Buy a laptop in M'sia and bring it over to Australia. A laptop is more convenient as you can bring it to uni for your assignments or even do instant notes during lectures. I'd say this is the best choice for most students.

Buying laptops in Australia may be a wee bit more expensive for a similar-spec machine, but you obtain the warranty and tech support; whereas if you buy back home you may need international/overseas warranty and support which may require extra costs.

If you're going for a desktop, get one over in Australia. Bear in mind that most electronic stuff (except ipods and possibly printers) are more expensive in Australia, but shipping costs from M'sia will negate, if not exceed, the money you save by buying back home. There's also the risk of damage to delicate electronic stuff during the shipping process plus waiting period for the shipment.

For those who are coming over, the Consumer Affairs website has quite a lot of information which would be helpful in matters such as loans, banking, renting properties, buying cars, electronics and other equipment, choosing ISPs and mobile phones etc.

Most of the information are very basic and of common sense, but it's a good headstart.

http://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/CA256EB5000...1=Home~&2=~&3=~

I'm not sure about other professions, but for my course I can actually send in the application for temporary business visa (457) before I graduate. The application would be pending and once you graduate you need to supply them with proof of your degree/certificate and you'll get your visa approved within a few days, probably even the immediate next day.

For those who will be applying, it's better to check with Immigration or any Visa agents regarding this issue. It would be so much easier and faster to submit the application early (eg September or Oct) if possible, instead of waiting till the end of the year. Bear in mind that the last 2 weeks of December would be hell as everybody is on leave for Christmas and New Year... Everything will be in slow motion.

Who knows why it is called "business" visa, but it's merely a nomenclature issue.

I'm not sure how easy/difficult it is to apply for a temporary visa (?short stay ?visitor pass) without a confirmed employment, but good luck to those who are attempting to do so. For most students their student visa would end around March so after graduation you'll have approximately 2-3 months to find a job and obtain visas and such.

Generally speaking, most of the electronic/computer gadgets are cheaper in M'sia with the exception of iPods. Buy stuff that you can bring over, such as mice, modems; but you don't have to carry a printer over. Just bring enough cartridges to last you till your next return to M'sia.

A hard question to answer, but some things for you to ponder first:

1. Bachelor of Sci or Comm - You've got to choose which path first, then later decide what specialty. Under commerce you can do finance, marketing etc... same with Sci where there is biotech, geology, zoology, math, physics etc.

2. Melbourne has a lot of unis. Without 1. it's hard to search for suitable unis.

3. Once you've decided 1. and 2., get in contact with the respective unis and ask them whether your UWAFP results meet their criteria or not. They will provide better answers than any of us here could.

A piece of advice - choose a field where your enthusiasm lies, not choose a location/uni to study and compromise yourself in a course which you have absolutely no interest in.

It helps a lot if you have internet access at home. Many things are done over the internet in Australia; be it banking and finances, payment of bills, applications for visas/permits/licenses/property leases.

Check the first post for guide to ISPs.

Wed pm to the early hours of Thursday. Used to be Tues but now changed to Wednesday...
Some petrol stations are run by buggers who put up lower prices on the signboard but when you get to the pump the actual price is a few cents higher. I got conned last Wed where the pump price was 3cents higher but I was too lazy and tired from work to want to drive another few kms to find a different petrol station. Plus the jam and all that will probably make me waste even more time and petrol doing so.

Geelong... nice place, waterfront is good for chilling out, the buffet restaurant (Cunningham Pier IIRC) is pretty good.... eat till you drop.

It's a pretty White-dominated area, and the whole town goes crazy due AFL days.... You'll see Cats everywhere.

Nope. Only visited Geelong a few times, but never really stayed there for long.

Most people go for 3 Mobile because the majority of their plans provide the best bang for buck, but 3's coverage and call quality have been one of their banes.

Internet-wise, not sure about other cities but if you're in Melbourne then go for tpg whenever possible. Best packages available, and it probably has the lowest rate of disconnection. The tpg in my old place hardly ever have any problems, while the iinet in my current place sometimes freezes whenever there's heavy usage (eg housemates playing online games).

As long as you want. I brought a 15m LAN cable during my first year in Australia just in case it wasn't long enough to extend from the living room to the bedroom. It's better to have a long one which you can coil up the extra length, rather than a short one which you cannot extend.

Go fishing. Everybody does that in Hobart since there's nothing much to do at night.
Hobart Pier, CSIRO, Battery point are some of the places where people like to go.

1.
http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page4350.asp#e1284

2. Which RMIT campus? I assume it's in the city. For that budget you'll probably end up sharing an apartment or even sharing a room unless you venture out of the CBD.

3. Fill in the entire passport number including the A. Why leave it out?

This post has been edited by StarGhazzer: Feb 22 2010, 03:34 AM

Muahaha... winter in Hobart. I was freezing in Hobart during early Autumn back in April last year when Melbourne's still lingering around 20s. 12-14C during daytime wtf man.

Study.

Chill out.

Movies.

Gaming.

Pat toh.

Surf LYN.

This post has been edited by StarGhazzer: Feb 26 2010, 04:01 PM

Don't complain ler... we've been using full adult prices even as a student. Are you a PR or citizen to get concession? I don't think it's that expensive to take public transport in Melbourne especially if you travel long distances.

Having said that, the trains are getting more and more messed up despite Metro taking over from Connex. Change logo only, same old bloody problems.


Bye bye Elizabeth St.

This post has been edited by StarGhazzer: Mar 9 2010, 03:47 AM

Switch to the new 3 mobile post-paid plans if you're using more than $30 per month, and get your mates to switch as well. Any 3 plan >$29/month gets unlimited call time to other 3 mobiles. I jumped ship from optus prepaid last weekend as I'm already paying $30 per month for my prepaid... Even the $19/month plan has a better offer as 3 gives $70 worth of credit compared to Optus's $50. The only downside is that 3's coverage may sometimes be inferior to Optus but generally it's about the same.

For international calls, Skype is still the best choice. Most of the time there will be some slight lag but who cares when you're able to talk non-stop for free?

Tassie often loses out on stuff

This post has been edited by StarGhazzer: Mar 18 2010, 04:55 PM

$140 per week is bloody cheap compared to Melb
$100 per month ($25/week) is the average cost for groceries but I'd say set a budget of $150 per month as you'll want to treat yourself with good stuff every now and then.

If you're going to buy a car then honestly $1000 per month is probably not enough, unless your parents are sponsoring your ride.

Assuming that you're in Hobart, groceries are generally slightly more expensive than Melbourne. Having said that, you can find good bargains if you shop in bulk (eg buy eggs in 30s, pastas in 5kg packs and split it among friends). Sometimes you'll be able to find really cheap fruits as well; we bought apples which costs 4cents each when we were over there for holidays.

Chinese food in Tassie? In Hobart you could probably count all of them with both hands... and none of them tastes good. Better to cook your own.

For really cheap furniture, hunt for seniors who will be graduating and moving soon. Usually there will be second hand stuff available for dirt cheap prices, just pay attention to flyers and advertisements in campus.

This will be handy for those looking to spend some money:
http://www.getprice.com.au/
It's amazing how great the difference is between various shops in particularly electronic applicances, but not all of the shops are easily accesible compared to larger household names that have many branches like JB Hifi or Dicksmith.

This post has been edited by StarGhazzer: Mar 27 2010, 07:50 PM

Whoa what are you eating over there? $100 per week on groceries alone? 25 is probably too conservative an estimate I suppose (used to be adequatethat before the inflation). Now I'm getting away with 40-50 per week but it's because I'm earning my income now and hence being less stingy compared to student time.

Buy in bulk to save... when there's $1/litre long life milk on offer, go grab a carton and will last you for 2 months. That's 50% savings. Same with stuff like rice... if there's no offer, it can hit $25-30 per kg but again you'll be able to find <$20/kg when the timing is right.

For those in Hobart... check out No Frills Wholesale Cash&Carry... it's like makro in M'sia. Grab stuff in bulk then split it among your friends/housemates.

This post has been edited by StarGhazzer: Mar 28 2010, 09:14 AM

Woolies in Tassie are %$&^!!@... most of the time you pay slightly more and you don't get as many offers/sales as those in the mainland.

No Frills Wholesale Cash & Carry
44 Gormanston Rd, Moonah TAS 7009

Google maps will show you the way.

I'm no saving guru ler... just don't like spending extra on things when there are so many offers going around, especially when the various supermarkets are having regular price wars. My weekly expenditure now is much more compared to student time due to extra spendings like fuel and eating out more often due to work(and chilling out after work), and of course paying higher rent and bills etc.

Previously as a student I was much more stingy... $30/week for groceries is more than enough. A huge bulk of your expenses will go towards rent, utilities and transport, but with good self control $1K per month is easily achievable.

Studying in Australia may not necessarily be cheaper than in Europe esp UK where Sterling is at an all time low. The costs of studying in big cities like Sydney or Melbourne (esp UniMelb whose fees are higher than most other Aussie Unis) are pretty heavy as well; however places like Tassie is still considerably affordable.

This post has been edited by StarGhazzer: Mar 28 2010, 08:32 PM