Sydney, Australia
Macquarie University

MACQUARIE HOUSING, MEALS, and GETTING AROUND
Exchange students at Macquarie can apply to live on campus in one of two dormitories (or "colleges"). Both colleges provide a host of activities for their residents and encourage participation in extracurricular events.

1. ROBERT MENZIES -- campus dorm in which students occupy single rooms containing desk, chair, bed, wardrobe, reading lamp, and bookcase.  The rooms are carpeted, and linens (blankets, sheets, and pillowcases) are provided and regularly laundered.  Students share bathroom facilities, a large common lounge with billiards and table tennis, a music room (with piano), meeting rooms, reading rooms, and a coffee kiosk.
   Refrigerators are shared and situated in central locations.  Pay phones and coin-operated laundry facilities are also available; students can opt to have a phone line installed in their rooms.  Students living in Robert Menzies dorm participate in a meal plan which provides 21 meals per week.
   
   
2. DUNMORE LANG -- campus dorm in which students occupy single rooms containing desk, chair, lamp, walk-in wardrobe, bookshelf, washbasin, and bed.  Linens are provided and laundered weekly; rooms are also cleaned weekly.  Smoking is prohibited indoors.  Students share bathroom facilities; large common room with table tennis, pool table, and dart board; music room (with piano), coin-operated laundry facilities with irons and ironing boards; television room; centrally-located student kitchens; a library/study room, and a
   computer lab.  A bicycle shop and a student shop are situated on the premises.  Students living in Dunmore Lang College participate in a meal plan which provides 19 meals per week.

Alternatively, exchange students may choose to live off campus in apartments situated near the university – either in individual apartments or in university operated apartments (fully furnished and self-catering) such as Macquarie Parklands or Macquarie University College. Students who opt for apartment living are not eligible to participate in the college-style meal plans. 

TRANSPORTATION
Sydney and the surrounding area offer superb public transportation in the form of buses and trains. Students can obtain discount bus passes and get virtually anywhere. Many students opt to buy bicycles.  Cars are very expensive, both to purchase and to maintain, so you will probably want to utilize other sources of transportation.

INSURANCE
All Southern Miss exchange participants are required to purchase the International Student Identity Card which carries basic accident coverage, and some health coverage only in the event of a hospital stay.  All international students attending Macquarie will be required to purchase the Overseas Student Health Cover, which covers about 85% of the cost of consultation with private doctors and entitles students to free accommodation and treatment in public hospitals by staff doctors. 

STUDENT VISA
Southern Miss exchange participants must obtain a student visa (approximately $410.00) from the Australian embassy, or from one of the regional consulates.  Students should call to request the visa forms/instructions as soon as possible after notification of acceptance.  Allow several weeks for the consulate to process the requisite documents.

WORKING IN AUSTRALIA
International students may work part-time (up to 20 hours per week) during the semester(s). However, you should be aware that Australia has high unemployment rates and part-time work of any sort may be to find. Exchange participants should not count on obtaining employment in Australia to help fund their program abroad.

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