It’s a good idea to be organised for your arrival in Kuching before you leave home.
You’ll need to book flights, organise travel insurance, understand the Malaysian currency and prepare your transportation from the airport to your accommodation.
Flight and money
Once your application has been fully processed, tuition fees paid and your student visa granted, you should book a flight to Kuching.
As an international student, do note that your point of entry into Malaysia is most likely via the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, in the Malaysian peninsula. Another possible point of entry into Malaysia would be via Kota Kinabalu International Airport. From these airports, you will need to take a connecting flight to Kuching International Airport.
Travel insurance
It is best that you take out at least four weeks travel insurance before departure. Your travel agent should be able to help you organise this.
Preparing your finances
It is a good idea to arrive with some Malaysia currency. It is recommended that you bring approximately RM250 in cash (notes and coins), and some USD$ travellers cheques.
It is also helpful to have a credit card, especially in emergencies. The most common credit cards used in Malaysia are Visa and Mastercard.
Airport
Kuala Lumpur International Airport
International students arriving at Kuala Lumpur International Airport will disembark at the Satellite Building.
In order to get to the main terminal building, students must board the Aerotrain. The journey between the Satellite Building and the Main Terminal Building takes under two minutes and the Aerotrain operates at three to five minutes intervals.
You will arrive at the international level of the contact pier at the Main Terminal Building.
For your connecting flight to Kuching, you will need to go to one of the 8 transfer counters located on this level in order to have your boarding pass issued.
Kota Kinabalu International Airport
Kota Kinabalu International Airport, located at Kota Kinabalu in the northern state of Sabah is another point of entry into Malaysia. For your connecting flight to Kuching, you will need to go to the transfer counter in order to have your boarding pass issued.
Customs
The Customs Duty Exemption1988, Clause 19 allows the import of certain goods provided it is within the specified conditions.
For more information on customs regulations at KLIA, please visit www.klia.com.my
Airport pick-up and transport
You can arrange an airport pick-up service, or organise other means of transport, such as a taxi, to your accommodation.
Airport pick-up service
The airport pick-up service is free for international students when they first arrive.
A Swinburne Sarawak staff will meet you at the airport after you have cleared customs and transport you to your arranged accommodation.
You may experience waiting periods at the airport as the staff may be required to drop off other students in the same pick up. We appreciate your patience with this.
If you are arriving with family members, you would have indicated this information in the Arrival Services Form that you submitted when you enrol. Due to space limitation in the transport vehicle, only 4 persons are allowed.
Arriving at Kuching International Airport
You will disembark on the second floor of the terminal building. The immigration counters are also on this floor. Once you passed through immigration, take the escalator down to the luggage collection hall before exiting into the arrival halls.
A Swinburne Sarawak staff will be waiting near the entrance of the arrival hall.
Delayed flights
If your flight is delayed, you change to another flight or you cannot find the Swinburne Sarawak staff at the airport, you must contact the telephone number that is given to you when you submitted your Arrival Services Form.
The telephone number is the number of the staff that is assigned to the pick-up service.
Taxis
Kuching International Airport taxis work on a coupon system. The coupons can be bought at the Taxi Coupon Counter in the Arrival hall. Taxi fares to Swinburne Sarawak campus cost a fixed rate of RM26.00.
Arriving at your accommodation
If you have booked an airport pick-up through Swinburne Sarawak, the driver will take you directly to your accommodation.
Temporary accommodation
When you arrive at your temporary accommodation, show your confirmation and your personal details to the staff at the reception area. You will also need to tell them how long you will be staying.
Long term accommodation
If you have specified a private address on your Arrival Services Booking Form, the driver will take you there, but you will need to find your own way to the campus.