From Eh to Oz
UQ has three campuses in and around Brisbane, the capital city of the state of Queensland. Brisbane is the third-largest city in Australia, after Sydney and Melbourne, and it has a multicultural population of around 2.5 million people.
Brisbane’s lower cost of living (compared to cities such as Sydney and Melbourne) attracts new residents, as does the weather—300-plus days of sunshine a year!
On the UQ Boarding Pass, you’ll find everything you need to know about getting ready to go to The University of Queensland, including how to accept your offer and accommodation tips.
Accepting Your Offer
Congratulations on receiving your offer!
Here are some important tips to ensure your acceptance process is as easy and smooth as possible.
Important Information
Congratulations once again on receiving your offer!
Please take time to read your offer email and letter of offer carefully and make sure all the information is correct.
Acceptance deadline/offer lapse date: Make sure to complete your acceptance process prior to this date. If a lapse date is not indicated on your letter of offer, we have provided a lapse date for you in your offer email.
This date will give you enough time to submit your acceptance documents, receive your Confirmation of Enrolment, apply for and obtain your student visa, kiss your family and friends good-bye at the airport, and hop on a plane bound for Australia!
Check your name: (As on your passport), birth date, and student (applicant) ID number, campus location
Commencement and completion dates: Plan to arrive in Australia at least two weeks prior to your class start date.
Acceptance deposit amount: Your offer letter gives you the deposit amount required to hold your place.
Tuition fees: Your offer letter will list the total tuition fees.
University’s tuition fee policy: Please note that UQ reviews all fees annually and these fees are subject to change without notice. It is important to factor this into your financial plan.
Understand UQ’s refund policy.
Australian Release Policy: It is important to be aware of the Australian Release Policy. If you are considering transferring to another Australian institution, you must be aware that if you apply for a visa, you will be unable to change institutions. You should not apply for a visa unless you are certain you want to attend that university. Please read the Australian Government’s Release Policy for more information. Let us know if you have any questions!
Specific admissions requirements/conditions (if applicable), including vaccination info and certificate requirements.
Declining Your Offer?
In case you choose to decline your offer, please let us know as soon as possible. Let us know by emailing your OzTREKK admissions officer outlining your decision and reason for declining your offer. We will then advise the university on your behalf. This is important because it can potentially open a spot for another student!
How to Accept
Step 1 – Read Your Entire Offer Letter
Ensure that you have read and understood your Offer Letter and all terms and conditions.
Step 2 – Respond to Offer
- Log in to the UQ Student Portal and follow the instructions to accept.
- 1–3 days after accepting your offer, you will receive an invoice to pay your tuition deposit and finalize your acceptance.
Step 3 – Pay Acceptance Deposit
When you receive your invoice, log in to the UQ Student Portal and click “payments.”
Pay the acceptance deposit amount indicated on your offer letter by selecting the Flywire payment method. To avoid delays in processing, don’t use other methods of payment.
Step 4 – Confirm Acceptance with OzTREKK
Once you have accepted your offer and completed your payment, please email us to let us know, so we can keep an eye out for your CoE.
Step 5 – Receive Your CoE
When your acceptance and payment are processed, the university will create your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE). OzTREKK will email your CoE and instructions on how to apply for your Australian student visa.
Payment Methods
After you have accepted your offer to study at the University of Queensland (UQ), you will receive an email notification when your invoice has been prepared.
Payments must be made through the Flywire payment method in UQ’s application portal. To avoid delays in processing, don’t use other methods of payment.
#OzTREKKTip: Do not pay by bank draft or cheque.
If you plan to pay your acceptance deposit via credit card, contact the credit card company and advise them that a large payment will soon be processed in Australia, in Australian dollars, as it may be deemed a possible fraud attempt.
Accommodation
About Accommodation
Before you get into the nitty gritty about your university-specific accommodation options, it’s important to review the basics of securing long-term accommodation in Australia, which is often the number one predeparture priority of OzTREKK students. If you aren’t living on campus or pre-arranging accommodation before you leave Canada, we highly recommend that you understand how renting a property in Oz works, so you’ll be prepared to hunt for a place to live when you arrive. There are many benefits in arranging housing after you arrive. You can
- physically inspect the property before accepting the terms and conditions of the lease;
- decide whether you will be comfortable in your new neighbourhood;
- assess the noise levels, both by day and night. Remember, you need to be able to sleep and study in your new home;
- check whether it is well-lit at night.
This process still requires preparation. Consider the following when thinking about accommodation:
- Ensure you have temporary accommodation arranged.
- Be prepared financially for the time you may need to spend in temporary accommodation.
- Make housing your first priority.
- Avoid rushing your house hunting. Feeling rushed can hinder your ability to make wise choices.
- Be informed. Before you arrive, read as much as you can about the various housing options and how to arrange them. Then you can get straight into house hunting after you arrive, rather than trying to figure out where to go and what to do.
Things to consider when comparing options
- Location – Take a look at Google Maps when comparing accommodation options!
- Amenities – Kitchen, meal plan, gym, A/C, etc.
- Cost/price range – This will be dependent on the location and amenities, typically the closer to campus and the most amenities offered the higher the price.
Short-term Accommodation
The UQ Accommodation Services Office provides temporary accommodation on campus as well as a long list of places off campus. In order to book accommodation at one of these options, you will need to contact the residential college, lodge, hostel or hotel directly.
Hostels
YHA is the largest provider of budget travel accommodation in Australia, with a network of more than 70 hostels in every state and territory around the country. Check out YHA – Brisbane City for more info.
To find off-campus accommodation providers, rental tips, property advice, etc., visit
Look for a Place and a Roommate
- Have a look at student.com and type in your city!
- Roomgo
- Flatmates
- Gumtree
Semester in Australia
Be to check out Semester in Australia, which has a temporary-accommodation option in Brisbane.
On Campus
OzTREKK recommends deciding early if you want convenience (managed housing) or if you prefer flexibility (private rental market). We also recommend that all high school leavers stay on-campus (at St. Lucia) in a college, even if studying dentistry at Herston.
UQ St Lucia’s on-campus accommodation consists of 10 residential colleges:
- Cromwell College
- Duchesne College
- Emmanuel College
- Grace College
- International House
- King’s College
- St John’s College
- St Leo’s College
- The Women’s College
- Union College
UQ now offers guaranteed accommodation to new students who are commencing studies at St Lucia or Herston campus.
Visit the UQ accommodation website for more information.
Off Campus, Managed
These residences are student-specific but are privately owned and independently run. If you are going to live in managed accommodation, previous students have recommended against living right in St. Lucia. While they can be close to the university, there are very few amenities located close by.
UQ-approved Providers
UQ-approved accommodation providers deliver high-quality services and residences with a focus on enhancing the student experience.
Here’s what can you expect from an approved provider:
- Rooms can be prebooked before you leave home.
- Residents may be from other universities, not just UQ.
- Some providers may have a small number of non-student residents.
There are many managed housing options in Brisbane including Student One, Iglu, UniLodge and Scape. If you wish to live in a managed student apartment, these are great options and can be booked at any time. Please confirm whether WiFi is included in your rent.
Dorm-style Residences
There are many organizations who provide residential college-style student housing, where students occupy their own single study bedroom, and all meals are provided in a shared dining hall. These providers are located a single bus ride from campus.
Remember to read carefully. They do not come with any specific recommendation or guarantee by the university. To apply for the above off-campus housing options, you must visit the websites of these providers and apply directly to the owner/manager. Each website will explain how to apply as well as information on who to contact for further details.
Semester in Australia
Semester in Australia offers furnished 6-bedroom houses and 3- and 5-bedroom apartments in both Brisbane city and St Lucia.
Private Rentals
This is the most popular option for students from Canada studying at Australian universities.
Brisbane
Many students are living in the private rental market (renting a house/apartment). Most students live in Toowong, Tarringa or in St. Lucia although other popular suburbs are the City / CBD, Southbank and West End. We have had students live further away (Annerley) but they do not recommend commuting so long each day.
Toowong is approximately 10 minutes to campus by bus and is conveniently located between the city and the campus. There is a large shopping centre, restaurants, grocery stores, banks, etc in Toowong.
Gatton
Students attending the Bachelor of Veterinary Science program are advised to apply to the Halls of Residence as soon as possible. The campus is located outside the town of Gatton.
UQ Rentals
UQ Rentals is an online resource available to UQ students, staff, and partners to assist them in finding accommodation during their time at the uni. The platform connects these prospective tenants to providers with vacant properties and rooms close to St Lucia, Herston, and Gatton campuses.
To find off-campus accommodation providers, rental tips, property advice, etc., visit
Look for a Place and a Roommate
- Have a look at student.com and type in your city!
- Roomgo
- Flatmates
- Gumtree
The Burbs
One of the key components of your research will be to get a feel for the city/town in which you will reside. Public transportation options are key to understanding where you could live based on where your university is located and which bus/train/tram/ferry travels to and from campus. Spend some time reviewing the city maps, become familiar with potential suburbs in which you could reside, and visit Australian public transportation sites.
Below is a list of popular suburbs located in the city of Brisbane:
UQ MD Students
Year 1 MD students are based at the St. Lucia main campus, with 4 days of structured learning (on campus) and 1 day of clinical-focused learning (can be on campus, hospital, or clinic). UQ recommends accommodation in the suburbs close to St. Lucia or with direct access to public transport (bus route #66) to the campus.
Some popular suburbs for MD Year 1 students include St. Lucia, Toowong, Milton, West End, South Bank, South Brisbane, City (Central Business District, CBD), Herston, and Woolloongabba.
Year 2 MD international students will be assigned to any one of the 4 Greater Brisbane Learning Communities: Central, North, South, and West.
St. Lucia: 7km from the centre of the city, in a bend of the Brisbane River. Most properties in St Lucia are within walking distance to the UQ campus. There is no train station located in St Lucia, but there are buses that connect to the train station in nearby Toowong. There is also a bike path that runs along the river between St Lucia and Brisbane city centre.
Toowong: Toowong is very popular with students. The University is only 10 minutes by bus in one direction, and the city centre 10 minutes in the other. There is also a bike path that runs along the river to the city centre. Toowong also has some very popular student bars, a shopping centre, and some great little restaurants.
Indooroopilly: Indooroopilly has everything a student needs, including a large shopping centre, cinemas, restaurants, and a couple of bars. It is only 10 minutes to the St Lucia campus by bus, and a short train-ride takes you directly to Fortitude Valley, where most of Brisbane’s night-life happens.
Taringa: Taringa is a great place to live if you want the peace and quiet of the suburbs, without being too far from the action. A very short bus-ride (10 minutes), or a slightly longer walk, will take you to shopping centres, cinemas, restaurants, and some popular student bars.
West End and Hill End: West End is located across the Brisbane river from the St Lucia campus. It is the most ethnically diverse suburb in Brisbane. Travel to the St Lucia campus is mainly via the CityCat ferry service, from the West End terminal at the bottom of Hoogley Street – a 2-minute ferry-ride! It is also only a 10-minute bus ride from West End to the city centre and walking distance to the Southbank parklands.
Fairfield: Fairfield is located 5km from the Brisbane CBD, and is across the river from the St Lucia campus. The suburb has a train station and plenty of bus routes heading to the city. There is a big shopping centre (Fairfield Garden Shopping Centre), and being near to West End gives the suburb a convenient restaurant-area close by.
Herston: Herston is located approximately 2km from the centre of Brisbane and about 8km from the main (St. Lucia) campus. The university operates within the Royal Brisbane Hospital, Royal Children’s Hospital, Royal Women’s Hospital and Queensland Radium Institute. Herston is also the location of the Mayne Medical School. Suburbs surrounding Herston include Spring Hill, Kelvin Grove, Bowen Hills, and Wilston.
Get Around Town
Brisbane’s public transport system is far reaching and in a lot of cases centres on the Brisbane CBD, making getting around super easy. You can get around via train, bus, ferry, or tram.
While cash is acceptable for most services, the cheapest and most efficient way to pay is by purchasing a go card. It will set you back $25 (including $10 credit), but you can top it up anytime online, over the phone, or at a 7-Eleven convenience store.
Get details on the Brisbane TransLink website.
Airport Pick-ups
About Airport Pick-ups
You’ve arrived at the airport! What happens now?
UQ can provide transport from the Brisbane domestic or international airports for new students. A chauffeur will meet you at the arrivals lounge and, after checking a few details, drive you to your accommodation!
This service is free in most cases, but fees apply for some destinations, or for any friends or family arriving with you. You should make your request at least 3 days before your intended arrival date.
Arrange your airport pickup.
Advice from OzTREKK Students
Each year we send a survey to the students in their first year of studying in Australia, then we compile the info.
Read our University of Queensland Students’ Advice to get all the insider tips (copied directly from the survey!) for a smooth transition to studying at UQ.
- University
- Program
- Adjustment to living in Australia
- Accommodation (Where? How much? How long did it take to find?)
- Work outside the classroom
