• Universities in Sydney offer some of the most diverse extracurricular activities that ensure wholesome education.
• Students are allowed to work part-time of about 4 to 5 hours a day to supplement their allowance and gain work skills.
• Sydney is the center of arts and culture with famous structures such as Sydney Opera House and Museum of Contemporary Art Australia.
• Students aged at least 16 years with an accredited course provided by Australian school may apply for your student visa via the Australian immigration website.

The first thing comes to mind when thinking about studies is the quality of education that you are going to get. This is obviously important as international students have to spend a lot on housing, food, clothing and other domestic needs. Without a quality education and lifestyle in a reputable university, all of this seems futile. According to QS Higher Education System, Australia stands impressively at 4th position after USA, UK, and Germany. Australia is also known for welcoming international students with open arms. Australia has the highest number of institutions appeared in the 'QS Top 50 under 50'. The diverse courses offered at these universities are another feather in their cap. The best thing about the universities in Sydney is their extracurricular activities. Each student, whether a lazy bum or a fitness freak, gets to immerse themselves in the kind of environment that suit them.

Sydney screams culture from whichever perspective you look at it. The most iconic venue of Sydney is, without a doubt, the Sydney Opera House, which is known as a cultural hub of the city. Along with opera, the house offers music, theater, comedy and other events. Basically, there is something for everyone. For art enthusiasts, there are several outlets including Museum of Contemporary Art Australia in The Rocks. It is famous for displaying contemporary art from all over the world. Located on Australia's east coast and encompasses the world's largest natural harbor while spreading out to the Blue Mountains to the west, the city offers picturesque landscape. Sydney has been a favorite among international tourists as well with over 2.8 million international visitors in 2013 alone.

‘’[students are] allowed to work maximum up to 40 hours per 15 days during a semester that is, 4-5 hours per day and work full time during holidays’’

Part-time jobs are a lifeline to international students living in a foreign country. It is important not merely to cover living costs but also in the development of your skills. However, it is essential to check the terms and conditions on your visa. According to the rules of student visa, he or she is allowed to work maximum up to 40 hours per 15 days during a semester that is, 4-5 hours per day and work full time during holidays. Opening an account in any of the banks in Perth is also beneficial as the employer can pay a student easily. Before applying for a job, a tax file number (TFN) is required which can be easily obtained from the Australian Taxation Office. Some of the popular job search websites are Seek, Adzuna, and CareerOne. In order to be informed about your rights as an employee, visit Fair Work Ombudsman. Retail, hospitality and service are some of the sectors suitable for a part-time job.

The multicultural identity of Perth is duly established as the diversity here is truly enchanting. There is not a country in a world from where you will not find its people here. The diversity ensures that there is no lack of familiar people in a foreign land. This is consoling for the students who find it difficult to immerse themselves in local culture. The culture can be intimidating to many people despite its diversity. In such circumstances, it is important to learn about the place beforehand. Culture shock can lead to social isolation which could impact your student learning environment. Overall, the culture of Australia is said to be friendly and welcoming.

Food often becomes an issue for an international student especially if the culture is completely different to his or her own culture. However, thanks to Australia's multiculturalism, the city of Sydney boasts of every kind of cuisine that the world has to offer. From Haymarket's Chinatown to the nearby Liverpool St's Spanish Quarte, every taste bud is taken care of. There is also a variety of Italian cuisine in a suburb of Leichhardt and Lebanese in Lakemba. For a student, a cheap restaurant means a great deal. For that, Chinatown and local pubs are a safe bet that offer great deals and a wide variety of food especially for Asians like Malaysian, Japanese, Taiwanese and more. The raging nightlife ensures plenty of pubs and clubs offering happy hours and cheap alcohol.

The most dreaded word for international students is visa. Most of the students spend sleepless nights over it. In order to get over such fears, it is necessary to have proper knowledge about the whole procedure and guidelines of getting a student visa. Ensure that you have all your documents ready including medical records and IELTS result. Australian student visa is quite accommodating as it let students study and work for the duration of the course and holidays. You can package multiple courses with the same visa. Unless sponsored/ part of secondary exchange, visa fee starts from AUD 550 and can be paid directly on Australian immigration website. In order to get your visa approved, student visa needs to be combined with an accredited course provided by some Australia's schools. Confirmation of enrolment (COE) identifies the beginning and ending of the date of the course, this will be sent to you electronically. A student must be above 16 years of age to apply for student visa. You should send your application for a visa at least 12 weeks before your start date. Your application will be allocated a unique Transaction Reference Number (TRN) by the Australian Government, which you may find out about the application status online.