Starting your academic journey at Griffith University can be an exciting experience, filled with opportunities. To help new students make the most of their time at Griffith, we’ve reached out to Surbhi, a driven Master of Social Work student hailing from Chandigarh, India (she’s also a 2023 Gold Coast Mayor’s Student Ambassador). With her unique perspective and wealth of experiences, Surbhi shares some valuable insights and her top tips to help you thrive during your life at Griffith.
Be prepared for the weather
Gold Coast has a subtropical climate with hot and humid summers, and mild winters. As an international student, you must pack accordingly and prepare for the weather. If possible, purchase items like sunscreen, hats, and sunglasses to keep yourself protected from the sun.
Make connections with other students
One of the best ways to ease into the university environment is by connecting with other students, particularly those from your country or home region. This will help in building a social network, as well as making you feel at home.
Plan your accommodation
Don’t wait until the last moment to find suitable accommodation. Most Australian Universities and colleges particularly Griffith University Gold Coast Campus provides affordable accommodations on its campus. Check with the Griffith University Accommodation office and Griffith Student Guild for more details.
Familiarise yourself with public transportation
Using public transportation is one of the most cost-effective ways of getting around in Gold Coast. As a new student, it’s important to familiarise yourself with public transport options like the buses, trams and trains to travel around the region. Translink has lots of information.
Get involved in extracurricular activities
There are various extracurricular activities at all campuses that you can take part in, including sports teams, volunteering, student clubs, societies etc. Check with Griffith university Student Support or the Griffith website to know more about these activities. Getting involved is a great way to meet people, explore the area and gain valuable work experience.
Thanks Surbhi!
Note: Image at the top of this article is kindly supplied by Study Gold Coast.
