Services, Facilities and the UNSW Environment:-ELICOS:-Institute of Languages:-UNSW

English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students - ELICOS

Services, Facilities and the UNSW Environment

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UNSW offers opportunities for recreation and social life that would be the envy of most towns, with modern buildings, attractive grounds, extensive sporting and recreational facilities. Both campuses provides modern, comfortable classrooms and are fully equipped with audio-visual aids.

SPORT AND RECREATION
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The Institute of Languages organises extracurricular social activities such as discos, weekend trips to the beach or mountains, BBQs, horse-riding, sailing, golf lessons, soccer matches, scuba-diving and excursions to points of interest in and around Sydney. These functions are organised and supervised by the Activities Officer and are a great way for students to get to know each other outside the classroom and to meet other Australians. Institute of Languages students are encouraged to use the sports and recreation facilities offered on the UNSW main Kensington campus.
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There are over one hundred clubs and societies on campus, covering interests in the sporting, social, religious, hobby and intellectual fields. Among the sporting facilities are a 50 metre heated indoor pool of Olympic standard, squash and tennis courts and sporting fields. Plays, concerts, films, recitals, and other cultural gatherings are frequent. For those who wish to make use of these opportunities and the facilities, it is a fascinating, vital environment.

INDIVIDUAL LEARNING CENTRES (ILCs)
The ILCs provide facilities for students to study by themselves both inside and outside of classroom hours. The ILC provides an important component of courses and each class spends some time in the ILC. In the ILC, students do additional practice in listening, pronunciation, grammar, reading and writing, or use practice tests to prepare for the IELTS, CULT and TOEFL tests. A teacher is always available to help. A large collection of books, audio tapes, video tapes, practice materials, CD-ROMS, computers and other audiovisual equipment is provided to help students make the most of their time spent at the Institute of Languages.

THE LANGUAGE LABORATORIES
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The language laboratories at the Institute are used by classes and individuals to practice pronunciation, listening and grammar drills.

THE COMPUTER LABORATORIES
The computer laboratories provide self-access and classroom sessions for language development using popular Microsoft application software such as Word and Excel, and Computer Aided Language Learning software. Students have access to the internet and can have their own e-mail accounts.

GUARDIANSHIP FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
As high school students studying are generally under the age of 18, and are therefore minors, it is necessary for a guardian to be appointed by the parents. Guardians are responsible for the social, academic and financial welfare of the students. Normally the guardian is arranged by the parent, but we can help with arranging a guardian, subject to availability. The guardian is expected to arrange an appointment with the High School Coordinator to discuss the roles and responsibilities of the guardian. Students are able to read through the prospectuses of various schools to help make their decision about placement. High school students can visit prospective schools organised by the Course Coordinator. Prior to commencement of high school, a school visit can be arranged which allows the students to meet with their future peers and be involved in the school activities.

UNSW CAFETERIAS
Cafeterias at each campus provide a wide variety of international meals at affordable prices.

MEDICAL SERVICES
Students may visit a doctor at the University Health Service on the main campus. Dental service is also provided at a reduced fee and the School of Optometry offers free eye examinations and colour vision assessment. Glasses or contact lenses are supplied at reasonable prices.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ADVISERS
The Institute of Languages has an International Student Advisor (ISA) located on each campus. The ISA can help with any questions and concerns you may have about living and studying in Australia and the conversation will be kept confidential. Some issues that students talk about with the ISA are:

Studying at the Institute of Languages, English learning pathways at the Randwick and Kensington campuses
Studying at university, college or TAFE in Australia
Tertiary entrance tests like IELTS, CULT or TOEFL
Information about courses
University and college entry requirements and how to apply
Career guidance
Australian Government student visa regulations and questions about extensions of temporary entry permits
Feeling homesick
Financial issues
Adjusting to Australia; the food, the climate, the people
Having difficulty sleeping or feeling unwell
Inability to attend class
The TOEIC test

Students with serious personal problems can be referred to the University Careers and Counselling Service.

PEER SUPPORT GROUPS
During the Orientation program on the first day of a new term, the Institute holds peer support groups. Experienced students are invited to talk to, and counsel new students of the same nationality or language about life in Australia. New students can ask questions about transport, shopping and other issues in their own language.

THE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT CENTRE
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The International Student Centre is concerned with the welfare of international students attending the University and provides assistance and advice about living and studying at UNSW. Students of the Institute of Languages are welcome to join the social and cultural activities of the International Student Centre if places are available. Activities include day trips around town as well as short holidays to the country, to national parks and to the snowfields. The Centre also hosts picnics, barbecues and celebrations.

ACCOMMODATION AND AIRPORT PICK UP
The Homestay Accommodation service places overseas students in Australian homes, giving students the opportunity to improve their English in a home environment as part of a local family. It also allows homestay hosts and overseas students the opportunity to learn about each other's country, culture and lifestyle.

Students can stay either with a family, a couple, or a single person, or can choose between a single furnished room or share with other students. Students can also choose to have meals provided or may buy their own food and do their own cooking.

The Accommodation Officer usually arranges homestay before arrival, however, it can also be arranged once students arrive here. The Institute can also arrange for Airport Pick-up. This service is available to transport students from the airport to their accommodation.

Host families for high school students are carefully selected using careful guidelines, and they are regularly monitored for suitability. Particular care is taken with high school students to ensure that they are in the care of homestays where supervision is continuous.

Health Insurance Cover Information

Student visa holders at the Institute of languages take the Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), a compulsory condition of their visa. For non student visa holders some other kind of health insurance is recommended.

The OHSC covers:

24 hour toll free telephone access to medical professionals for emergency advice
24 hour toll free telephone legal advice
Emergency interpreting service
Doctors fees @ 85% of the schedule fee*
Public hospital fees @ 100% of the schedule fee*
Ambulance transport @ 100% for emergencies only
Prescription medicines limited to a maxium of $50 per prescription and $150 per calendar year*

OSHC does not cover:

Pregnancy related services except when the length of your visa is more than 3 months, or from the date it is extended to a period of more than 3 months.
Treatment for pre-existing medical conditions, or disabilities during the first 12 months.
Assisted reproduction services, eg in-vitro fertilisation (IVF).
Treatment arranged before arriving in Australia. Treatment when travelling to or from Australia.
Treatment involving compensation or damages claims.
Extra charges for single rooms in a public hospital.
Treatment for any children over 18 years.
Treatment not covered under the Medicare Benefits Schedule e.g. health screening services or cosmetic surgery.
Prescriptions such as oral contraceptive items and items prescribed for use during an operation.
Dental, Physiotherapy, Optical

About Sydney

Sydney is a friendly cosmopolitan city on the southeast coast of Australia and home of the Institute of Languages. Continually voted “Best City in the World” by leading international travel magazines, Sydney is Australia’s largest and most dynamic city.

Located on the south east coast of Australia, Sydney is the gateway to Australia, and home to over four million people. Sydney is also one of the world’s most multicultural cities, where you can experience the food, entertainment and customs of the world’s many cultures. It is the principal port of call for international airlines operating in Australia and offers more entertainment, shopping and sightseeing than any other Australian city.
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Sydney’s warm and sunny climate lends itself to a healthy lifestyle and with pristine sandy beaches to the east, National Parks to the north and south and mountain ranges to the west, Sydney’s physical beauty is the perfect setting for all outdoor activities.

The city’s 2000 Olympic Games also means that Sydney has some of the world’s leading sporting facilities. As the Arts capital of Australia, Sydney hosts touring international companies as well as being home to many of the nation’s leading cultural icons including The Art Gallery of New South Wales, The State Conservatorium of Music, The Museum of Contemporary Art,The Australian Museum, the Australian Opera, The Sydney Dance Company and The Australian Ballet. The world-renowned Sydney Symphony Orchestra performs regularly.
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There is also a lively entertainment scene in Sydney, and big name artists from around the world attract capacity audiences at the city’s many live entertainment venues. Eating out in Sydney is exciting, with a vast array of ethnic, vegetarian and local restaurants providing a feast of culinary delights to suit all tastes and budgets. Modern Australian cuisine offers a blend of flavours influenced by tastes of the region using the regions’ best fresh produce. Seafood in Sydney is a must. Vibrant weekend markets are a feature of many areas including the famous Rocks district, Paddington and Balmain. The markets provide a cheaper shopping alternative to the established department stores and designer outlets in the city.

Whatever your particular interest, you are bound to find it available in Sydney. Outside the University, the scope for filling your leisure hours is enormous, while inside the University the choice is equally varied.

View the Institute of Languages Student Handbook - Adobe Acrobat PDF 636k

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Established in 1966, the prestigious UNSW Institute of Languages services the needs of international students and the Australian community. Courses reflect contemporary trends in industry, commerce and further education.