From Eh to Oz
JCU’s main campus is in Townsville, which is a thriving coastal city and port, and a stepping-off point for visiting the Great Barrier Reef.
JCU is in a tropical area, which has a regional setting as opposed to a big city setting. The population of the area reflects many university towns in Canada, and OzTREKK students enjoy the gorgeous, hot weather and the friendliness of Northern Queenslanders.
With more than 2 million visitors annually, Cairns is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Australia, and this is where JCU’s second largest campus is located.
On the JCU Boarding Pass, you’ll find everything you need to know about getting ready to go to James Cook University, including how to accept your offer and accommodation tips.
Accepting Your Offer
Congratulations on receiving your offer!
Here are some important tips to ensure your acceptance process is as easy and smooth as possible.
Important Information
Congratulations once again on receiving your offer!
Please take time to read your offer email and letter of offer carefully and make sure all the information is correct.
Acceptance deadline/offer lapse date: Make sure to complete your acceptance process prior to this date. If a lapse date is not indicated on your letter of offer, we have provided a lapse date for you in your offer email.
This date will give you enough time to submit your acceptance documents, receive your Confirmation of Enrolment, apply for and obtain your student visa, kiss your family and friends goodbye at the airport, and hop on a plane bound for Australia!
Check your name: (As on your passport), birth date, and student (applicant) ID number, campus location
Commencement and completion dates: Plan to arrive in Australia at least two weeks prior to your class start date.
Acceptance deposit amount: Your offer letter gives you the deposit amount required to hold your place.
Tuition fees: Your offer letter will list the total tuition fees.
University’s tuition fee policy: Please note that JCU reviews all fees annually and these fees are subject to change without notice. It is important to factor this into your financial plan. Be sure to read JCU’s Tuition Fee Policy for International Students as it also includes JCU’s refund policy.
Australian Release Policy: It is important to be aware of the Australian Release Policy. If you are considering transferring to another Australian institution, you must be aware that if you apply for a visa, you will be unable to change institutions. You should not apply for a visa unless you are certain you want to attend that university. Please read the Australian Government’s Release Policy for more information. Let us know if you have any questions!
Specific admissions requirements/conditions (if applicable), including vaccination info and certificate requirements.
Declining Your Offer?
In case you choose to decline your offer, please let us know as soon as possible. Let us know by emailing your OzTREKK admissions officer outlining your decision and reason for declining your offer. We will then advise the university on your behalf. This is important because it can potentially open a spot for another student!
How to Accept
Step 1 – Read Your Entire Offer Letter
Ensure that you have read and understood the Student Contract (your offer) terms and conditions.
Step 2 – Respond to Offer
- Hand-sign each page where Student Signature is indicated (bottom right). Electronic signatures not accepted.
- Complete the Acceptance and Payment and the Additional Information Required forms.
Step 3 – Pay Acceptance Deposit
Pay the acceptance deposit amount indicated on your offer letter.
Payments must be made using JCU’s Convera website by credit card or telegraphic/wire transfer. Save a copy of your payment receipt. See Paying Via Convera for information about the process.
Step 4 – Email Acceptance Documents to OzTREKK
Email us a copy of your completed Acceptance and Payment and Additional Information Required forms as well as your deposit payment receipt. OzTREKK must submit these documents as part of your acceptance to the university.
Step 5 – Receive Your CoE
When your acceptance and payment are processed, the university will create your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE). OzTREKK will email your CoE and instructions on how to apply for your Australian student visa.
Payment Methods
Payments must be made through JCU’s Convera account by credit card (Visa & Mastercard) or wire transfer.
For instructions on how to use Convera, see Paying Via Convera.
#OzTREKKTip: Do not pay by bank draft or cheque!
If you plan to pay your acceptance deposit via credit card, contact the credit card company and advise them that a large payment will soon be processed in Australia, in Australian dollars, as it may be deemed a possible fraud attempt.
Accommodation
About Accommodation
Before you get into the nitty gritty about your university-specific accommodation options, it’s important to review the basics of securing long-term accommodation in Australia, which is often the number one predeparture priority of OzTREKK students. If you aren’t living on campus or pre-arranging accommodation before you leave Canada, we highly recommend that you understand how renting a property in Oz works, so you’ll be prepared to hunt for a place to live when you arrive. There are many benefits in arranging housing after you arrive. You can
- physically inspect the property before accepting the terms and conditions of the lease;
- decide whether you will be comfortable in your new neighbourhood;
- assess the noise levels, both by day and night. Remember, you need to be able to sleep and study in your new home;
- check whether it is well-lit at night.
This process still requires preparation. Consider the following when thinking about accommodation:
- Ensure you have temporary accommodation arranged.
- Be prepared financially for the time you may need to spend in temporary accommodation.
- Make housing your first priority.
- Avoid rushing your house hunting. Feeling rushed can hinder your ability to make wise choices.
- Be informed. Before you arrive, read as much as you can about the various housing options and how to arrange them. Then you can get straight into house hunting after you arrive, rather than trying to figure out where to go and what to do.
Things to consider when comparing options
- Location – Take a look at Google Maps when comparing accommodation options!
- Amenities – Kitchen, meal plan, gym, A/C, etc.
- Cost/price range – This will be dependent on the location and amenities, typically the closer to campus and the most amenities offered the higher the price.
Short-term Accommodation
If you have chosen to live in private off-campus accommodation, and need somewhere to stay when you first arrive, you can contact the JCU Accommodation staff. The team can assist with a range of options to suit your needs including on or off campus.
Hostels
YHA is the largest provider of budget travel accommodation in Australia, with a network of more than 70 hostels in every state and territory around the country. Check out YHA for more info.
If you are interested in exploring other options for temporary accommodation, you can visit the following websites for hotel and backpacker information:
On Campus
Cairns
OzTREKK recommends staying in an apartment-style housing, closer to campus for your first year.
In general, rent ranges from AUD$206–$560 p/w in Cairns depending on the unit and number of roommates. Popular options include
Find out more about JCU Cairns accommodation.
Townsville
OzTREKK recommends living in either an on-campus residence or close to the university in Douglas, in shared accommodation. Most students studying in Townsville live on campus during their first year.
The JCU Halls of Residence provide a variety of living styles with a strong support structure offering residents quiet areas, girls only floors/units and catering to all dietary requirements. All Townsville accommodation options have air conditioning; most include WiFi. JCU has virtual tours of all accommodations so you can see the room styles.
- Burralga Yumba (New in 2022!)
- Rotary International House
- George Roberts Hall (Former OzTREKK students do not recommend.)
JCU Townsville Affiliated Colleges (include 3 meals per day)
Find out more about JCU Townsville accommodation.
Off Campus, Managed
Cairns
JCU Cairns campus is in the suburb of Smithfield, outside the city of Cairns. Other suburbs around Cairns include
- Yorkey’s Knob
- Trinity Beach
- Trinity Park
JCU’s preferred off-campus accommodation providers in Cairns are Cairns Student Lodge and The Beaches Luxury Apartments, which are both located within 400 metres from the campus.
Cairns Sharehouse also provides affordable off-campus share accommodation, located in Cairns city, a 15-minute walk to Cairns Base Hospital and approximately 40 minutes by bus to JCU.
Arcadia Gardens Apartments offers 28 clean and spacious bedroom fully furnished apartments. With private balconies, queen-size beds (extra beds are available on request), TV, full kitchen with dishwasher, oven, microwave, cooking equipment, and laundry with washing machine and dryer. WiFi at very competitive rates.
Townsville
If you want the flexibility of living off campus, we recommend starting in Douglas, the neighbouring suburb. OzTREKK students spend between $120 and $200 (per week) in the private rental market, depending on the unit and number of roommates.
Find out more about JCU off campus accommodation.
Private Rentals
Finding accommodation can take several weeks so start looking as early as you can.
Cairns
Trinity Beach
Great for students who want more privacy or want to live near the beach. Will need car access or bus transportation to get to university. There are many short- and long-term apartments, townhouses, and house rentals in this area.
Clifton Beach
Another popular location for students who want more privacy or want to live near the beach. Will need car access or bus transportation to get to university. There are a few apartment complexes and houses in this area.
Townsville
At JCU Townsville you can live off campus in a range of rental property types depending on your budget, preferences and availability.
To know where to look for places to live in Townsville, you need to understand where the JCU campus is located and the surrounding suburbs/areas.
The JCU Townsville campus is located in the suburb called Douglas. Suburbs/areas where our OzTREKK students often live:
- Douglas
- Annandale
- Riverside Gardens
- Aitkenvale
- Cranbrook
To find off-campus accommodation providers, rental tips, property advice, etc., visit
Look for a Place and a Roommate
- Have a look at student.com and type in your city!
- Roomgo
- Flatmates
- Gumtree
The Burbs
OK, so now you have an idea of where you need to live, and where you’d like to live. What about transportation?
One of the key components of your research will be to get a feel for the city/town in which you will reside. Public transportation options are key to understanding where you could live based on where your university is located and which bus/train/tram/ferry travels to and from campus.
Spend some time reviewing the city maps, become familiar with potential suburbs in which you could reside, and visit Australian public transportation sites, which are fantastic for providing detailed information about how to get around your area.
Cairns – Popular Suburbs
- Holloways Beach
- Yorkeys Knob
- Smithfield
- Trinity Park
- Trinity Beach
- Kewarra Beach
- Clifton Beach
- Palm Cove
Learn more about public transport in Cairns.
Townsville – Popular Suburbs
- North Ward
- Castle Hill
- Belgian Gardens
- South Townsville
- Douglas
Learn more about public transport in Townsville.
What Students Say About Where They Live
Reviews from 2023 Intake
Medical student
On-campus residence $350. Building is great, it’s new, and the people are amazing. Everything is interconnected. We have to make our own food so delivery is my only option as transit is not the best. Budget your expenses. Limit fast food like Subway. It may be tempting but tracking your health is very important. Took 2 – 3 weeks.
Dental student (Cairns)
Cairns, John Grey Hall, $280. Arranged before arrival. It’s very close to all things on campus. I come from a big city, so this city is very remote.
Dental student (Cairns)
Cairns Student Lodge. $350/week. Arranged before arrival. I paid a yearly fee of about $12000 AUD. I would recommend it. It’s a short walk to campus. Solid rooms with a nice desk and they cook your food for you. I like that it’s extremely close to the ocean/beach. I don’t really dislike anything about it. It’s a very nice spot to live. Uni lodge is pretty easy to find online. Just search up your university campus and places to live and many of them will pop up and price is usually shown on website.
Dental student (Cairns)
Cairns Student Lodge. $350/week. Arranged before arrival. I really do not recommend this accommodation. Extremely unprofessional and emotional management. Maintenance requests do not get filled out and is non existent. They are not clear to us whether we should start looking for other accommodations or if we can rely on renewal for next years. Close to campus, has a small shopping plaza with a convivence store and laundromat, gym, hairdresser, doctor office and fast food I would recommend the suburb- it is quiet at night. John Grey facilities are beautiful despite room evaluations being quite strict. The Beach luxury apartments is a 6 minute walk from the uni and is very recommended. If possible, even if it’s more expensive, get something ahead of time that is not simply an academic year long contract where you have the possibilities of not being renewed the next year. Go privately, where the lease renews indefinitely. International first years will be the top priority for uni accommodations- you will get in, but once you do, start looking for the next year’s immediately don’t rely on the uni accommodations.
Dental student (Cairns)
Cairns Student Lodge. $350/week. Arranged before arrival. Cairns Student Lodge is closing, for incoming first years I recommend Unilodge, the Beaches Apartments, or any rental home you can find. Public transport is decent and everything is fairly accessible, but if you need to go into the city its better to Uber or know someone with a car. Make sure you have a place to stay before coming. It may be more expensive to be in close proximity of the university, but it is very well worth it.
Dental student (Cairns)
John Grey Hall, $130. I think it should have more organized activities. I enjoy how close everything but i dislike the scorching heat. Arranged before arrival. Ask for help everyone is super friendly.
Medical student (Townsville)
Townsville, Heatley, 4814 $280/week. Outside of campus you need a car. Busses are terrible. Houses are smaller, mostly fenced off, and Heatley is full of crime. Very close to everything. Took 1 – 2 weeks to find. Start looking as soon s you get an acceptance letter. Everything is so slow.
Medical student (Townsville)
Private rental in Douglas, $180 per week. Close by to campus but the public transportation in Townsville isn’t the best but it is possible to use. Close to campus and bus stop, quiet area, a quick drive to most things. Arranged before arrival. If you are staying off campus start looking early through facebook groups or real estate agents and if possible to a video conference to inspect the place.
Reviews from 2022 Intake
Dental student (Cairns)
I live at The Beaches in Smithfield. I have my own private unit for $300 per week. (3+ weeks to secure)
Dental student (Cairns)
Unilodge john grey hall $249 per week. very close to campus, clean and nice looking accommodation. there are no curtains on windows in the common space – so everyone can see everything – very open
Law student (Townsville)
Thuringowa Central, Itara & Jacana Apartments (private rental). $520 per week. It’s amazing and accessible location to many amenities, such as; Willows Shopping Centre, doctor’s offices, hospital and university.
Science student (Townsville)
I live in Douglas, Burralga Yumba residence on the James Cook Campus $314 per week. Active and engaged community. Brand new build, stellar amenities.
Airport Pick-ups
About Airport Pick-ups
You’ve arrived at the airport! What happens now?
A free arrival reception service is available for all new international students arriving in Cairns and Townsville. As the services transports you to your accommodation, ensure you have arranged your temporary or permanent accommodation before booking an Arrival Service.
More information
For more information contact JCU’s International Student Support team by email on cairnsinternational@jcu.edu.au (for Cairns students) and townsvilleinternational@jcu.edu.au (for Townsville students).
Advice from OzTREKK Students
Each year we send a survey to the students in their first year of studying in Australia. We ask about their university, program, adjustment to living in Australia, accommodation, and work outside the classroom.
Read our James Cook University Students’ Advice to get all the insider tips (copy and pasted directly from the survey!) for a smooth transition to studying at JCU
