There are various accommodation options to choose from. Some accommodation is on the university campus, including private and university-owned colleges and apartments. Other accommodation is nearby, including private student accommodation and private rentals / share houses.

College and campus accommodation

Most universities have colleges and on-campus apartments available for rent by students. Some of these are owned and run by the university, and others may be run by private providers.

These types of accommodation can be expensive and unaffordable for many students. Universities generally offer a number of college scholarships to students who have relocated from regional and rural areas. Students receiving ABSTUDY who move away from home also have access to the Residential Cost Option to cover their college/accommodation fees.

You can find information about college accommodation scholarships directly on your university website, if your university offers them.

Private student accommodation 

There are a number of private student accommodation providers available in major cities and most university towns. The following list are examples of companies that provide accommodation to students either on-campus or within walking distance of universities:

• UniLodge
• Urbanest 
• Student.com
• Campus Living Villages 
• Iglu

Renting a room or apartment 

If you have family who will be moving with you, would like to save some money or live alone, then a private rental might be best for you.

Living alone in a studio or one-bedroom apartment can be expensive, while living in a share house with others is much more affordable.

You can find available properties near your university on:

• rental websites like domain and realestate.com.au,
• share housing websites such as flatmates.com.au, and 
• Facebook Marketplace and rental groups (try searching the name of your university + rental/share housing/accommodation)

Accommodation and relocation scholarships 

Accommodation and relocation scholarships are available to students that have relocated to study and who do not have the financial means to access affordable housing. You can find information about accommodation and relocation scholarships here.

Abstudy and other government assistance 

ABSTUDY Living Allowance is available to First Nations students to help with the costs of living whilst studying. If you receive ABSTUDY, you may be eligible to receive other payments, such as:

• Residential costs,
• Rent assistance,
• A Student Startup Loan,
• A Relocation Scholarship, and/or
• A Remote Area Allowance. 

The Residential Costs Option (RCO) is available to First Nations students who need to live away from home to study. With RCO, Centrelink will pay your residential college or accommodation fees directly to your accommodation provider. They will also pay you a reduced fortnightly allowance.

If you are from regional or remote Australia, you may also be eligible for the Tertiary Access Payment, which is a one-off payment of $5,000 paid in two instalments to help students with the costs of relocating. Receiving this payment will make you ineligible for the Residential Cost Option that year.

You can find more information about the ABSTUDY on our website or by visiting the Services Australia website. 

1. Don’t leave finding accomodation to the last minute.
2. Ask for advice. Don’t be afraid to ask your university for accomodation advice, or get in contact with us!
3. Get online! There are many websites out there to help you find local share houses.
4. Carefully read your lease contract & know your rights! You can find a range of tenant fact sheets available at Tenants NSW.
5. Check your inventory or condition report. 
6. Look out for cheaper alternative for household items in second-hand shops or online!