Australian university students face rental challenges, with the national rental vacancy rate at a record low of 0.8 per cent.
Applications should be submitted in a timely manner, taking into account additional costs, fees, inclusions and contract terms. Queues have started to form for some popular properties. Students are encouraged to contact their university for assistance, especially if emergency housing is required.
Sydney
Students moving to Sydney face sky-high rents, with Domain data showing that a typical flat rents A$680 per week, with higher rents in inner-city areas close to universities.
University of Technology Sydney (UTS)
On Campus: UTS students have one on-campus option: Yura Mudang. Students can choose between rooms in shared flats or studio flats; all options are self-catering. Prices for next year range from A$342 per room in a shared six-bedroom flat to A$458 for a large studio flat. Utilities are included.
Off-campus: Sydney’s city centre has a growing number of purpose-built student residences, often offering fully furnished rooms and access to communal areas. And sometimes a gym and other facilities.
Properties in Scape range from A$299 for a double room in Ultimo to A$900 for a large studio flat in Darlington. A$599 per person for a twin room in a fully furnished hotel in Haymarket.
Costs in the private rental market are usually lower. Rooms in existing shared houses in similar suburbs start at A$200 but often cost upwards of A$300.
Those wanting somewhere to live on their own might consider Glebe (median unit rent A$650 per week), Newtown ($550), Stanmore ($545) and Enmore ($500), which have some of the lowest unit rents in the region. Still, at these price points, students will be limited primarily to studios or one-bedroom flats. Rents for two-bedroom units range from A$600 to A$800 or higher if newer.
Redfern ($700) and Camperdown ($695) have higher medians but can stretch to some two-bedroom flats, while those wanting to share or sublet with friends can find two- or three-bedroom terraces in Newtown ($850), Glebe ($995), Camperdown ($920) and Redfern ($950).
University of Sydney
On Campus: The University of Sydney manages four self-catering halls of residence on campus. Prices range from A$292 for a bedroom in a shared flat to A$477 per week for a studio flat.
Accommodation colleges include seven undergraduate colleges and two additional postgraduate colleges. Rents are higher but cover full catering, utilities and services such as counselling and cleaning. Additional fees may apply.
Off-campus: see above. Students at the University of Technology Sydney and the University of Sydney have similar off-campus accommodation options.
University of New South Wales (UNSW)
On-campus: students can choose from seven colleges and four apartment buildings owned and operated by the University of New South Wales. As well as five independently affiliated colleges and two apartment buildings – some of which are just a few steps away from campus.
University-owned accommodation ranges from A$325 per room for a five-bedroom flat to A$624 for a large studio flat. Catering options start at A$391 for a single room with a shared bathroom and A$480 for a single room in an affiliated college.
Off-campus: The median rent for flats in Kensington is A$690 per week for a one-bedroom flat, while the median rent for detached houses is A$1,200 for a three- or four-bedroom home. Neighbouring Kingsford is even cheaper, with a median price of A$1,050 for a detached house and A$640 for a flat. And is connected by light rail and bus. Rooms in existing shared flats usually start at around A$350.
For furnished options, students can consider shared accommodation provider UKO, which owns a property in Kensington, with prices starting from AED 680 for a studio flat (including bills). Alternatively, the University is approximately 16 minutes from Central Station by light rail for those considering city centre accommodation.
Macquarie University
On Campus: Students can choose from Central Courtyard Accommodation (Central Courtyard Accommodation), the only property managed and operated by the University, or three non-University-owned colleges offering self-catering or packaged meals.
Prices at Central Courtyard Accommodation are A$236 per person for a twin room and A$551 for a one-bedroom flat. But these will be sold out by 2024. Prices at the College range from A$410 for a room with a shared bathroom to A$410 for a room with a shared bathroom. A private room with an en-suite bathroom and full catering is over A$710.
Off-campus: Macquarie University students can find older two-bedroom flats in Macquarie Park for a median unit price of A$670, while rents in nearby North Ryde and Epping are slightly cheaper at a median of A$650.
Nearby options also include Student Village North Ryde, where prices for five-bedroom flats start from A$365 per week.
Melbourne
In Melbourne, some top universities are located within five kilometres of the CBD, while others are in the central suburbs. Across the city, students looking for accommodation have various options, from on-campus residence halls (which can cost more than A$20,000 per year) to private rentals in the suburbs.
Some of the cheapest rentals close to campus include student-only flats in the city centre, which can cost as little as A$217 per week, while in northern suburbs such as Reservoir, students can find private flats for an average rent of A$395 per room per week.
As in other capital cities, students can also opt for shared accommodation to keep rental costs down.
The University of Melbourne
On Campus: According to the University of Melbourne’s website, the university’s Parkville campus has several historic residential colleges that cost between A$25,000 and A$31,000 per year. But this includes three meals daily, all utilities and Wi-Fi costs.
Off-campus: There are a number of private rental flat blocks catering directly to university students, including UniLodge, where rents may vary depending on size.
Shared houses are another option that can keep costs down. The median rent for a detached house in Parkville is A$800 per week, and the median rent for a flat is A$465 per week.
Brunswick (median rent of A$650 per week for a detached house and A$450 per week for a flat) and Carlton (median rent of A$683 per week for a detached house and A$480 per week for a flat) are also popular with students.
Further afield suburbs are also a viable and cheaper option, such as Coburg (A$600 for a detached house, A$429 for a flat) or Preston (A$550 for a detached house, A$430 for a flat), but the commute is more extended.
These suburbs are also open to RMIT students whose main campus is in Melbourne’s CBD.
RMIT
On campus: RMIT offers accommodation through Walert House on its Bundoora campus. This is the only university-owned student accommodation facility and is operated by UniLodge.
However, RMIT’s main base is in the city centre, and UniLodge also offers flats nearby—A$ 217 for a four-bedroom unit and A$348 for a studio flat.
Off-campus: Students can rent accommodations in suburbs similar to those at the University of Melbourne (see above). The main campus is opposite Melbourne Central railway station, which also puts the suburbs of south, east or west Melbourne within commuting distance.
Monash University
On Campus: Monash University’s main campus in Clayton is home to Deakin Hall, Farrar Hall, Howitt Hall, Richardson Hall, Roberts Hall, Normanby House, and dormitory buildings. Such as Roberts Hall, Normanby House and Roberts Hall. It also offers 30 fully furnished shared flats. The Monash Clayton Urban Community also has six residential buildings consisting of self-contained studio flats. According to the Monash University website, the cost of each flat ranges from A$13,230 to A$18,245 for a 42-week rental.
Off-campus: Suburbs near the University offer private rental and shared house options. Clayton’s median weekly rent is $550 for a detached house and $450 for a flat. Oakleigh (A$605 for a detached house, $480 for a flat), Mulgrave (A$560 for a detached house, $450 for a flat) and Notting Hill (A$510 for a detached house, $420 for a flat) are also options.
Monash also assists students in securing private rental accommodation, with preference given to accommodation providers such as UniLodge and Iglu. Students can check out Monash University’s guide to renting off-campus accommodation.
Deakin University
On Campus: Deakin University’s Burwood campus has 1300 beds (each furnished bed). Costs range from A$264 to A$345 per week, including utilities and Wi-Fi. Catering is not included.
Lease options are available for two semesters or a full year. Deakin also works with student accommodation providers and advertises these providers’ listings within the University.
The University provides emergency housing if required, and a 24/7 Accommodation Service telephone or email contact to answer enquiries and offer advice.
Off-campus: There are good rental accommodation options in the nearby suburbs. However, some students who attend university for one or two days a week choose to live in Melbourne’s CBD.
Some choose suburbs like Burwood (median weekly rent of A$630 for a detached house and A$390 for a flat), Box Hill (weekly rent of A$560 for a detached house and A$500 for a flat) and Hawthorn (weekly rent of A$750 for a detached house and A$450 for a flat).
La Trobe University
On Campus: La Trobe University’s Melbourne campus in Bundoora has residential colleges, including Glen, Chisholm and Menzies, with fees ranging from A$220 to A$360 per week next year. Meals are available at an additional cost. There are also residential flat blocks for 624 students at a cost of A$295 to A$360 per week.
Off-campus: Bundoora rents for A$490 per week for a house and A$400 per week for a flat; Greensborough (A$520 per week for a home and A$423 per week for a flat), Heidelberg (A$555 per week for a house and A$450 per week for a flat), Heidelberg West (A$430 per week for a house), Heidelberg Heights (A$500 per week for a detached house, A$420 per week for a flat), and even Preston and Reservoir. Popular with La Trobe students.
Brisbane
Brisbane‘s asking rents for houses and flats are at record highs: $590 and $550 per week, respectively. It’s now one of the more expensive capital cities to rent in, with a vacancy rate of 0.7 per cent, which is extremely tight. This creates an extra challenge for students looking to save cash by moving into a shared house or flat during their studies, which could make on-campus accommodation even more attractive.
Brisbane’s universities are located throughout the city – in the CBD, South Bank, Kelvin Grove, Saint Lucia and Mount Gravatt – so off-campus renters can look for suburbs within commuting distance but still offer affordable accommodation.
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The University of Queensland (UQ)
On Campus: UQ students have a variety of on-campus accommodation options. There are 10 to choose from, with prices ranging from A$380 to A$720 per week. Food is usually included, but bathrooms tend to be dormitory style unless otherwise stated.
There are plenty of private rental options close to campus, and the nearby suburbs are full of student-centred accommodations and rentals. St Lucia has many houses available for rent. However, many are expensive and often furnished due to their proximity to the university. The median weekly rent for a flat is A$538, and for a detached house, it is A$695. You must pay a little more if you plan to set up a house share.
Off-campus: Conveniently located suburbs nearby include Toowong (AED 700 for a detached house, AED 570 for a flat), Auchenflower (AED 710 for a detached house, AED 480 for a flat) and Indooroopilly (AED 700 for a detached house, AED 573 for a flat). The Eleanor Schonell Bridge is only open to bicycles, pedestrians and buses. Still, it provides an easy way to cross the Brisbane River, which leads to the suburbs of Highgate Hill (detached house A$690, flat A$470), Yeronga (detached house A$650, flat A$500) and Fairfield (detached house A$650, flat A$50). (detached house A$650, apartment A$505). However, in some of these suburbs, student-centred accommodation will be reduced.
Queensland University of Technology (QUT)
On Campus: QUT students do not have access to student-only accommodation as they do at QUT, but there is a free student shuttle bus between the Kelvin Grove and Gardens Point campuses, which is about a 15-minute journey.
This means that students attending either campus can easily access a fair selection of student accommodation (such as UniLodge or Iglu) in the Brisbane CBD, Southbank and Kelvin Grove. Some of the accommodations in Kelvingrove could be considered ‘on campus’, but they are not universities.
The cheapest option is A$219 per week, but expect to pay around A$300 to A$450 per week. These flats are studios or bedrooms in larger units with shared and communal facilities. QUT provides students with a directory to find available rooms.
Off-campus: The central location of the campus and free shuttle buses mean that the private rental market in many suburbs offers viable options. Consider any suburb that is within easy reach of QUT – Kelvingrove (AUD$630 for a detached house, AUD$520 for a flat), Redhill (AUD$715 for a detached house, AUD$450 for a flat), and Heston (AUD$630 for a detached house, AUD$485 for a flat) may be suitable options. Suburbs along any train line are also good options.
Griffith University
On Campus: Griffith University offers on-campus accommodation at the Nathan Campus. Expect to pay between A$171 and A$179 per week to live in a four to eight-bedroom flat in most buildings and share common areas and facilities with other residents. More traditional dormitory-style housing is also available, although it is somewhat more modest than providers such as Scape or Iglu.
Off-campus: the university recommends suburbs for students looking for privately rented accommodation. The cheapest on the Nathan campus are Salisbury (AED 553 for a detached house, AED 370 for a flat), Coopers Plains (AED 525 for a detached house, AED 430 for a flat) and Macgregor (AED 650 for a detached house, AED 520 for a flat). For Mount Gravatt, it’s Holland Park West (AED 635 for a detached home, AED 475 for a unit), Holland Park (AED 650 for a detached house, AED 490 for a unit) and of course.
Perth
An abundance of beaches and the Swan River foreshore make Perth attractive for international and domestic students.
Prices for on-campus accommodation range from less than A$200 to over A$600, with most offering furnished and communal facilities. At the same time, some of the more expensive options include an entire board, cleaning services and club memberships.
University of Western Australia (UWA)
The oldest university is the University of Western Australia (UWA), located in the leafy suburb of Crawley. Several bus routes serve UWA, a 10-minute drive from the city centre. Its central location also makes it easily accessible by bike from the city centre suburbs.
On Campus: The University of Western Australia has five colleges in College Row, all located in Crawley. These colleges are also open to students from other universities.
St George’s College, the oldest residential college in WA, is housed in historic buildings opposite The University of Western Australia (between the Swan River and Kings Park) and has a capacity of 270 students. The college charges A$671 per week, which includes the entire board and facilities (even snacks), fees, weekly room cleaning, subsidised gym membership, club membership and prom tickets.
Off-campus: median unit rents in Crawley and neighbouring Nederland are A$450 and A$505 per week, respectively, while detached houses rent for A$698 and A$885.
Consider commuting from nearby Subiaco (A$570 for a flat, A$730 for a detached house), West Perth (A$500 for a flat, A$600 for a detached house) and the CBD (A$545 for a flat, A$600 for a detached house).
Cath Hart, director of the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia, says central locations with easy access to public transport are also popular with students.
“The CBD, which includes the East Perth and West Perth areas. Offers a large amount of unit accommodation and good transport for students,” she said.
Curtin University
Curtin University’s campus is a quasi-micro-district in the southeastern suburb of Bentley, about half an hour’s drive from the city centre. The bus hub connects the campus well to the city and surrounding suburbs.
On Campus: Curtin University offers seven types of on-campus accommodation, ranging from A$240 to A$465 per week. Erica Underwood House is located across the road from campus and is priced at just over A$280, including fees. It consists of 54 furnished six-bedroom flats and can accommodate 324 students. It includes amenities, car parking and off-peak use of the gym.
Off-campus: Around Curtin University, the suburbs of Bentley, Como, East Victoria Park and South Perth are more popular. Bentley has the lowest rents at A$420 for a unit and A$480 for a detached house; South Perth has the highest rents at A$475 for a unit and A$680 for a detached house.
Murdoch University (MU)
Murdoch University sits a bit further south in a suburb of the same name. The nearest train station is just a few steps from campus. The city centre can be reached in just over half an hour, with five bus routes connecting the main hubs north and south.
On campus: Murdoch Village can accommodate up to 800 students, with facilities including a swimming pool. It offers shared or one-bedroom accommodation starting from just under A$200 per week. It is also open to students from other universities.
Off-campus: The median weekly rent in Kardinya is A$600, and the suburb is popular with MSU students.
University of Notre Dame (UNDA)
The University of Notre Dame is spread out in a cluster of buildings in the historic west end of Fremantle, about half an hour by train from the CBD.
On-campus: Port Lodge offers on-campus accommodation, but due to limited availability, they are not accepting applications for Semester 1, 2024. Students can request to be added to the waiting list. Students living on campus are entitled to a single or double room for AUD 300 per week, which includes utilities, weekly community meals, and more.
Off-campus: Fremantle is an ideal place for UNDA students to live. The median rent for flats in this suburb is A$525.
Edith Cowan University (ECU)
Edith Cowan University is situated in the trendy inner suburb of Mount Lawley and Joondalup in the north of Perth (a 40-minute train ride from the city). In 2025, the University will relocate its Mount Lawley campus to the heart of Perth’s CBD, which will also be home to the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA).
On-campus: ECU offers on-campus accommodation at the Joondalup and Mount Lawley campuses starting at A$220 and A$193 per week.
Off-campus: Joondalup is usually the preferred location for ECU students, with median rents of A$440 for flats and A$500 for houses. In Mount Lawley, rents are A$450 for a flat and A$650 for a detached house.
Canberra
The two leading universities in the capital city are the Australian National University in the inner suburb of Acton and the University of Canberra in Bruce, Belco South, in the north-west of the town.
Both universities offer guaranteed accommodation for all new students who want to stay in a student residence – on-campus accommodation is very popular with new students – and several bus routes service each.
Australian National University (ANU)
On Campus: The Australian National University offers a range of catered and self-catered student accommodation. There are 14 undergraduate halls of residence, several of which are operated by UniLodge. The other four are restricted to postgraduate students only. All new students are guaranteed a place in University Halls of Residence or other approved accommodation.
Standard rooms in Burton and Garran Hall are available at A$276 per week for next year’s accommodation, with shared bathrooms, kitchens, and communal areas. Standard rooms with shared facilities are priced from A$435 per week for catering services. High-end studio flats at Lena Karmel Lodge rent for around A$570 per week.
Off-campus: The Canberra Student Housing Co-operative offers affordable student accommodation on the city’s north side. According to the website, rooms in shared flats rent for A$180 per week. Students must also invest A$60 per month in a kitten for internet access, activities, bulk food orders, and unit improvements.
Those turning to the rental market might consider nearby suburbs such as Braddon (A$580 for a unit and A$720 for a detached house), Turner (A$550 and A$770), O’Connor (A$550 and A$700) and the city (A$630 for a unit). Median rents will cover one or two-bedroom units (depending on quality and location) or three-bedroom houses.
University of Canberra (UC)
On Campus: UC has four University-approved accommodation options. It offers guaranteed accommodation for first-year domestic and international students near the Bruce Campus.
Campus West has the lowest rates, starting from A$147 per room per week (excluding bills) for a 12-bedroom flat. Studio flats in the residential area start at approximately A$270 per week (including water). Eligibility criteria apply to these government-subsidised properties.
Off-campus: median rents for flats in Bruce and neighbouring Belconnen are A$500 and A$520, respectively. The median rents for detached houses are A$750 and A$540.
FAQ
Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth are considered the top five cities in Australia for student rentals due to their large number of educational institutions, diverse student communities, and ample opportunities for work and leisure.
You can use online platforms specializing in student accommodation, such as Unilodge or Student.com. Local real estate websites and university housing services are also helpful resources. Always ensure you visit the property before signing any agreement.
Consider factors such as proximity to your university, access to public transport, the neighbourhood’s safety, rent cost, included utilities, internet availability, and the type of accommodation – shared house, student dormitory, or private apartment.
Generally, yes. A lease agreement protects both the tenant and landlord, clearly outlining the terms and conditions of the rental. Always read your lease carefully before signing.
The cost varies depending on the city and the type of accommodation. As a general guide, weekly rents can range from AUD$150 in Adelaide to AUD$400 in Sydney for a private room in a shared house or apartment.
