Australia is one of the most popular destinations for international students.
There are a large number of international students enrolling in Australian colleges and universities every year and most of the student’s primary concern is with finding the accommodation.
Australia offers various types of options for students for their accommodation such as on-campus housing, homestay, private rentals, shared apartments, hostels etc.
You will need to do a lot of research before organizing your accommodation. And keep in mind a lot of things before choosing right accommodation option for you. Some major things you need to keep in mind include:
- Distance: If you’re staying on-campus, you don’t have to bother about the distance. But if you’re planning to stay off-campus you should keep in mind the time it takes to commute. Thus, living close to campus should be convenient and will save you time.
- Affordability: Before deciding the accommodation options you need to figure out how much you can spend on your rent. You need to calculate your budget considering your food, bills, travel, leisure activities etc.
- Living Single or Shared: Some people like to stay solo and some prefer sharing the space. It’s your choice how you would like to stay. You can either share a flat, share a room or live solo. But you need to keep in mind that being a student you might have some financial restrictions and sharing your living space with another person might save you some bucks and you will always be with a company.
Accommodation options in Australia for international students:
There are many options for you and every option has its own pros and cons.
Homestay:
Homestay is an accommodation option where an international student like you will be hosted by an Australian family as a family member.
Homestay will be a great chance for you to learn about the Australian culture and have a true Australian experience. You will be staying safely with a family. You will get a furnished room and your meals will be included as per your arranged package.
You can also enhance your language and communication skills with the family’s help. If you are an under 18 student then according to the rule it is a must for you to arrange your accommodation in a homestay until you turn 18.
Cost of Living:
The cost depends upon the homestay options and package you choose. Either it is a single bedroom, twin bedroom, how many meals included etc. will vary your price. On an average you should be ready to pay between AUD 250 to AUD 350 per week.
You can visit https://www.homestaynetwork.org/ for more information about homestay in Australia.
On-Campus Accommodation:
In Australia, most of the students prefer to live off-campus.
Thus, only few universities provide the on-campus living options and you should contact the university for the available option before coming to Australia. Because the options are limited, you should apply early.
You will usually be getting a furnished room with shared cooking. The major benefit of living on-campus is that you will be saving your commute time as you will be studying and living in the same place and you will always have friends to discuss academic and non-academic matters. There will also be recreational facilities and gyms.
Cost of Living:
The cost for staying on-campus usually costs between AUD 100 to AUD 200 per week. You need to contact your university for more information and available facilities.
Private Rental Property:
This is a very popular accommodation option for international students in Australia. Most of the students choose to stay in a private rented apartment on their own or sharing with friends.
Though it may cost a little more at the beginning to set up the apartment but if shared with a friend you will eventually benefit in the longer run.
The apartments are usually unfurnished and you will need to buy the essentials yourself. You will also need to pay some bond initially which is refundable while you leave the apartment and amounts will be deducted from the bond to cover if any damages are done.
Cost of Living:
The cost of staying depends on the type of apartment you choose. You will need to pay between AUD 200 to AUD 400 per week and if shared with a friend it may be as low as AUD 90 and above per week.
Hotels:
Staying in a hotel might be a temporary option for you. You can choose to stay in a hotel after you arrive in Australia and if you are undecided about your accommodation options. You can book a hotel for a short time and can see firsthand the available accommodation options such as a homestay, on-campus etc. and decide where to stay further during your studies.
Cost of Living: The cost will depend on which type of hotels you choose. The cost may range from AUD 50 to AUD 200 per night. Thus, hotel should be your temporary option if you want to save the cost.
Managed Student Accommodations:
The managed student accommodations are the private buildings which are entirely dedicated to students where 100-500 students live.
These facilities offer various facilities such as fully furnished rooms, 24 hours security, cinema rooms, gyms, playing areas etc. You will also have options of single room, twin room or shared room with 3-4 others.
Cost of Living: The cost varies upon the providers. You may expect the price to be between AUD 200 to AUD 400 per week.
Some of the popular student managed Apartments are Unilodge and Urbanest.
There are also other available accommodation options for international students, but the ones listed above are some of the popular options.
Each type of accommodation has their pros and cons, and we cannot point out which one is the best. You will need to consider many things such as cost, facilities, distance, safety etc. before choosing the best option for yourself.
You can also take suggestions from your student advisors in the university, ask your seniors and friends who are already in Australia and choose the one that best fits your needs.
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