Finding a new home can be challenging at the best of times, even more so for international students looking to live and study in Australia. The thought of moving to a new country to study, leaving behind friends and family is daunting enough without the worry of finding student accommodation. Fortunately, there’s a wide range of accommodation options for international students in Australia, and support services out there to help you find the perfect new home!
If you’re looking for more information about student accommodation options in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra or the Gold Coast, check out our Guides for each city.
Where can international students live in Australia?
There are four main options when it comes to student housing and accommodation in Australia: managed student accommodation/apartments, residential colleges, private rental and homestay. There are unique benefits to each, so you’ll be able to find something that suits your needs.
If you are an under-18 international student in Australia, the Australian Government requires special accommodation arrangements to ensure your welfare and safety. Find out about your under-18 student housing options here.
What is managed student accommodation?
Managed student housing/accommodation/apartments are built around all major university and college campuses and are a convenient, purpose-built housing option for international students. They come furnished, you will be living with fellow students, and your apartment building may feature extra amenities like gyms or movie rooms. However, managed student accommodation can be expensive.
- Understand what is included in managed student housing/accommodation
- Learn what to look for in student accommodation
- Read through 10 reasons to live in student accommodation in Australia
- Practise these etiquette rules for living in student accomodation
- Know how to find a community and make lifelong friends in student accommodation
What is a private rental?
Private rentals, or ‘share houses’ (if sharing a house with other people), is housing that you rent from a landlord, where you are the tenant. Renting a house in Australia means you can live wherever you like, be more independent, and you have more of a choice of accommodation type (for example, you can live in a house with a garden in the suburbs, or a city apartment in the CBD). Plus, if you share a house with roommates or flatmates it can be a more affordable housing option.
- Check out what all international students need to know before renting
- Read the top 10 reasons to live in a share house
- Learn how you can manage your share house responsibilities
- Read through 8 tips to help you put together a great rental application
- Understand how to be the ideal tenant to avoid issues with your landlord
What is homestay?
A homestay is a type of cultural exchange. It allows international students to live in the home of a local host for their first four weeks in Australia. A homestay will give you an opportunity to experience the local culture, be supported as your get used to your new hometown, practise your English and make new friends. Let’s run you through some reasons to consider homestay as a housing option for you in Australia.
How can I find housing or accommodation in Australia?
You will need to do some research before deciding which type of accommodation is best for you. Some accommodation or housing options are easy to organise before you arrive in Australia, such as managed student accommodation, while others, such as finding a private rental or a share house, are safer to organise once you have arrived in the country, so you have an opportunity to visit properties or meet potential new housemates in person.
- Understand how you can organise housing before you arrive in Australia
- Read through these must ask questions when looking for accommodation in Australia
- Check out how to find a private rental as a student
How much does housing in Australia cost?
One of the most important factors for international students when deciding on which accommodation in Australia is the cost. At Insider Guides, we have several resources that can help international students make this decision, such as a cost of living calculator and the city-specific guides to cost of living, which cover the accommodation and rental prices in Australia’s most popular student cities.
- Cost of Living Calculator
- How Much Does it Cost to Live in Sydney?
- How Much Does it Cost to Live in Melbourne?
- How Much Does it Cost to Live in Adelaide?
- How Much Does it Cost to Live in Brisbane?
- How Much Does it Cost to Live in Perth?
- How Much Does it Cost to Live in Canberra?
How can I save money in a share house?
A share house is an affordable housing option for students in Australia, because you can split the costs of certain things like internet, water and electricity to save money.
- Learn 9 easy costs you can split in a share house to save you money
- Read through tips to help you manage your finances in a share house
How do you move house in Australia?
Moving house in Australia can be a fairly straightforward process, you just need to make sure you are organised.
- Read through what you need to do when you move house – making a checklist of these steps can help!
- Learn how to save money when moving house in Australia
- Check out these essential steps in your new home
What do I need to set up my new house?
If you are living in managed student housing, most of what you will need (in terms of furniture and other household essentials) will be ready for you when you arrive in the country. However, if you are moving into a rental house, there are certain home items you will want to invest in to make yourself comfortable in your new home in Australia. We’ve put together a list of everything you need when setting up a new house.
How can I decorate my house on a budget?
There are a range of little ways you can decorate your new space in Australia that will make you feel more at home.
- Learn how to decorate your home on a budget
- Check out 10 ways to make your student accommodation feel like home
Can I buy a house in Australia?
Under the Foreign Investment Review Board regulations, temporary residents in Australia, including international students, can only buy one established dwelling and it must be to live in.
- Look over our step-by-step guide to buying a house in Australia as an international student for more information
- Read through these important things to consider when buying a house in Australia
What are my rental rights in Australia?
As an international student in Australia, you have the exact same rights as a local resident. If you decide to live in a private rental during your time in Australia, it pays to know your rights as a renter so you can protect yourself against potential issues and disputes.
- Read through 7 tips for protecting yourself while renting in Australia
- Understand the risk of exploitation in the rental market and where to find help
- Familiarise yourself with common rental scams so you can keep yourself safe
Where can I find emergency housing during COVID-19?
You can find a range of emergency accommodation support on our COVID-19 Student Support Directory.
The Australian Homestay Network (AHN) has just launched a new, Australia-wide program called the International Student Support Network (ISSN) to help vulnerable international students access accommodation during this time. You can read more about this service here.
Key Contacts
For more information on your rental rights, visit the following websites:
- VIC – Consumer Affairs Victoria
- NSW – NSW Fair Trading and Tenants Advice & Advocacy Services NSW
- QLD – Tenants Queensland and Residential Tenancies Authority
- WA – WA Department of Commerce and Tenancy WA
- SA – Consumer and Business Services (CBS) and Tenants Information and Advisory Service
- TAS – The Tenants’ Union of Tasmania and Consumer Affairs and Trading
- NT – Tenants’ Advice Service and Consumer Affairs Northern Territory
- ACT – Tenants’ Advice Service
Your state or territory study body are also a good source for information about international student accommodation in Australia: