Life around campus

Travelling to a foreign country to study can be a challenge. To make your daily life at ACU as easy as possible, we’ve put together information about who to talk to and where to go to settle into life around campus.

Learn about international orientation

International students receive a comprehensive orientation program to familiarise them with university procedures, Australian study methods and social customs and culture. Campus tours and ‘welcome events’ are also part of the international student induction.

Prepare for your orientation

Improve your academic skills

Each campus has an Academic Skills Unit with advisers who can help you to study successfully at university. They will help you to develop learning, writing, and language strategies.

Develop your academic skills

Get career development and employment advice

Careers advisers are available on each ACU campus to assist students with making career decisions, identifying personal career goals, developing employability skills, searching for employment and preparing employment applications.

You can make an individual appointment with a careers adviser. You can also access a variety of group workshops and web resources. These are designed to help students develop the skills and knowledge they need to make informed career decisions and manage a successful transition from their university study into employment or postgraduate study.

Explore our career development services

Find a counsellor

Qualified counsellors are available at each campus to offer free, confidential advice. Our counsellors provide practical advice on study, finances and university procedures. Where necessary, they can also help with stress management, grief, depression and relationship difficulties.

Learn more about counselling services

Access disability services

Each of our campuses has a disability adviser, who assists students with educational needs arising from a disability or long-term medical condition. This service is free.

We ask that you contact a disability adviser as soon as possible, preferably before arrival in Australia. It can take time to arrange any necessary educational adjustments.

Contact our disability services team

Explore campus ministry

Our campus ministry team care for the spiritual wellbeing and pastoral needs of all ACU students. You don’t need to be Catholic – or even believe in any religion – to enjoy the spaces and events run by campus ministry.

On each of our campuses, you can drop in and chat to our ministry teams, attend a weekly Eucharist celebration, take some time out for quiet prayer, attend a retreat or volunteer for a community engagement placement.

Meet your local campus ministry team 

Visit the library

Come in to your campus library and see our collections. You’ll be able to borrow books from your campus or reserve them from other campuses.

You can also visit the library online to access resources dedicated to international students or your particular study area. And you’ll have access to a large range of databases, where you can search journal and newspaper articles.

Explore our libraries and resources 

Join a club, activity or student association

There are lots of ways to get involved in campus life. You can become a member of the student association on your campus and organise social events and help promote the welfare of your fellow students.

You could also join one of the clubs, societies or activities offered on each campus. These range from guitar lessons to student-run networking groups, like the North Sydney Physiotherapy Society.

Get involved

Play sports and keep fit

Join one of our sports team and you’ll be able to make new friends and stay active at the same time. Each campus also runs fitness classes.

Brisbane, Melbourne and Strathfield all have gyms so you can get in a quick workout between classes.

Find out about on-campus sports and fitness