How to Find Student Accommodation in Australia

After months of planning for studies in Australia — choosing the right university, selecting your courses, and packing your life away—the time has come to sort out your student accommodation. While the country’s pricey living costs are no secret, there are plenty of options available to you to relieve any stress you may be having. That way, you can focus on what’s important: enjoying all that Australia has to offer! Oh, and your studies. 

Australia welcomes thousands of international students every year, and these students can choose from several different options when deciding where to live. From on-campus to off-campus, there are plenty of alternatives if you have the resources to know where to look. Here, we’ll run through the options to avoid any confusion prior to your arrival.  

On-campus housing

If you’re keen on the peace of mind of a convenient location on-campus, nearly all major universities and colleges offer halls of residence, mainly catering to international students. Whilst this option will likely be more expensive than off-campus living (costing around AU$80-250 (~US$60-185) per week), students are provided with a wide range of services including: meals, cleaning, sporting and laundry facilities, and fully-furnished rooms. This option is ideal for meeting fellow course mates, as being sociable is effortless, with so many individuals from all over the world living right across the hall. The beauty of on-campus living is you don’t have to worry about finding your own place, since the university does everything for you. If you’re keen on this option, make sure you apply early because this is popular choice for many and spaces are limited.

Off-campus rental property

With the majority of students in Australia living off campus, this is a common option which will give you more options and freedom. Although this might be an intimidating choice in a new country as you may not know the people in your household beforehand, it is by far the most widespread option for both international and local students. There are many international students in the same boat as you, and a ton of great resources to find a place, so you can have peace of mind before you travel over to Australia.

To help get you started, you could get in touch with your university’s student services, where they can assist you in suggesting housing agencies, or you can do some research yourself. Some great sites to start with include: Student Housing Australia, Flatmates, and Gumtree. Facebook will also have discussion pages for rentals if you search ‘room search student [city name]’. Do some research on which areas are popular for students depending on your city in advance, and use your gut instinct during this process in order to find a good spot. Depending on the area and city, you will be paying around AU$80-200 (~US$60-150) per week, usually unfurnished.

Homestay with an Aussie family

The process of a homestay involves an international student living with an Australian family in their household for the duration of their studies. This option allows you to fully integrate into the Aussie lifestyle, while meals usually being provided in the average weekly cost of AU$110-270 (~US$80-200). This option will likely be less social, as you will be living with a family rather than other students. Both single and shared rooms are generally available, and a number of different websites can assist you in finding the right place for you.

Get free accommodation as an au pair

If you have child-care experience, working as an au pair (also known as a nanny) may be a good option for you. With many families looking for child care services in return for accommodation and food, this may work out for you if the hours coincide with your class schedule. You will have to work the hours, but you could potentially be getting free rent out of the deal, which we all know is more than ideal when you’re on a student budget.

Get ready to study in Australia with our complete guide, which includes advice on applications, tuition fees, funding, student visas and more.