FAQs

You are an international student if you are NOT

• an Australian citizen
• a permanent resident of Australia, or a New Zealand citizen.

You are an international student if you hold a permit for temporary entry to Australia. For example, if your status is

• overseas student
• permanent resident of New Zealand
• diplomat
• temporary resident who hold permits for work purposes
• refugee
• a dependent of any of the above

The QUT Study Abroad Office is open from Monday to Friday 8.30am - 5.00pm. It is located at Level 3, O Block Podium (OP), Garden’s Point Campus.

All students must enrol in person at the Study Abroad office located at Level 3, O Block Podium (OP), Garden’s Point Campus.  Once you have enrolled you will be able to get your student Identification (ID) card. 

You can apply to drop or add classes at the Study Abroad Office.

The date of course completion is when your results come out. Assuming you have completed all the necessary units for your course, passing your final subjects ( ie after the results are released) will result in your student status changing from 'enrolled' to 'course completed'. It is the date of the 'course completed' status that is meaningful for visa compliance purposes.

Exam results are available two weeks after the end of the exam period. Students are not required to be in the country and will be able to access their results on QUT Virtual. If students have any queries in relation to review of grades, publishing of results or requesting further information about exams and results, they should contact the Student Centre.

Students in their final semester have access to check their results on QV (QUT Virtual) up to 90 days after completing their course

Some students are able to stay for their Graduation Ceremonies depending on their Student Visa expiry date and conditions. Check DIAC's FAQ section for their advice to students who have completed their course. It is important that students obtain current and update immigration information regarding their visa status.

Please ensure that your contact details and mailing address on QUT Virtual has been updated. To assist Student Centre staff with your question, please have your passport with you. Contact the Student Centre. Students will also need to ensure that they are eligible to graduate. They can contact Graduation and Ceremonies to see if they are eligible.

The dates for your orientation are written on your QUT offer letter, which will be consistent with the dates listed on the Orientation pages.

Degree students should aim to attend orientation, one week before lectures begin, this is O week. However more and more session are being offered before O week which gives you more time to digest all the information and be better prepared when lectures begin.

Visit the Study Abroad Office, Level 3, O Block Podium (OP), Garden’s Point Campus and get details of the any late orientation sessions.

Yes, orientation is compulsory for international students.

Airport reception is available 24 hours a day 7 days a week, including public holidays. Please ensure that you follow the correct procedures set out in - Airport Reception - and provide a minimum of 48 prior notice.

If your flight arrival details change or you miss your flight, contact us as soon as possible with your new details. If you are unable to contact us before departing, call us on arrival at Brisbane airport and we'll make alternative arrangements.

The airport reception services are for commencing QUT students only. Contact us if you are travelling with someone we can advise you on how best to get to your destination.

Go to the TransLink website

QUT provides personal accommodation assistance to all international students studying at QUT. Visit our accommodation pages for more information.

QUT no longer accepts cash payments at the cashier offices over $500.00. Having a local bank account makes it more convenient when it comes time to pay your tuition fees or household expenses. It is also much safer to have a local bank access card so that you do not have to carry large amounts of cash. Most of the larger banks offer a special student account which carry no fees if you use that bank's ATM and these are usually valid for the life of your Student Visa and can be extended if you continue to study.

A tax file number is a unique number issued to a person by the Australian Tax Office (ATO). You will need one if you intend on working in Australia. Even after you leave Australia you keep the same tax file number. See employment for more details.

Most students consider Australia a safe place. However when you are in a new environment, it can be hard to judge where and when it is safe. QUT is like any large community and has the same risks as a large community. Therefore you should use common sense to ensure your safety both at QUT and in Brisbane generally. This means that you should exercise care, especially at night. Avoid dark and lonely places both in Brisbane and at QUT. Use the free night bus into the city, or ask to be escorted to your car by a QUT security person. Make sure you know where the "emergency call points" are on campus and how to use them. QUT's security page gives you security advice on a number of areas including on campus, at home, and in the community.

Settling into a new environment can be difficult in terms of study and making friends. QUT offers opportunities to make new friends, but this mostly depends on you. There are many clubs and societies associated with the Student Guild where you will be able to make friends and enjoy yourself. Similarly there are opportunities in the community to meet others through community groups, sporting clubs and other interest groups. However this will require you to do the foot work and to take the initiative to join in. Introduce yourself to a person sitting near you in lectures or tutorials; join a club on campus; volunteer at university or in a community organisation. There are other tips on making friends in the fact sheet 'Networking' produced by ISS. If you feel homesick or a bit down, you can see an International Student Adviser at ISS. Sometimes two heads are better than one in looking at alternatives.

If a student experiences racism, they are encouraged to contact the Discrimination Contact Officers (DCO) on QUT campuses. A DCO is usually the first point of contact for staff and students involved in a complaint of discrimination or harassment (eg race, gender, sexuality, or disability discrimination). The DCO will then assist the student to investigate matters further. For a list of DCO's call Equity or contact International Student Services (ISS) with their concerns.

You may have a complaint about the university or something else regarding studying and living in Brisbane. For guidance on how to deal with the issue, you are encouraged to make an appointment to see an International Student Adviser for confidential advice or through International Student Services adviceline.

Should you wish to make a formal complaint, you can consult the procedures for doing so through the Ombudsman's Office. The grievance procedures are set out in the QUT Manual of Procedures.