Study Move - Study in Australia Guide

Well done! You finished your program and now it is time to go back to your home country.

We call this stage at Studymove the Ying-Yang period or the Happy-Sad month. Please do not worry almost every international student will have the same mix of emotions.

Our suggestion during this period is to enjoy every single minute of this experience and also remember that you have achieved the extraordinary goal of studying in another country. Not many others have had an  experience this rewarding and at time a challenging adventure so, is time to feel very proud of you.

Getting ready to go home

Going home is not all about farewell parties and celebrations! You also need to prepare a few things and complete a few tasks to be ready. Here is a quick check list which may be useful:

• Ask your education provider about graduation procedures or any paperwork that could be required before you go.
• Change your address so your institution can keep in touch with you.
• Return all your library books or you could end up with a big fine!
• Check if your institution has an alumni office and see how you can be part of an alumni association.

• If you are still working part-time, find out how much notice you need to give to resign.
• Approach a lecturer or your part-time work employer who knows you well for a reference letter. This will be useful in your future jobs.
• If you worked in Australia, contact the Australian Tax Office in order to organize a refund of your superannuation.

Decide what items you will take home and see if you need to hire a freight company to get your items home.    Check your freight options. It is good to know how much you could pay for excess luggage and see the difference in cost with other freight companies.   Some airlines allow passengers to bring a few kilos more of luggage under special circumstances. If you want to try this you can contact your airline and ask for an extension of baggage allowances. You need to request this in advance and if it’s possible get a confirmation from the airline. It is not common to get the extra allowance because is just under special circumstances but it is worth to try!

• Find out how much notice you have to give on your house, apartment or room and start making arrangements to finalize financial arrangements (e.g., to have your bond returned). Remember that you should clean your accommodation before you leave.
• Contact telephone, electricity and gas companies and cancel the service to pay the final bill.
• Decide what belongings you will take home. If it means excess baggage contact a freight provider!
• Sell any items that you will not be taking home. You can do it through your friend, with notices around campus or an online system like eBay.
• Consider buying a "change of address" kit from the post office to have your mail redirected.