All I can say is that Hillsong College was the best experience of my life. Over the next few paragraphs I will try my best to encapsulate into words what a phenomenal impact that going to Hillsong Leadership College (or the official name “Hillsong International Leadership College”) for three years had on my life.
When you get to Hillsong College:
1 – God calls…
It’s a little hard to express my gratitude to God for asking me to go and do Leadership training at Hillsong College. I think this is my first point. You must feel called to do it, if God isn’t in the decision to go to College, then don’t do it. Your not doing Hillsong Church any favors by being there, the thing to remember is that it’s not about you, it’s about what God can do in you by placing you in that house. It’s an amazing place to be in regardless of whether you are called to be planted there or not. But imagine how much sweeter it would be if you were meant to be there, not just because it’s Hillsong.
2 – Get planted
The best thing that God in me when I first rocked up was give me a revelation about being planted. It was so strong that I thought I would be there the rest of my life. He basically said to me to shut up and learn, to leave my own thinking behind and embrace all the revelation that He wanted to give me at Hillsong. This not only included revelation from the word, but also allowing myself to receive revelation while submitted to strong leadership. In all areas of my life, God chose college at Hillsong to deal with much of my thinking. It was such an immersive experience allowing the word from the pulpit on Sunday’s to small lectures during the week to mold and shape me into the man God wants me to be.
3 – Serve
To get the most from Hillsong College, the best thing I can recommend is to get a revelation on serving. Throw yourself into it and see what God will do. It’s a great place to see your heart tested. I can vividly remember the first conference I served (Colour Conference in March) and all the things that God brought to the surface through that experience. It was tough, I had to reach deep to finish that week, but I can honestly say that God pulled off some miracles in me. Predominantly God showed me that he wanted me to serve Him, and not man. Otherwise I would constantly look for validation through the words of men, rather than God’s.
4 – Enlarge
Get ready to enlarge your thinking. If there is one place that can enlarge your thinking, it’s Hillsong! There is so much vision there, you can’t not be effected by it. It’s easy to allow yourself to become hardened to change. But my suggestion is to embrace it. As a church, we need to roll with the times in order to be relevant to the times! Hillsong is a great place to learn how to be relevant, while dogedly staying true to the truth of God’s word.
5 – The Why behind the How
At Hillsong, there is a reason for doing everything. If there is no reason to do something, then don’t do it. If it’s not relevant to the present, then there’s no reason to do it! Serving at Hillsong is very intentional and focussed.
6 – Passion and Purpose
Before Hillsong, I was merely dating God, now the true romance has begun, and I can honestly say, there is no turning back. While at College I fell in love with God and His word, and He began to reveal to me His plans and purposes for my life. I remember driving somewhere up behind church one day and asking Him what He wanted me to do with my life. I heard three words… “Build My Church”. I can say the from that moment on, no matter what church I’m in, I would always be connected, relevant and purposeful in the house of God, whether I was at Hillsong or now serving at Generation Church on the Gold Coast.
7 – Change your thinking
There are so many different things that God addressed in me while at college. If you are set in your ways and don’t want to change, I suggest asking God to soften your heart to His word and to people. To make the most out of College, always be learning, enlarging, growing and moving forward. This requires one of the most painful processes, addressing wrong thinking that you might have. There was, and still is, many areas that I want to grow in, it never stops, and it doesn’t get easier. But my suggestion is to run to correction, whether it’s in the form of a word from your leader, from the pulpit on Sunday or direct from God and His word. So many people lose, because that refuse to listen and learn because they think they know what is right and cling desperately to their opinions. I could not express it more strongly, run to correction and all the goodness that it can bring you. It’s where pride is defeated, and God is victorious in your life.
Final Thoughts:
I hope that these few points will help you in your decision to go to college. Think carefully about your reasons for going. Are you certain it’s where you are called to be, go for it! God want’s to train and equip the next generation of leaders and He is using Hillsong church (along with many other churches) to do so.
Anyway, feel free to leave a comment if you have any more questions. I will also try and answer your questions as best I can.
Getting to Australia:
#1 Obtaining an Australian Student visa
Make sure that you go through the correct channels to get a student Visa, listed below are a few government websites that will provide invaluable information about living an studying in Australia. There are also some great websites with free eligibility assessments as well.
#2 Course costs:
- Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs – Hillsong College page
Includes course costs in Australian dollars – click on each course at the bottom for more information on each course. - Currency calc
#3 Insurance:
Health insurance varies for overseas students depending on the health fund, but a general rule is that it’s about AUD$75 per three months.
Related posts:
Wow! Thank you for sharing your experience. I am beginning the process of applying to Hillsong college. I feel called of God to go there. In fact I ignored the call about 6 years ago, mainly because of finances. But our God is not restrained by finances!!!! And so here I am, now married with 2 kids. Ya I should be more worried about finances now, then I was before, but I have immense peace! The peace of God that passes all understanding!
I am so excited! I want to learn, to be changed, to grow, to see things in a new way. I want my eyes to be opened to a more extravagant look on ministry! Like your’s “Build my Church” mine is “Lead people to my throne.” I want myself and people to have an intimate relationship with our Holy God, To exalt Him in all His Glory!
Rock Hard, Worship Harder!
Jillian
Hi Matt! Thanks! I’m from Kazakhstan. And i’m really want to go to Hillsong College. Can you say how much money i need to live there, in city campus – per month (accommodation, electricity, food, local phone calls, some transport and some general living costs)?
Thanks! God bless you.
Hello Matt,
I also am starting to plan to go to hillsong international leadership college. I would love to get in contact with you to hear your experience in GETting to australia as an international student. I really thank you for any input,suggestion, and advise you may have for me.
Thank you,
Melissa Ruiz
Matt,
I am a freshmen in college in the United States but feel like God is calling me to Hillsong college.
Thank you for sharing your experiences!
hey you have motivated me to really go ahead with my dream of going to hillsong college..thanx so much for sharing God bless you
beloved you had done a great things for us I want to attend hillsong too may God help me
ps moses
I just recently had a calling to ministry and I found Hillsong College on the computer and a strong feeling came to me. I can’t explain the feeling but I can’t stop thinking about it and it seems to appear everywhere I go. I think Hillsong would be a great place to go but I also want to pursue a psychology degree. I want to help people not only in my church but in the world. I’m just not sure if Hillsong offers psychology. Does the college offer psychology?
I am extremely motivated and inspired by your testimonies, Matt. Thanks for sharing; many lives would be impacted. The hunger & thirst to get planted in Hillsong church has been in me for many years and I know God put the desire in me. Hillsong ministry (especially the praise and worship team) has really impacted me that I have grown to a greater level in God. I thank God for the leadership/management of Hillsong church for answering to God’s call and choosing to be selfless in their service with God. Their song lyrics have thought me a lot i.e. living fully for HIM and loving HIM regardless…
Really looking forward to becoming part of the family and I know attending Hillsong College would be a stepping-stone.
God’s blessings always.
Hi Danielle, Hillsong offers an excellent Pastoral Counselling course run by trained phycologists. I’m not sure if it’s offered as a degree, but you may be able to use it as credit towards one?
Hi.thanks a lot 4 inspiring me.i’m from Zimbabwe and i definately want to go to study at Hillsong College.God has called me into ministry (Praise & Worship) and going to Hillsong College is the rightful thing i shud do,i’l be refined,God has drawn me to this college & your sharing has inspired me to pursue my God given vision,it has made my bond with the college even stronger.I live for God and i wanna give Him the best of me,as i serve Him.I just pray that a great door opens for me to go and study at Hillsong College.I that after studying at Hillsong College your life won’t be the same.
Do hillsong students who are studying worship ministry bring their instruments to hillsong? Like the drums or keyboards?
This was great info. Thank you so much!! I’m applying for july 2011. Also quick question… is it okay if Im only a singer and don’t play an instrument yet?? Though i just bought a guitar and really going to practice these few months.
Thank you.
I think you should learn the guitar!
Hey! Thank you so much for posting this. I yet have to graduate High school, another year left but I feel God is calling me here to be in the Worship Ministry! What worries me, is not Australia, it is just the finances because of the economy here in America today!
All I know is that God will get me there and keep me there if I am supposed to stay 
Hi Matt,
thanks a lot 4 ur insight and ur honest advise about Hillsong College. Ever since i came in contact with Hillsong music, I have felt led and drawn 2 worship music bcos i’ve always loved music 4 a long time but now i can actually learn how 2 serve God with music and in other areas. But telling anyone where i live that i want 2 study music is like u dont have a future ambition. I’ve made up my mind to seek God’s face for direction and i know that if that is where He wants me to go, i know He’ll make provisions for me 2 be there.
Thank u so much nd God bless u
Hi Matthew,
This blog really hits me because I have felt the call to go to Hillsong College for about a year now and I have kept it in prayer for that long. Just recently my mom asked me if that was something I wanted to do (i had never shared my heart with her about the college, she brought it up) …tears came to my eyes cuz this is something I desired for a long while. She said she would be willing to sponsor with all of the funding if this is what I wanted to do… My full heart is to go.
BUT the question arises with my Pastors at my local church. You see I am 28 years old and have been leading worship for about 3 years. Worship leading is all I’ve ever wanted to do since high school. Right now I serve as a worship leader and youth leader in my local church. My Pastor stesses the point that “why would I go and learn to be a leader if I am doing it already” …
I was wondering if you had any pointers, or if you could shed some light on the situation or if you knew anybody that attends the school right now with the same kind of situation. Are there many my age? Is there anybody attending that has been in leadership roles and has left their local church to attend the college? I have been frequently praying to God for answers.
Your help with be greatly appreciated.
Thank you so much!!
Hi Matt,
Thank you for posting your personal experience! It really helps me to think, because I had felt the God’s calling to go to Hillsong College about 6 years ago, but I didn’t manage to complete my degree (as I remember holding of a degree is one of the prerequisite), and I kinda of ignore the call until recently that, I have this feeling again. But do you know how did I get to your blog? I was searching in Google with following “Too old to study in Hillsong College”. Because I am already 27 (will be 28 in few more month)
There are still many questions after run through the Hillsong website. Is there any prerequisite to get in stream of “Worship Music”? like music instrument skill? Actually, I am leading worship in my samll church almost a year. I have never trained in Vocal, and very limited skill in guitar.
And I saw there is Pathways has to choose after choosing the streams, is that alright to choose “Production Pathway” even I never have any music production training?
Already asked a lot. haha
Thank you very much~!
I am going to Hillsong this July to study Media & TV. I’ll be arriving late because I have to work my contract in England until July 29th.
If anyone is going this July and would like to get in contact so that we aren’t all strangers, visit my website at http://www.sendmarlyaway.co.uk and email me using the “contact” link.
I’m extremely excited for it all and would love to meet others in my position!
Marly x
Hey,
I have been trying to make a decision on whether I should go to Hillsong or if I should stay home and go to college in my home town. It’s been something that I have prayed about countless times, I have already gotten my answer, but I’m scared to death. I know without a shadow of doubt that God is calling me to go to Hillsong, and it’s not impossible, He is making a way. I am just really scared about leaving home, and traveling so far away. I would really love it if you could email me and answer some of my questions. I have been looking for someone to talk to about Hillsong, and just stumbled about this today. Thank you so much for posting this. I hope you contact me soon.
-Brittany.
Hi Brittany, I know being separated from your family is hard. Can you move far away and be comfortable with that? On the other had, if you’re young it can be an incredibly satisfying experience moving out and becoming an independent person, able to stand on their own. I have sent you an email, so if you have any questions, feel free to ask.
Hey Matt, your post is such an encouragement to me! Two years ago a pastor who visited our church prophesied that I would go to Hillsong College and two other pastors have done so as well in different instances. I’ve been really praying about it and have developed a desire to go to Hillsong College. I love worshipping God and I have been worship leading for about two years now. I am 18 years old and am entering my second year of college. My family and I have just migrated to the US from the Philippines 3 years ago. I don’t know if I should finish a degree here in the US before I leave for Australia. I don’t have a concrete plan right now and not til recently have I decided to start praying for it again. Another thing is that I am not capable financially to support myself and my family couldn’t either. Should I just wait until my family and I get settled or should I just go for it and apply? I have a strong desire to go now and my faith says that God will provide but I also want to be realistic and not base my decision on my emotions but on what really God is saying. What’s your advice?
Hey matt, i’m on process to apply for hillsong college, so i was wondering to know wich campus is the best one? Hills campus, Brisbane campus or the city campus?
Hi Sarah,
I did half of college at Hills and Half in the City and I’m also a Brisbane boy, so you have asked the right person.
I think the City and Brisbane campuses are maybe a bit smaller? So if you want a bit more of an intimate environment to study and volunteer then you could do that. Hills is an amazing place to be with lots of opportunities, but it’s hard to say which is the “Best” one…
I would say pray about it and seek God on it, ask that the place you go will have great connections. I think you will know where to go if God is in it after a bit of prayer.
Make sure you check back here and let us know how you decide!
Hi Jabez!
AWESOME name!
I think you should always finish what you start.
Having a degree is a great thing to have before going to College, it means that you have worked hard to earn it and “learned how to learn” in an academic sense, which will help you alot when you are volunteering in a department, doing weekend serving and doing life in a connect group.
Do the hard yards now and you will reap a reward in the future!