal bags).
Finally, you have to say the long-awaited farewell to your friends and family, which by-far is the most difficult part of getting ready to leave for your year-abroad.
It can be a long and lengthy process, but I can assure you that any stress caused by it becomes a distant memory as soon as you’re met with the sights of the stunning Sydney opera house and iconic Bondi beach. Spending afternoons strolling through Sydney’s botanic gardens or sunbathing at Coogee beach makes every minute spent preparing worth it.
I would highly recommend applying for a year abroad studying in Sydney, please don’t let any part of the application process put you off doing so. Despite any stress the process put me through, spending a year in Sydney has been the best decision of my life so far. There are countless things to experience in Sydney alone, not to mention the plethora of places you can visit from here, and it is all so worth a few months of organisation and planning!
Ellie is studying Law at University of New South Wales for the 2023/2024 academic year
uonstudyabroad.com 
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