From Eh to Oz
Charles Sturt’s main campuses are in Albury-Wodonga, Bathurst, Orange, Port Macquarie and Wagga Wagga in regional New South Wales.
Small enough to be relaxed and friendly, but big enough to offer the opportunity to thrive, Charles Sturt’s Orange campus provides students with outstanding facilities and support. Orange campus is the perfect place to meet new people, learn a new skill or join a club or sporting group, all while you study.
Nestled in the Central Tablelands of NSW, 260 km west of Sydney, Orange is a progressive city with a friendly country atmosphere. The city’s 40,000 residents enjoy excellent retail, sporting, educational and health services.
On the CSU Boarding Pass, you’ll find everything you need to know about getting ready to go to Charles Sturt University, 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 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 Charles Sturt University reviews all fees annually and these fees are subject to change without notice. It is important to factor this into your financial plan.
Understand Charles Sturt’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 of Admission.
Step 2 – Respond to Offer
Complete and sign the Offer Acceptance form.
Step 3 – Pay Acceptance Deposit
Pay the acceptance deposit amount indicated on your offer letter.
Payments must be made using Charles Sturt’s Convera account by credit card or wire transfer. A Convera link will be included in your offer email. See Paying Via Convera for information about the process.
Save a copy of your payment receipt.
Step 4 – Email Acceptance Documents to OzTREKK
Email us a copy of your completed Offer Acceptance form and payment receipt. OzTREKK must submit these documents as part of your acceptance to the university.
Step 5 – Receive Your CoE
When your acceptance and payment are processed, the university will create your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE). OzTREKK will email you your CoE and instructions on how to apply for your Australian student visa.
Payment Methods
Payments must be made through CSU’s Convera account by credit card (Visa and MasterCard) or wire transfer. A link to CSU’s Convera account will be included in your offer email.
For instructions on how to use Convera, see Paying Via Convera.
#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
If you need short-term prior to the dates of your accommodation offer, you can simply book this through CSU’s Accommodation Portal.
If you are interested in exploring other options for temporary accommodation, you can visit the following websites for hotel and backpacker information:
On Campus
Offered at most universities in Australia, on-campus accommodations can be individual bedrooms or shared bedrooms with shared facilities. Australians often call these on-campus residences “colleges.”
Apply early! On-campus residences fill up fast in Australia, just as they do at Canadian universities. You’ll have to receive an offer from CSU before you are eligible to apply for on-campus housing.
CSU guarantees accommodation for all first-year international students that apply to live on campus, if applications are submitted before December 31, 2024.
CSU Orange offers a range of on-campus student accommodation:
- Traditional Residences
- Cottages
- Narrambla Postgraduate
- Narrambla Undergraduate
- Spring Creek Village (no en suite)
- Spring Creek Village (with en suite)
Some CSU accommodation options include a meal plan. Some accommodation packages have a minimum food component and others are opt-in. CHEERS food options are available to students living on or off campus!
Off Campus Managed
OzTREKK recommends students live on campus as the university is outside of the city. We also recommend applying as soon as applications open as preference will be given to early applicants; however, if you wish to learn more about your off-campus options CSU’S Off-campus Accommodation Database will help you find people offering accommodation including board, shared and rental options.
Private Rentals
This is usually the most popular option for students from Canada studying at Australian universities.
There are many housing options available, so get to know what each type offers so you can make a good decision. Finding accommodation can take several weeks so start looking as early as you can.
Another popular way to find off-campus accommodation/rental properties is to visit a local real estate agent. In Australia, real estate agents show properties for sale and for rent.
To find off-campus accommodation providers, rental tips, property advice, etc., visit
Look for a place, room or roommate:
- Have a look at student.com and type in your city!
- Roomgo
- Flatmates
- Gumtree
#OzTREKKTip: Review NSW’s information for tenants and landlords on renting.
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.
Get Around Town
Set in the foothills of Mount Canobolas, Orange has a relaxed country atmosphere combined with boutique shops, sporting facilities, and quality educational and health services.
Airport Pick-ups
About Airport Pick-ups
You’ve arrived at the airport! What happens now?
So you don’t feel lost when you first arrive in the city where you will study, CSU offers a free arrival reception.
Most international students arrive in Australia at Sydney’s International airport then travel to their campus city by plane, train or bus. You need to give yourself enough time to get to the right terminal or station, immigration and customs if you are booking connecting flights.
On the week before orientation week, a CSU representative will meet you at the airport or train/bus station in your chosen campus city between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
Complete and submit the online arrival form at least one week before your arrival (using your CSU username and password).
On your arrival, a CSU representative will welcome you and transport you to your accommodation. Find out how to book CSU 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 Charles Sturt University Students’ Advice to get all the insider tips (copied directly from the survey!) for a smooth transition to studying at Charles Sturt.
- University
- Program
- Adjustment to living in Australia
- Accommodation (Where? How much? How long did it take to find?)
- Work outside the classroom
