From Eh to Oz
Deakin has four modern, fully equipped campuses—in Melbourne (Burwood campus), Geelong (Waurn Ponds campus), Geelong Waterfront and Warrnambool—plus an innovative online learning environment (Cloud Campus).
If you’re going to study medicine at Deakin, you’ll be at the Waurn Ponds campus in Geelong (pronounced juh-long). You get the best of both worlds in the suburb of Waurn Ponds: world-class programs and superb facilities, as well as a relaxing, regional environment close to some of Australia’s best surf beaches. Geelong is a port city in the state of Victoria and is home to 190,000 people and is approximately 75 km southwest of Melbourne.
On the Deakin Boarding Pass, you’ll find everything you need to know about getting ready to go to Deakin University, including how to accept your offer, accommodation tips, and OzTREKK orientation events.
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 goodbye 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 Deakin reviews all fees annually and these fees are subject to change without notice. It is important to factor this into your financial plan.
Understand Deakin’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 Letter of Offer terms and conditions and the International Offer Acceptance and Payment of Fees form.
Step 2 – Respond to Offer
- Register and log in to Deakin’s StudyLink portal.
- Accept your offer by uploading your signed copy of your attached Offer Acceptance and Payment of Fees form.
- Complete the deposit payment steps and proceed with payment instructions.
Step 3 – Pay Acceptance Deposit
Pay the acceptance deposit amount indicated on your offer letter.
- When you accept your offer in the portal, you’ll have a choice to pay your fees through Deakin’s payment portal (credit card, Flywire) or via Convera. See Paying Via Convera for information about the process.
- Upload your proof of payment receipt in Deakin’s portal.
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
Payments must be made through Deakin’s payment portal (credit card, Flywire) or Deakin’s Convera account by credit card (Visa & Mastercard) or International Wire Transfer.
#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 Finding 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
All of Deakin’s short-stay accommodation is clean and well maintained, with bedding and linen included and wireless internet access available. Kitchens are fitted with basic cooking packs and have fridges, microwaves and ovens. Check out Deakin’s short-stay accommodation page for more information.
If you are interested in exploring other options for temporary accommodation, you can visit the following websites for hotel and backpacker information:
On Campus
Feel right at home at Deakin Res with living arrangements, events, and customized well-being support. You’ll have options of studio apartments or shared apartments and access to recreation rooms, theatre rooms, study areas, amazing outdoor spaces, and more.
Waurn Ponds Campus
Just a short drive from the incredible surf coast and Great Ocean Road, the campus boasts incredible recreational facilities and lots of green space. With the Surf Coast and Geelong CBD just a 20-minute drive away, you’ll always be close to the action. In addition to studio and shared apartments, you’ll have the option to live in campus townhouses, units, or apartments.
Attn: Deakin Med students! Deakin’s two-bedroom terraces are located within the health precinct at Waurn Ponds and are available to students studying Doctor of Medicine only.
Melbourne Burwood Campus
Set in leafy green surrounds, the Deakin’s busiest campus is accessible to Melbourne’s eastern transport hubs and a 30-minute drive from Melbourne’s CDB.
Geelong Waterfront Campus
You’ll be moments from Geelong’s spectacular Eastern Beach and about 50 minutes to Melbourne CBD by train.
Warrnambool Campus Accommodation
Experience scenic coastal living in student apartments and shared houses just metres from the pristine Hopkins River. You’re only 5 minutes from Warrnambool CBD and the local beach.
Off Campus
About Geelong
Geelong is the second largest city in Victoria, with a population of nearly 185,000. Located on a peninsula, Geelong’s surrounding beaches are very popular with surfers. World-class surfing competitions are held just 15 minutes from both Geelong campuses. Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus is a 20-minute drive from the Geelong city centre, so if you choose to live centrally you won’t be far from your classes. Suburbs closer to campus include
- Grovedale
- Wandana Heights
- Highton
You can access the Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus by car, train, or the free shuttle bus that runs between Deakin’s two Geelong campuses—and Melbourne is just an hour away. Houseme is Deakin’s online accommodation finder. It’s the best place to start when you’re looking for somewhere to live off campus. You can use it to search for long-term, short-term, casual and temporary accommodation within a particular area or price range.
Search for somewhere to live on Deakin’s off-campus Houseme accommodation website.
Private Rentals
There are plenty of options if you’d like to live off campus. Deakin’s HouseMe website provides a database of local houses available to rent, near to each campus. You can access the off-campus housing resources to get help with your application, as well as information on your rights and responsibilities when renting.
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!
- Student Housing Australia
- 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.
Deakin University currently has four main campuses all located in Victoria. There are a number of convenient ways to get to each campus:
Public transport
Geelong’s Waurn Ponds train station is the closest station to the campus. V/Line trains operate throughout the day on the Geelong–Melbourne line and take just over an hour and 15 minutes from Southern Cross Station.
There are plenty of bus services that run from the Geelong CBD, Geelong railway station and the Waurn Ponds railway station to the Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus.
Bike / Walk
Bike riding to each of the campuses is a great way to obtain your daily exercise, avoid car parking hassles and save money.
If you live within 3 km from Deakin, consider walking to campus. At the Melbourne Burwood Campus, Gardiner’s Creek Trail is located just behind the university. It begins at the Main Yarra Trail in Toorak and follows Gardiner’s Creek through Glen Iris, Malvern, Burwood (Deakin University), Ashwood, Box Hill and ends near the Blackburn Lake Sanctuary.
At the Geelong Campuses the Barwon River Trail, Bay Trail and Waurn Ponds Creek Trail take you to the campuses. Hop on at various points for a short walk to get to Deakin, you can even meet up with a friend and walk together.
Learn more about the Waurn Ponds campuses and transportation.
Airport Pick-ups
Your international flight will arrive at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport or Avalon Airport. Deakin knows how nice it is to see a friendly face when you’re in a new place, which is why they offer a free airport pickup service for all commencing international students.
Book your airport pick-up now so you can be escorted directly to your accommodation. You must submit your application at least three business days prior to your departure from your home country.
Check out Study Melbourne, a site designed specifically for new international students. It’s a great resource that features info, tips, and recommendations about Melbourne that will help you live like a local!
Airport pick-up services may be running under additional restrictions. Please check with providers before booking.
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 Deakin University Students’ Advice to get all the insider tips (copied directly from the survey!) for a smooth transition to studying at Deakin.
- University
- Program
- Adjustment to living in Australia
- Accommodation (Where? How much? How long did it take to find?)
- Work outside the classroom
