   Studying overseas - where do I even start?
  If everything goes to plan by December, I may be moving from the sunny coasts of Queensland to the moose infested ice covered wastelands of Canada mid next year for a total of 4 years.There is a course in Canada for video game concept art with a wee bit of animation, and if everything goes to plan, I’ll get a reply from them in December as to wether or not I am in (the good thing is that I can always switch over to sequential art / 'teh comics pew pew pew' if its full). This presents the fun of moving overseas to study, something I have no fucking clue where to start planning.I've got a million questions like what do I do with all my stuff here, how do I find work and how much can I work, how do I find a place to stay, how do student visas work? bla bla blaBut rather than write out a checklist 5 pages long, I'm wondering if anyone else here has ever moved overseas to study and could explain how you did you it? Is it mind bendingly complicated as it seems? Do the moose in Canada really rip doors of with their teeth?Cheers lads!   
  I won't be able to answer your main question, but I can give you a few tips about where you're moving to. Which province/city is the school in? As long as you can stay away from the Atlantic provinces, you're safe from meese [Grin]   ;  I'll be heading to Toronto, right near Queen Street.edit - oh hey, your from Toronto! =D The good part is that I'll probably be heading there June/July (not sure when you can first head over if you are on a student visa), which are the warmer months thank God =P   ;  Where in Canada is a rather important bit, and seeing as you are going to Toronto, things shouldn't be too bad for you. (unless they get mild snowfall again,...)Quote:Original post by Karan BhanguiWhich province/city is the school in? As long as you can stay away from the Atlantic provinces, you're safe from meese [Grin]Meese? You mean Moose? You do know those are found basically everywhere in Canada right? If you don't want to risk running into one in the woods, go to Newfoundland, the far north, or possibly Prince Edward Island, but I'm not sure if we actually have them here or not.As for working, you'll have to check your paper's, and possibly apply for student work permit if you aren't given one. I don't suggest working without one. I know several students from abroad here that work full time in the summer and part time in the winter, so working shouldn't be a problem as far as the law goes.As for a place to stay, can't really help you there, try contacting student services at whatever school you are going to.For your stuff, how much do you have, and how much is it worth? Figure out how much the bulk of it is worth, and then figure out the costs of bringing it with you, or the cost of putting it in storage for 4 years. Likely both these costs will be more than the value, in which case you take the junk to the dump, and the decent stuff is dropped off at a local university town.Don't bother with getting too much material wealth in life, remember, it usually just ends up being a bitch to move, and you will move in life.   ;Quote:Original post by TalrothWhere in Canada is a rather important bit, and seeing as you are going to Toronto, things shouldn't be too bad for you. (unless they get mild snowfall again,...)Quote:Original post by Karan BhanguiWhich province/city is the school in? As long as you can stay away from the Atlantic provinces, you're safe from meese [Grin]Meese? You mean Moose? You do know those are found basically everywhere in Canada right? If you don't want to risk running into one in the woods, go to Newfoundland, the far north, or possibly Prince Edward Island, but I'm not sure if we actually have them here or not.Yeah I know it's Moose (hence the grin). If he's moving to Toronto (Queen Street being proper downtown), he won't see a moose lol. Boolean, Toronto is very far south, even compared to parts of Northern USA. So the snow fall here is very minimal in winter (esp in the past few years, i guess it can be attributed to global warming). If you're going to University of Toronto, best bet is to PM Saruman ;)   ;  Cheers! Thanks for the help guys. Quote:Original post by TalrothAs for working, you'll have to check your paper's, and possibly apply for student work permit if you aren't given one. I don't suggest working without one. I know several students from abroad here that work full time in the summer and part time in the winter, so working shouldn't be a problem as far as the law goes.That's cool that people can work full time on a student work permit. I was worried I might be stuck with a few hours a fortnight max or something. Quote:Original post by TalrothAs for a place to stay, can't really help you there, try contacting student services at whatever school you are going to.How would it work if you wanted to rent with people? I'm guessing the schools would not help with that, would they? It might seem a bit odd to ring someone up 'yeah hi, is that room still free? Come by sometime? Can't, I'm in Australia", so I have no idea how I'm going to get all that to work Quote:Original post by TalrothFor your stuff, how much do you have, and how much is it worth?I wouldn't even know where to start. Not a whole lot of stuff though I guess since I only moved 5 months ago. I'm guessing shipping anything over costs roughly the same as the yearly income of a small country? I think the real tricky part is what to do with my PC (near brand new and rocks peoples faces off), my 360 and Wii =/   ;Quote:Original post by booleanQuote:Original post by TalrothFor your stuff, how much do you have, and how much is it worth?I wouldn't even know where to start. Not a whole lot of stuff though I guess since I only moved 5 months ago. I'm guessing shipping anything over costs roughly the same as the yearly income of a small country? I think the real tricky part is what to do with my PC (near brand new and rocks peoples faces off), my 360 and Wii =/You can try to bring as much as you can in your departure flight. You are usually allowed to check-in two bags that will go in the cargo bay and two smaller bags that you carry with you (must fit under a seat). Though if you try to fit a computer, a 360 and a Wii in one luggage, it might be overweight.But that's all at no additionnal cost once you have a ticket. Contact the airline company you will be travelling with for more information.   ;  We don't get much snow or moose down here in Vancouver, either. Actually, it didn't snow at all last winter.   ;  Shipping your computer and that shouldn't be all that expensive, basic air freight really only gets painful when you start looking at that great couch that is just so comfortable and perfect, and 9 feet long,...Just please remember!Before You Turn On Your Computer in Canada, CHECK THE SETTINGS OF YOUR PSU! You know that little switch on the back you're not suppose to play with else you get magic smoke rolling out of your system? I think you have to play with it in the case of moving. (at least I think you are on a different power style than here)Quote:Original post by Oberon_CommandWe don't get much snow or moose down here in Vancouver, either. Actually, it didn't snow at all last winter.Wasn't the island hit with a massive snow storm last winter? How did you manage to avoid that? You are a long way from the island I know, but it isn't all that far.   ;Quote:Original post by Talrothbasic air freight really only gets painful when you start looking at that great couch that is just so comfortable and perfect, and 9 feet long,...*backs away as Talroth breaks down into tears over his couch*hehe, nah I won't have anything that big. Mainly just my consoles and PC with games, my books and probably other odds and ends. I think most stuff (like half my clothes) I'll just rebuy when I get over there. I guess what's still my #1 concern though is finding a place to stay. The college I am (hopefully) going to has no onsite housing, so I'm buggerd if I know what to do. If any current or past students have any advice, please post! =D 