Owned by the University of Wollongong, UOW College offers quality education within a supportive and safe community, ensuring every student has the opportunity to succeed. Over the last 35 years more than 38,000 students from across Australia and around the world have graduated from our programs.
Gain guaranteed entry to a UOW degree with up to one year of credit for prior learning.
Prepare for and gain guaranteed entry into the first year of your bachelor's degree program at UOW.
Improve your English to meet the English language requirements of your UOW degree.
An immersive educational experience, combining learning with cultural exploration.
Start your university journey at UOW College, where a supportive community ensures a smooth transition to success.
Immerse yourself in the University of Wollongong's campuses with additional support from UOW College.
Our class sizes average around 15 students, ensure you receive the individual attention you need. Enjoy personalised sessions with your teachers, who are committed to your success.
UOW College had equipped me with the skills that made my dreams turn into a reality.” Teklemariam Mengistu
Thousands of students from around the world call Wollongong home. There’s always something happening in Wollongong – it's a perfect place to live, learn, work and play.
Wollongong attracts students from all over Australia and the world, and there are a number of accommodation options to consider. Each option offers different experiences and benefits, so think about what will best support your academic and personal needs while studying in Australia.
With campuses in Wollongong, Sydney CBD, and Liverpool, UOW College delivers courses from UOW’s three metro locations, each offering its own unique benefits.
The teachers were very supportive in helping me understand the culture as well and explaining it. Going to UOW College also helped me network with other international students and get a feel for campus life.
As you prepare for this exciting journey, here's a guide to help you get ready for your arrival and studies in Australia.
Once your application is approved, UOW College will provide you with a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE). To commence your studies at UOW College, you must obtain a valid Australian student visa.
To apply for a student visa, you need:
You need to ensure that you allow enough time for visa processing, as this can be a long process, depending on the country you come from. At times, there may be delays in visa processing, so we encourage you to check the current visa processing times to understand if there are any delays.
Your nearest Australian Embassy, Consulate or High Commission will be able to advise you about current visa processing times. They will also be able to provide you with further information about how to apply for a student visa and whether you will be required to undergo health checks.
Visit the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to locate your nearest Australian Diplomatic Post. The Home Affairs website provides comprehensive information about student visa requirements and application procedures.
As an international student, you must have student health cover for the duration of your study in Australia.
UOW College currently uses BUPA as its Overseas Student Heath Cover (OSHC) provider. It is important to note that it is your responsibility to ensure that your OSHC is current for the duration of your Student Visa.
When you receive your initial offer to study at UOW College, you will have the option to allow the College to organise OSHC through our preferred provider, BUPA. If you want to arrange your own OSHC through a different provider, you can choose not to pay the OSHC fee to the College. If you are bringing your family, you should organise family OSHC.
If you have any questions about your health insurance, visit BUPA OSHC.
Make sure to book your flight to Sydney Australia Airport and then plan your onward travel to Wollongong for your studies.
The University of Wollongong offers a complimentary airport transfer service to its Wollongong campus, but it's important to book this service before your arrival in Australia.
Alternatively, there is a train service available from Sydney to Wollongong, with an estimated journey time of about 1.5 hours. For more information, visit Transport NSW.
There are a number of accommodation options to consider, both within close proximity of the UOW campus and in the wider Wollongong area.
When choosing your accommodation, consider factors like proximity to the university, cost, lifestyle preferences, and the type of community you want to be a part of. Each option offers different experiences and benefits, so think about what will best support your academic and personal needs while studying at UOW College.
If you are considering living in Sydney and travelling to class in Wollongong, we strongly recommend you take the time to understand travel time between the two cities.
UOW offers a variety of on-campus living options. These can range from dormitory-style residences to shared apartments and individual studios. Living on campus provides the convenience of being close to your classes, access to university facilities, and a vibrant community of fellow students.
Some UOW accommodation residences may cater to specific student needs, such as quiet study environments, family-friendly residences, or graduate student housing.
If you prefer living off-campus, Wollongong has numerous options, including private rentals, shared houses, and apartments. This accommodation offers more independence and a chance to explore life in the city.
As a UOW College student, you are given priority in the UOW College Homestay Program. This program pairs you with local families, providing a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in Australian culture, improve your English, and enjoy a supportive living environment.
Make sure you book your travel in time to attend Orientation. This event is important for new students, as you’ll learn about UOW College, including information about your courses, our systems, support services, and our team will assist you in enrolling in your subjects.
A Unique Student Identifier (USI) is a unique number issued to each student by the Government. All students – domestic and international – must have a USI when enrolling.
International students must wait until they have arrived in Australia to create their USI. Once in Australia, an international student can create a USI using their non-Australian passport and Australian visa as forms of ID.
Read more about creating your USI.
Your 7-digit Student Number is shown at the top of your offer letter. You will need to keep a record of this as you will need to quote the number in all correspondence with UOW and UOW College
The course name is the specific name of the course for which you will receive an offer and will be awarded upon successful enrollment and completion of the course requirements. If you have a package offer, each separate course component will be shown as a different part of your offer letter.
The course name appears in the top row of each boxed section on the offer. If you have received more than one offer for the same course, the most recent offer will supersede any previous offers made by or on behalf of UOW.
You will be studying at the campus location indicated on your offer letter.
At UOW College, both academic diplomas, foundation studies and university preparation courses are structured around a credit point system. When you receive an offer, it will detail the total credit points required to complete your course.
Individual subjects are allocated a credit point value that indicates the study load. Most subjects have a value of 6 or 8 credit points (CP) each. As a guide, the workload to pass a 6 CP subject is an average of 12 hours per week, including attending class and studying in your own time
Our courses can be delivered face to face, online or via distance delivery. Depending on your visa type, as an international student studying in Australia it is highly likely you will be required to study face to face.
The course duration describes the time needed to complete the course, assuming you follow the recommended structure and meet all progression requirements. To fully understand this, you may also want to visit the Key Dates section to learn when sessions are scheduled and when session breaks occur.
Ensure you check the UOW College key dates page to understand the dates of your course. You should arrive by at least the weekend prior to the start of orientation to complete the compulsory enrolment and orientation activities.
Your letter may contain conditions, such as meeting UOW’s English language requirements, completing your current course, or providing further documents, which must be met or resolved before you can accept your offer.
Information about fees is shown in the right-hand column of each boxed section of the Offer of Admission and Acceptance Agreement.
The tuition fee for the course's normal duration is an estimate of the fees at the offer date.
As an international student you will be required to pay a deposit. The deposit for your tuition fee for your first session of study in an academic program based on the normal course load for one session of study. Overseas Student Health Cover for the estimated length of your student visa; and the Student Services and Amenities Fee first half-yearly charge.
For English language courses, the deposit will include the full course tuition fee if the duration is 24 weeks or less, or 50% of the total course fee for durations of more than 24 weeks.
Payment for subsequent sessional, trimester or annual subject fees must be paid by the audit dates quoted in the UOW Key Dates or UOW College Dates for academic programs.
Students in English language courses of more than 24 weeks will have the balance of their fees due two weeks before the start of their second study period at UOW College.
It is important to be aware that all fees are reviewed annually and subject to increase during the period of study. All students are bound by the terms and conditions of the UOW Tuition Fee and Refunds Policy or the UOW College Fees and Refunds Policy as relevant to their course enrolment.
For further information on the above fees visit UOW Fees or UOW College Fees.
Like many international students, you may choose to get a part time or casual job while you study in Australia. Working in Australia is a great way to enhance your student experience.
The Study Australia Employability Hub has a number of tools and resources to assist you to find work and understand your rights.
Student visa holders can work no more than 48 hours a fortnight while studying. Students must know their visa conditions, including their work rights. Work rights may be impacted by the course level and the visa held when applying for a student visa. Visit the Department of Home Affairs website for detailed information.
Finding a part-time job that can fit in with your studies is important for many students. UOW offers a number of services that can help make finding work a little easier. Some options include:
Study NSW in partnership with SEEK has set up a program that connects international students with NSW employers to create more job opportunities.
To find out more, visit the Study NSW website.
As an international student working in Australia, you have the same protections as any Australian in the workplace. It is important that you know your rights in the workplace.
Further information on your workplace rights:
The Student Legal Clinic also provides free confidential legal advice to UOW and UOW College students, including preliminary advice in relation to employment law.
Australia is generally a very safe place to live and study, but it is still important to be aware of the risks that exist. We recommend you visit the Study Australia website for a range of health and safety information.
UOW College and UOW staff and the local emergency services are here to help you stay safe. A series of videos have been created by Wollongong Local Area Command as part of the NSW Police Force and in conjunction with the University of Wollongong. This project was proudly supported by the IMB Bank Community Foundation.
These videos offer important information on what to do in an emergency and how to stay safe on campus, at the beach and in the community.
Videos are also available with subtitles in Arabic, Mandarin, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Thai and Vietnamese.
Knowing the average living costs in Australia is an important part of your financial preparation. Study Australia provides helpful information on the cost of living and studying in Australia including a Cost of Living Calculator.
Wollongong enjoys a very reasonable cost of living compared to larger cities in Australia. Find out more about the cost of living in Wollongong.
If you are a student under 18 and in Australia without a parent or guardian, you can be assured you will join a safe and enriching environment at UOW College. We are committed to ensuring that your time studying and living in Australia is not only safe but also filled with enriching experiences.
Our team is ready to support you in every way, from finding safe and comfortable accommodation to supporting your academic studies and looking after your overall health. We are here to ease your transition to UOW College, helping you settle in for a successful study experience.
Through regular meetings with our student advisors, we will keep your studies on track and ensure your health and wellbeing are always a top priority.
The Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Framework is a robust body of federal laws that govern the delivery of education to international students in Australia and protect and enhance the experiences of overseas students in Australia. The ESOS legislative framework is designed to uphold Australia’s high standards for, and commitment to, international education through a consistent national approach, and to support the integrity of the student visa system, provide tuition protection and safeguard Australia’s international reputation as a provider of high quality education and training.
Education institutions can only deliver education services to international students on a student visa in Australia if they are registered on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS). Registered providers must have met, and continue to meet, the requirements of the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 (ESOS Act) and National Code of Practice for Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2018 (National Code). UOW College is a registered provider on CRICOS and is required to comply with the ESOS Framework.
For more information about the ESOS Framework, please refer to The Australian Government ESOS Framework.
If you are a prospective or current student, reach out to our team for guidance through your next steps.
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