Skip to main content

Arriving in Sydney

What to do when you get to Sydney

There is support available for you from the moment you land at Sydney International Airport. You can speak with student volunteers from the NSW International Student Welcome Desk, get a free shuttle to your new home, and visit our Welcome Hub. 

Your first 24 hours in Sydney

Airport arrivals desk

Keep an eye out for student volunteers at the Study NSW International Student Airport Welcome Desk in Arrival Hall A at the airport. Students will greet you and help point you in the right direction. Visit Study NSW to find out more


Travel to your new home

  • Public transport

From the airport, you can catch a train or a bus into the city centre. You’ll need an adult Opal card to use the public transport network in Sydney – you can buy one from the airport. Use Google or Apple Maps to find out the best routes for where you want to go, and then download the TripView app for the latest timetables. 

  • Taxi

Catching a taxi from the airport is more expensive than using public transport, but they will be able to take you directly to your new address and save you from carrying your luggage too far. Taxi ranks are situated outside the Arrivals lounge. Alternatively, you can catch a taxi from outside the nearest train station to your new home. 

  • Ride-sharing

Ride-sharing apps such as Uber, Ola and DiDi are popular in Sydney and can be used at the international airport. Once you exit the building, follow the signs to the yellow public pick-up area, as this is where your driver will meet you upon confirming through the app. 

Airport Shuttle Service

The University offers a free airport shuttle service to central Sydney locations for new international students. 

To be eligible for a free seat on the shuttle service you need to: 

  • be a new international student
  • be enrolled at the University of Sydney
  • arrive at Sydney Airport’s international or domestic terminals during the service period (15 January – 2 April 2024).

If you don’t meet the above eligibility your booking may be cancelled by us. 

Book your seat via 2Airport’s online booking portal at least 3 working days prior to your arrival date in Sydney. 

You will receive a confirmation email from 2Aiport once you have made a booking. This will include further information should you need to change or cancel your booking. 

Please note that the free airport shuttle is exclusively for international students studying at the University of Sydney. We cannot provide a free shuttle service for any family or friends who are travelling with you. To arrange any additional travel to and from the airport at your own cost, you can contact 2airport directly.

If you have any questions about the free airport shuttle service, please contact us by completing an online enquiry.


Check into your new home

Once you've made it to your new home, introduce yourself to any housemates and check out your new place. If you’re renting, it’s important to check that everything matches what you agreed to. The SRC and SUPRA have great resources to refer to as you find a place to live in Sydney. 

icon

Don’t forget to update your permanent address on Sydney Student within seven days of arriving in Sydney. You'll also need to update your onshore/offshore status, so we know where you are studying.

Student Centre

Online

Phone

1800 SYD UNI (1800 793 864)
or +61 2 8627 1444 (outside Australia)

Find out more about how we can help

Last updated: 21 December 2023

Website feedback

Tell us if you’ve spotted a typo or something else wrong with this page.

Thank you

Your feedback has been sent.

Sorry there was a problem sending your feedback. Please try again

You should only use this form to send feedback about the content on this webpage – we will not respond to other enquiries made through this form. If you have an enquiry or need help with something else such as your enrolment, course etc you can contact the Student Centre.

Cancel