Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and is the state capital of New South Wales. It is located on Australia’s south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2014, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 5.1 million people. Inhabitants of Sydney are called Sydneysiders, comprising a cosmopolitan and students, visitors and immigrants from across the world.

Sydney often ranks highly in various world cities rankings. It has hosted major international sporting events, including the 1938 British Empire Games and the 2000 Summer Olympics. The main airport serving Sydney is Sydney Airport and the main port in the city is Sydney Harbour.

The weather in Sydney may change many times during the day. During the spring and summer months, temperatures can range from 15 degrees to 40 degrees Celsius, in the middle of the day. Students are advised to dress lightly but always carry a light jumper (sweater) or cardigan for the evenings. During autumn and winter, the temperature ranges from 5 to 15 degrees Celsius. Students should wear a jacket or coat, especially in the city, where the wind is strong and cold. Although it does not snow in Sydney, winter may be very cold because most homes do not have central heating system.

Public transport is very easy to use in and around Sydney and also quite cheap. If students are over 15 years of age, they must pay the adult fare for all transports. International students in NSW are not eligible for concession fares. Students should note that buses from the city and from major bus interchanges only take pre-paid tickets during peak hours. For more information please check the living in Sydney.