Sydney
The Sydney College of Skin Care is located in Pennant Hills on the North Shore of Sydney, in New South Wales (NSW). The College is located directly opposite Pennant Hills train station and bus terminal for easy travelling. We are approximately 40 minutes from the centre of Sydney by train.
Flying to Sydney
Flight Bookings and Arrival in Sydney
Sydney is a popular travel destination, so book your flight to Australia soon after you accept your Letter of Offer. You may be able to save money by booking in advance, depending on the time of year you are travelling. Students should aim to arrive in Sydney at least two weeks prior to Orientation Day to organise long term accommodation. We strongly suggest you organise your short term accommodation (1-5 days after arrival in Sydney) prior to departure. This will remove some of the stress of arriving in a new country. The College may assist you with recommendations of the closest and most convenient short term accommodation if needed.
Unfortunately we are unable to personally meet all of our new students on arrival at the Sydney Airport. However if you arrive in Australia and you need help you can contact us on 02 9481 7811 Monday to Friday 8.30 - 5 pm. We will also provide you with the Student Liaison Officers after hours contact phone number prior to your arrival, to use in case of emergency.
Australian Quarantine and Customs Regulations
Strict customs regulations prohibit bringing many foods into Australia. Some of these items include; food, plant materials , plants and soil, seeds and nuts and animal products (meat and meat products, dairy, eggs and egg products), live animals, animal products, fruit and vegetables, laboratory material. Australian Quarantine prevents people brining these products into Australia to stop pests and diseases devastating our valuable agriculture and tourism industries and to protect our unique environment.
During your flight to Australia, an immigration and Customs declaration form will be handed to you. The forms are legal documents and any false declaration can lead to prosecution resulting in a heavy fine, imprisonment or both. You will need to read the details carefully and complete the forms truthfully. Make sure you complete this on the plane before joining the normally very long queues at the immigration desk. The immigration officer at the desk will check your passport and the immigration form you filled in on the plane. You will then be able to collect your luggage. If you have declared any items, you will be questioned about the items and your luggage may be searched. If you do not declare any prohibited items, they may be confiscated and you could be fined. If you have any doubts about items that you are bringing into Australia, ask to speak to a quarantine officer and they will be happy to assist you.
You may find that flight crews spray inside the plane before landing. This spray kills flying insects (but not passengers) which may have entered the aircraft at an overseas airport and are harmful to Australia wildlife. Don’t be concerned! This spray is recommended by the World Health Organisation and will not affect you in a negative way.
For more information on what is not allowed by quarantine and what is allowed but must be declared go to the following websites:
Prescription Medicine
Students who need to take regular medication should contact an Australian Diplomatic Mission before departure to confirm that the medication and quantities to be carried are permitted. It is advisable to obtain a letter from your doctor describing the medication you are taking and certifying that it has been prescribed for a particular medical condition.
DO NOT CARRY ILLICIT DRUGS INTO OR OUT OF AUSTRALIA. PENALTIES FOR DRUG OFFENCES IN AUSTRALIA ARE SEVERE AND MAY RESULT IN A JAIL TERM
www.customs.gov.au
Australia Fact Sheet
Culture and Customs
Australia has a unique culture in which there are people from countless nationalities and religions living together and celebrating each others customs.
Greetings
On first meeting, people usually shake hands, especially when meeting for business occasions or in formal situations. Hi and Hello are standard greetings. Addressing people by their given (first) names is common and acceptable.
Australia is a country where other nationalities are accepted and celebrated. If you are not confident with your level of English, try to communicate anyway and people will be patient and help you to be understood. Ask people to speak a bit slower if you are having problems understanding them.
Climate
Sydney enjoys a temperate climate with a mild winter, and has more than 340 sunny days a year. Average minimum temperatures in the winter months of June through to August is around 9 degrees Celsius (47-48 degrees Farenheit). The summer season is from December through to February.
For more information on Sydney's weather you can visit: www.sydney.com.au/weather
When to Go
No time is the wrong time to visit this outdoor city, where even winter tends to be balmy and the coldest month (July) averages six hours of sunshine per day. Sydney is in the Southern Hemisphere, the seasons are: December to February high summer and June to August winter. Springtime, starting in September, brings the festivals as well as the flowers—Manly Jazz Festival on Australian Labor Day weekend in October is one highlight. Since summertime coincides with Christmas, December is hysterically festive and the city continues to party through New Year's and on to Australia Day on Jan. 26. Even after that, outdoor music events, regattas, festivals, swimming and surfing competitions, and more keep going right through the beginning of Autumn in March—the wettest month, with some five inches of rainfall. It's true that winter is not so cold, but temperatures can drop to 10 degrees celcius and below. Then again, a 25 degree day in July is not uncommon, and those clear, sunny skies help keep spirits high.
How to Get There
Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport is on the northern shore of Botany Bay.Australia's national airline, Qantas ( http://www.qantas.com/ ), has the most flights, though United and British Airways also serve the airport. The CityRail Airport Link (www.airportlink.com.au) departs every ten minutes from about 5 a.m. to midnight for the ten-minute journey to Central Station. A taxi to the city center costs around $20.
Need to Know
- Language: English
- Capital City: Canberra
- Population: 20 million
- Area: 2,970,000 square miles
- Telephone Calling Code(s): 61
- Electricity: 240V, 50 Hz
National Holidays
- January: 1st New Year's Day, 26th Australia Day
- April: 25th ANZAC Day
- April: Friday before Easter, Good Friday; Easter; Day after Easter, Easter Monday
- June: First Monday after June 8th, Queen's Birthday
For more information on visitng Sydney you can visit: www.sydney.visitorsbureau.com.au
Living Costs
According to the Study in Australia website the average cost of living for an international student in Australia is about $335 per week for a student budget; this includes; accommodation, food, clothing, entertainment, transport, international and domestic travel, telephone expenses and incidental costs. However, if you like fine dining and expensive entertainment and are interested in travelling a lot whilst in Sydney you need to be prepared for a higher cost of living.
Transport
In Sydney there are various forms of transport from private vehicles to public transport such as buses, trains and trams(in centre of Sydney only).
Driving
If you are interested in hiring/purchasing a car whilst studying in Sydney you should be aware that in Australia we drive on the left hand side of the road. You will find that there are some significant differences when driving in Sydney. For more information on obtaining a licence to drive in Australia and Australian road conditions you can visit the Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) website: www.rta.nsw.gov.au
Public Transport
Both buses and trains stop within close proximity to the College so these are ideals forms of transport when studying at the Sydney College of Skin Care. Both of these forms of public transport service the city of Sydney so when you want to visit Sydney these are convenient ways to travel. When you become a student of the SCSC you will also receive a travel concession card which will allow you to receive a reduced rate when travelling on the Cityrail (train) network.
For more information on trains in Sydney you can visit: www.cityrail.com.au
For buses that service the Pennant Hills are you can visit: www.shorelink.com.au
Accommodation
There are many options for accommodation in Australia to suite the different needs and budgets of all students. Some accommodation options include (but are not limited to):
- Accommodation Options Approximate Cost
- Hostels and guest houses AU $80 - $135 per week
- Share Accommodation AU $50 - $160 per week
- Rental Accommodation AU $100 - $350 per week
For information on accommodation within close proximity to the College go to:
For information on Renting or sharing a house in NSW the following websites may be useful.
Most Convenient Suburbs
Following is a list of suburbs which are within 40 minutes of the College and are well serviced by public transport: Chatswood, Crows Nest, North Sydney, Epping, Eastwood, Strathfield, Hornsby, Pennant Hills.