International Students — Sydney University Dental Association: SUDA

Congratulations on receiving and accepting your offer to study at the University of Sydney!

Whether you’re moving from another state in Australia, to coming from the opposite side of the world (shout out to my Canadians), this is a huge and exciting decision to make, and I’m sure it wasn’t easy.

To support your journey to Australia, we’ve put together a little guidebook on some helpful information about the course, living in Australia, and other helpful tips and tricks that will make your transition as smooth as possible. Of course, this guide is full of my personal opinions and suggestions which may change over time (so don’t sue me please). Important things to note include getting around Sydney, finding accommodation, and boring adult things like getting a job and paying your taxes.

Moving to a different country is not easy, especially to undertake an intensive course like the DMD! Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or feedback regarding this guide, we hope SUDA can support your student experience as much as we can, and we will try to assist where we can.

Warm Regards,

Natalie Tseung

Junior International Rep 2025

SUDA (Sydney University Dental Association)

Your dental student association organising academic, social, sport and volunteering activities throughout your DMD journey.

W: https://www.usyddent.com/

Student Centre

Student administration assistance including enrolment & timetables, fees, student cards, exams, academic records & graduations.

T: 1800 793 864 or +61 2 8627 1444 (overseas)

Student Compliance

Visa and ESOS compliance advice for international student visa holders.

T: 02 8627 4100

E: student.compliance@sydney.edu.au

W: sydney.edu.au/student-visas

International Student Support

For international student enquiries & concerns.

E: international.support@sydney.edu.au

Health Verification Team

Information or guidance on gaining NSW Health Verification.

E: student.verification@sydney.edu.au

SUPRA (Sydney University Postgraduate Representative Association)

Independent Student Union at the University of Sydney providing free legal and advocacy services for all postgraduate students.

W: https://supra.net.au/

USYD’s DMD program is mainly set across 3 campuses.

Sydney is a beautiful city to explore, with lots of nature and sunshine! Here are some activities we recommend you try out to get to make the most of your time in Sydney (and escape studying)!

Hiking / Bushwalking

Many hiking tracks are easily accessible by public transport and vary in difficulty! Make sure you bring a hat, water bottle and sunscreen.

Some popular tracks include:

Bradley’s Head Walk (for spectacular views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge)
Bondi to Coogee Walk (not a bushwalk but a very popular beachwalk)
Blue Mountains National Park
Royal National Park

Beaches + Snorkelling

Given Australia is famous for our beaches, Sydney is no different.

Some popular beaches to check out (other than Bondi) include:

Coogee Beach
Clovelly Beach (and Gordon Bay for snorkelling)
Milk Beach
Freshwater Beach
Palm Beach

Visiting Different Restaurants

Sydney is an extremely multicultural city that also has close proximity to much of Asia! We have amazing Asian and fusion cuisines, boasting authentic Chinese, Thai, Korean, Japanese, Indian restaurants (and many many many more).

We also have some of the best coffee in the world!

Skiing + Snowboarding

Missing the Canadian Winters? We do have snow (sometimes) in the aptly named Snowy Mountains approximately 6 hours drive from Sydney. Thredbo and Perisher are 2 of the most well known resorts offering skiing and snowboarding in the Aussie Winter (June - August).

The majority of classes in first and second year are set at the Camperdown Campus (including Newtown’s Bligh Building) and the Sydney Dental Hospital (SDH).

The main campus in Camperdown is responsible for the majority of tutorials, workshops, lectures, seminars and microscopy classes. The closest train station would be Redfern (approx 10-20 minute walk).

About a 15 minute walk away is the Bligh Building, where tooth conservation and radiology simulation clinics are held. The closest train stations are Macdonaldtown or Newtown Station. However, it is about a 30 minute walk from Redfern.

In 3rd year, more clinical sessions will be held at the Westmead Centre for Oral Health. The closest train station is Westmead Station (5-10 min walk).

Most of 4th year is centred around clinical work at one of our teaching hospitals. These include: Sydney Dental Hospital, Westmead Hospital, Fairfield Hospital, Campbelltown Hospital or Nepean Hospital. Most of these are relatively accessible by public transport

It is important to note that having up to date vaccinations are essential for beginning DMD1 and becoming ‘NSW Health Verified’ (or verified with the state’s health system to gain access to the hospital). If you are from overseas, it becomes especially difficult to access old vaccination records or getting medical certificates from doctors that are in a completely different timezone.

Please note, it also can take up to 6 months to become health verified (especially if your Hep B serology results don’t test high enough for antibodies) so it is highly recommended to begin collecting these documents (especially while you are still in your home country) and getting relevant vaccinations as soon as possible!

We highly recommend preparing following:

Having completed the following vaccinations and having evidence for the following(can be done overseas)
- dTpa – Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
- Hepatitis B*
- MMR – Measles, Mumps, Rubella
- Varicella (Chicken Pox)
- TB Testing* (Risk assessment tool)
Booking a HLTAID011 ‘ Provide First Aid’ course in Sydney

Public transport in Sydney is fairly widespread and accessible. Owning a car is not necessary, especially if living close to a train station or bus route!

All forms of our public transport are connected by Opal card readers, which accept Opal cards or credit/debit cards. You can purchase an Opal card at most convenience stores. Currently, international students are not eligible for concession Opal cards, however, you can still try to apply and you might get approved.

The best apps for planning and tracking your transport we recommend are:
1) Tripview

Tripview has the most accurate live tracking feature for trains and buses, so you’ll be most prepared for delays or buses running early. However, the free version of the app doesn’t allow you to save trips, meaning you’ll have to retype them every time. The app is only $8 though, and it is the best $8 I have ever spent!
2) Opal Travel

Opal Travel features more functions, allowing you to top up your Opal card remotely, and plan and save your trips for free. It also allows you to combine multiple methods of public transport (e.g. bus and train) to get to your desired location as fast as possible (unlike Tripview, which assumes you already know the route you want to take).

3) Google Maps

Google Maps also allows you to search up multiple route options, quickly finding the closest bus or train stations from your desired location. However, the live tracking feature and schedule for trains aren’t as reliable or detailed (e.g. may not have platform numbers).

Trains

The Sydney train network is spread across Sydney and services most areas. In the earlier years, the main train stations used are: Central (SDH), Redfern (USYD main campus), and Newtown (Bligh Building).

Make sure you tap on both before and after your trip to ensure the correct fare is charged - they charge the maximum fare if you forget to tap off and Opal card officers frequently patrol the lines (and they will fine you $250 if you didn’t tap on)! Readers are located at the entrances and exits of the station (either at gates or on a pole).

However, the trains can be unreliable in bad weather, during strikes, or unforeseen circumstances, so try to allow for enough time to arrive at least 15 minutes earlier for exam season or clinical sessions!

Metro

The Metro is an underground, driverless subway system that connects North West Sydney to the CBD and inner West. Most of the Metro stations are separate from train stations except for a few connecting stations (Central, Chatswood, Sydenham and Epping).

For now, the Metro does provide service to Central Station but not to other commonly frequented places in DMD, so you may not use it often. Current construction is working on connecting this line to Westmead, but this won’t be completed until like 2032.

Buses
Sydney also has a relatively good bus system that covers predominantly the CBD and inner West suburbs.

These are (some) common routes that stop near USYD’s main Camperdown campus:

370
412
422
423
438X
440

The closest bus stops to USYD’s main campus include:

University of Sydney, City Rd
University of Sydney Footbridge, Parramatta Rd
University of Sydney Ross St Gate, Parramatta Rd

Again, be sure to tap both on entry and exit of the bus. The readers are located near the front and back doors, and it is preferred to enter through the front doors (where the driver is) unless the bus is very full.

Light Rail

The light rail is most convenient for getting around in the CBD, connecting Wynyard to Central (which would otherwise be a 25 minute walk). Unlike Melbourne where it is free, you will have to tap on and off!

Living Arrangements

The cost of rent is pretty expensive in Sydney! The most common living situations for DMD students are:

Student accommodation (e.g. Scape or Iglu)
Share houses or living with a roommate
Private studios

Generally, student accommodation is the most expensive of the options above. Most students end up breaking their leases early, as it can be 2 to 3 times more expensive than living in a sharehouse! Sharing a house, apartment, or granny flat with other international students is a more affordable arrangement for most students. There are lots of Facebook groups or websites that post ads looking for new flatmates. Finally, renting a private studio or granny flat is also an option! Renting a whole home in Sydney is quite expensive and requires a good track record of income, so this option is not feasible for most students (unless moving with a partner or family).

Many DMD students quickly find friends that they would prefer to live with! It isn’t a bad idea to reach out to other international DMD students to live with or search online groups to match with potential housemates.

Where should I live?

Given that most of the classes in DMD1 and 2 are close to the CBD (Redfern, Newtown, or Central), you should focus on finding accommodation with easy public transport to all 3. These are best served by the T1 Western, T2 Inner West and T3 Liverpool lines, so try searching for homes on those train lines.

Popular suburbs to check out include:

Burwood
Strathfield
Lidcombe
Ashfield

That’s not to say any suburbs outside of the ones listed above aren’t any good - these are simply just some suggestions of more easily accessible suburbs and relatively affordable options for DMD1 and 2 students! Furthermore, you might end up moving elsewhere during your DMD program, especially if you are placed at a hospital that is further away from the CBD.

Sydney is one of the most expensive cities in the world to live in (but that’s why it’s also one of the best cities to live in). Be sure to adequately budget and prepare your finances to support 4 years of intensive study!

DMD Costs

You thought paying your tuition was enough? Wrong. There are many more expenses associated with completing your DMD! These can include:

Buying equipment (~$6k in 1st year) and replacing equipment that you broke (don’t drop your burs lol)
Buying plastic teeth for your models throughout the year (~$300 in 1st year)
Purchasing loupes (~$4k, optional but highly recommended)

Be sure to budget for these expenses! However, there is a Buy and Sell group for USYD DMD, which offers great discounts for slightly used (but more than acceptable) equipment!

The good news is that the cost of equipment will drop significantly after you get fitted out in DMD1. Expect a rough budget of $3-500 for DMD2 and DMD3 for equipment, which will vary depending on if you’ve purchased everything in DMD1.

Groceries

The largest supermarket chains in Sydney are Woolworths, Coles, and Aldi. Generally, Aldi is the cheapest of the 3, however, has limited brands, product selections and locations. Many smaller, independent grocers can also be quite affordable, but this depends on your location!

TFN & Tax

Something you might see on a job application is a ‘TFN’ or tax file number. This is simply a unique identifying number that you MUST have (whether you are an international student or domestic student) if you are working. It’s completely free to apply for one, but you can only apply for it once you have arrived in Australia. It can take up to 4 weeks to process, so definitely apply as soon as possible before you find a job!

Any income below $18,200 AUD is tax-free, however, this still needs to be lodged with the Australian Tax Office.

Superannuation

Superannuation (or Super) is a mandatory scheme for employers to pay employees for their future retirement. This includes international students! All workers (regardless of Visa or Residency status) are eligible to receive Super and it should be paid on top of your wage to a separate Super account (not your bank account). You may access this money once you complete your studies and permanently leave Australia.

Health Insurance

In Australia, public healthcare is free for citizens and permanent residents. A few select countries have reciprocal healthcare agreements with Australia, meaning students from these countries can access GPs, hospitals and purchase medications for free or significantly discounted rates.

Reciprocal Health Care Countries:

Belgium
Finland
Italy
Malta
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Ireland
Slovenia
Sweden
United Kingdom

Students from all other countries will require ‘Overseas Student Health Cover’ for the entire duration of your studies. This will only cover basic healthcare like GP visits, some hospital treatments, ambulance rides, and some medications. Recommended providers can be found by the major insurance companies in Australia, listed in the link above.

Banking and Payments

Most large banks provide no fee accounts for students. The 4 major banks are: Commonwealth Bank, Westpac, NAB and ANZ - this is probably the best place to start!

The easiest way to make transactions on the go is through a digital wallet such as Apple Pay or Google Pay. The very vast majority of retailers have card readers, so you can pretty much live your life cashless!

To send money to other bank accounts, Pay-ID is the most safe and fast method. Pay-ID connects your bank account to your phone number, meaning you are able to send a payment to a friend with just their phone number.

How much should I be paid?

Currently, the minimum wage in Sydney is $24.10 an hour and this applies to domestic and international students. Casual employees are also entitled to a minimum 25% loading or pay increase compared to part time employees. Some casual employees also are entitled to weekend rates (150% on Saturdays and 175% for Sundays).

All employees (working for more than 6 months in Australia) are entitled to receive superannuation at a minimum rate of 12% from July 2025. This should be paid on top of your wages (and not deducted from your pay).

For more information on your rights while working in Australia: https://www.education.gov.au/international-education/support-international-students/rights-international-students-work

For any issues with your workplace (such as underpaying, missing pay/super), contact the Fair Work Ombudsman. They are here to help you!

What are some good job ideas?

DMD is an intensive and quite inflexible degree, so finding a job can be challenging. Here are a few ideas of jobs or side gigs that some DMD students have:

Dental Assistant
Dental / Medical Receptionist
Private Tutor
Bartender
Barista

Be aware that in most cases, the hours for which you can reliably work on will be weekends - meaning that you’ll most likely have to give up your Saturday/Sunday mornings or find work that allows weekday evening shifts.

The most common online job forum boards are Indeed and Seek. However, many private openings for dental assistants are usually shared across student groups and chats, so stay posted.

One other possibility is to find work at the University. Sydney uni does hire many students as casual staff and are very understanding when it comes to working around the exam season and whatnot. You can find university roles and other jobs through Career Hub (all employers here are aware they’re advertising to students) “Jobs on Campus”.