Don’t just be another application on the pile.

No. New Zealand citizens are granted a Special Category Visa (subclass 444) automatically on arrival in Australia. There is no application process, no paperwork, and no expiry date. You are free to live, study, and work in Australia indefinitely.

Domestic. As a New Zealand citizen, you pay the same tuition fees as Australian students at all Australian universities. International students from other countries typically pay two to three times more for the same degree.

We recommend beginning 12 to 18 months before your intended start date. For students entering Year 13, this means starting the process during Year 12 at the latest. For competitive courses such as Medicine, Law, or Engineering — particularly those requiring entrance exams — earlier preparation is strongly advised.

Residential colleges are on-campus living communities associated with specific universities, most notably the University of Sydney and the University of Melbourne. They provide accommodation, meals, academic tutoring, sporting programmes, social events, and a structured community environment. For many students, college life is the defining feature of their university experience and a source of lifelong friendships and professional connections.

This varies by college, but the more established colleges — particularly in Sydney — are competitive. They generally consider academic achievement, extracurricular involvement, leadership experience, and personal character. Most colleges require a written application and an interview. We specialise in helping students prepare for this process.

Most consultancies charge between $10,000 and $30,000 and employ staff who may not have recent or direct experience with the Australian system. Orbis is run by two current students — Tom and Hugo — who are studying at the University of Sydney and living at St Paul's College. Our guidance is firsthand, current, and offered at a significantly lower cost.

Absolutely. We welcome and ecourage family involvement in our consultations. We are happy to address questions about costs, safety, accommodation, and the practical aspects of the transition.

We provide guidance on all major Australian universities, with particular depth in Sydney (University of Sydney, UNSW, UTS), Melbourne (University of Melbourne, Monash, RMIT) and Queensland (University of Queensland and Bond University). Our area of greatest specialisation is the residential college system in Sydney, but we are well informed about options across the country.

Not at all. Starting early is one of the most effective things you can do. Our Pathways Package is designed specifically for Year 11 and 12 students who want to prepare strategically — including subject selection, entrance exam preparation, and extracurricular planning. Early preparation is particularly important for students targeting competitive courses.