Orientation Frequently Asked Questions

If you’re a higher-education student, Orientation is an event held on our Hawthorn campus the week before classes officially begin. It’s packed with opportunities to help you kick off your classes and get more out of your time as a student.

Yes, your Orientation Program consists of course-specific information sessions and activities, such as your course induction, that will introduce you to all you need to know about your course and units. It’s also the best way to start meeting your peers and building your network of support.

You need to RSVP to your course induction. If you are already enrolled at Swinburne, you will receive an email invite with a link to RSVP for the course induction that’s right for you. 

Come equipped with some comfy shoes so you can jump on one of our student-led campus tours, which depart every 15 minutes. It’s also a good idea to take notes on the day, so pack a pen and paper for all the important info. Besides that, a smile and an open mind go a long way!

Classes officially start in Week 1 (the week after Orientation), so make sure you’re prepared to hit the ground running by attending your Orientation. Attending your First Day will give you all the need-to-know details about your units, school, life at Swinburne and everything in between – so consider it an essential part of setting yourself up for success. 

Note: Orientation for VET students occurs in the same week your classes begin. If you’re a Swinburne College student, your Orientation will take place in the week before your classes start. Check your student email for more info. 

Aside from attending your Orientation First Day if you’re a higher-education student, our Student Essentials Program runs the week before Orientation and is invaluable for students beginning an undergraduate degree. This program is a good way to meet people in a smaller group and comprises a series of workshops and information sessions with plenty of tips, tricks and need-to-know details for succeeding as a student.

If you are an international student, attending one of our international student briefings is the best way to make sure you have what you need for living and studying in Australia.

You’re sure to make some great connections just by attending Orientation and your course induction. We also run workshops and other events in the lead-up to and throughout Orientation that make excellent icebreakers, including the International Students Briefing and our Student Essentials Program.

Orientation is packed with events tailored to help you get all the info you need while you meet your peers, build connections and set yourself up for success. Along with attending your course induction, a great way to meet new, like-minded people is by checking out Swinburne’s huge range of clubs.

There are two types of student identification cards: virtual and physical. Virtual ID cards can be used to verify your Swinburne student status and borrow books from the library, but you will need a physical ID card if you wish to access specific buildings or labs on campus. To get the full Orientation experience (including lunch that’s on the house), you’ll want to organise your virtual student ID card before you get to campus. 

You cannot attend Orientation online. If you are not able to physically attend Orientation, you will need to make sure you catch up on all the vital information you miss, including setting up your Swinburne login and student ID card. 

You are welcome to bring someone along with you to campus. However, course inductions take place in our lecture theatres and have capacity limitations, so please note that this person may not be able to attend these sessions with you.

If you’re unsure about any aspect of Orientation or what’s expected of you as a Swinburne student, reach out to StudentHQ. If you’re an international student with questions about studying and living in Australia, our International Student Advisory team is here to help.