In order to participate in a Sydney Program you must have a valid passport and visa. Visa application instructions are provided in the pre-departure paperwork. When you receive the e-mail with your electronic visa confirmation from the Department of Home Affairs, print out a copy and keep it in your carry-on bag along with your passport.

Bring your driver’s license &/or student I.D. card should you need an extra form of photo identification. You should also bring proof of COVID-19 vaccination.

Carrying photocopies of important documents (such as the photo page of your passport) will help in replacing these items if they are lost or stolen. Leave one set of copies with a family member or friend and pack the second set of copies separate from the originals.

Students are urged to bring an extra pair of eyeglasses, an ample supply of contact lenses, and a full supply of prescription medication. All medication should be sealed in original, clearly labeled containers and packed in carry-on luggage. The exception is anything in liquid form which is subject to the 100ml limit for carry-on items.  It would be a smart idea to bring along a letter from your doctor explaining your condition and need for the medication. Please note that this recommendation applies only to prescription medication; there is no need to bring a supply of ibuprofen-type medication as these over-the-counter medications are readily available in Australia.

Shipping additional supplies during the semester is not recommended. Customs officials open, examine, and reseal the contents before forwarding the packages on to their destinations. This process can take up to a month to complete. Local pharmacists or “chemists” will not refill U.S. prescriptions without a prescription from a local physician. Even with a complete list of ingredients and a student’s medical history, most chemists are understandably averse to prescribing an equivalent medication for fear of drug complications. Medical exams with a GP are often required before a script will be issued.

Although you will have fewer products to choose from in Australia, you may discover products you actually prefer over your favorite US brands. We suggest that you bring a small supply of travel-sized toiletries for your first few days and then replenish these items on site.  That said, cosmetics are much more expensive in Australia so students may wish to bring a supply of these items along with them.

The BUSAC Library has computers and printers for student use. Students who wish to use these facilities should bring their own USB sticks. 

You may want to bring folders, a pen, and one or two notebooks for your initial class and internship meetings. Additional school supplies can be purchased at nearby stores such as Woolworths and K-Mart.

You will be required to have a local Australian phone number throughout your time in Sydney. This is essential for internships, emergencies and ease of use (making local friends!). Upon arrival, affordable contract-free pre-paid phone plans, mobile phone options, and sim cards will be available for you to purchase. If you are planning to bring a phone from home, this phone must have a sim card slot (or eSIM) and be unlocked (meaning it can be used with any network carrier) in order to use it with an Australian service provider. If your current phone is not unlocked, consider bringing an older out of contract mobile with you to Sydney. Please do not purchase an international plan through a US service provider.  As you will be required to have a local Australian number, you should consider putting your American phone contract on hold while you are away.  

Please do not purchase an international plan through a US service provider because you will need a local Australian phone number. For more information, visit www.bu.edu/sydney/essentials/mobile-phones/

We recommend that you leave all electronic devices other than your laptop and mobile phone (these items are generally dual-voltage) at home.  That said, it would be a smart idea to bring one (or two) USA to Australia adaptors (suitable for use with Australia’s three-point power outlets) along with you to Sydney so that you are able to charge your phone and laptop immediately upon arrival. More information on adaptors can be found here.

When packing for your semester in Australia, keep in mind that the seasons are reversed in the Southern Hemisphere. When North America is enjoying warm, summer weather and longer days, Australia is experiencing cool, winter weather and early sunsets. Temperatures in Australia are calculated in degrees Celsius. To approximately convert degrees Celsius into Fahrenheit, simply double the temperature and add 30. Thus, if the temperature is 15 degrees Celsius, it is approximately 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

Students participating in the North American summer program (Australian winter) should expect to encounter cooler temperatures (40s-50s degrees Fahrenheit). With such short winters, Australian buildings are not always equipped with forced hot air typical of American central heating systems. The inside building temperatures may feel cooler during winter than you are accustomed to so bring clothes that can be easily layered and a warm coat.  If you travel to the Blue Mountains during the winter months, dress warmly and bring gloves and a hat.

Students in the fall (Australian spring) program will arrive during early spring and leave during the start of the summer season. Although the spring weather can be unpredictable, students should expect temperatures in the 60s and 70 degrees Fahrenheit with some cooler days. As the seasons move from spring to summer, temperatures tend to reach into the 80s F. Beach season officially begins in December with the occasional beach days scattered throughout the spring. You should pack a mixture of spring and summer clothes along with a bathing suit (known as a cossie in Australia) and sunglasses “or sunnies.”

Students in the North American spring (Australian summer) program will arrive during the height of summer and leave in Autumn. You should pack a mixture of lightweight summer clothing, bathing suits and beach wear as well as warmer clothes & a jacket suitable for autumn.

Many of you will need clothing for your internship placement. Bring clothing that is professional, conservative, and appropriate for the workplace. Keep in mind that some industries have a more strict dress code than others. Since you may not know where you will be working until after you arrive, it is difficult to anticipate exactly what internship clothing you will need. Pack according to the industry in which you are hoping to intern and bring a mixture of business professional and business casual items. Male students generally bring slacks, dress shirts, oxford shirts, polos, blazers, and ties. Female students generally bring professional dresses, knee-length skirts, blouses, blazers, sweaters/cardigans, and dressy trousers. It would also be a good idea to bring professional shoes and a bag such as a leather tote or messenger bag. Students in OT/PT placements will need to bring similar clothing to US requirements – which may include dark pants and polo type shirts as well as sensible and safe footwear.

As you will discover, the sun is more intense in the Southern Hemisphere. Australia has the highest incidence of skin cancer worldwide and, ironically, is also a leader in treating the disease. The Australian Cancer Society’s “Slip, Slop, Slap” campaign warns Aussies to slip on a hat, slop on sunscreen, and slap on a pair of sunglasses whenever venturing outdoors. Even if you are someone who normally does not sunburn easily, you should wear SPF30 protection all the time in Australia. If you are fair-skinned, be sure to slop on a coat of SPF50, especially in the late afternoon hours when the sun continues to burn hot.  Also, remember to reapply sunblock, especially if you are outdoors or on the beach for the entire day (i.e. surf camp).

Please leave electrical appliances (hairdryers, straighteners etc) at home and purchase these items on-site to ensure that any “electricals” you use are compatible with the Australian voltage. Appliances are relatively inexpensive in Australia and a sound investment for your semester stay.

As many students travel outside of Sydney on field-trips and other excursions, it is smart to bring along a duffle bag, backpack, or carry-on size suitcase for weekends away.

Bed linens and one bath towel are provided.  Students should bring along a lightweight beach towel or plan to purchase one in Sydney.