Arrangements to suit your accommodation needs

As an international student, you have a number of different accommodation options.

Homestay

'Homestay' is when you live with an Australian family in their home. The homestay family provides you with meals, laundry facilities and your own room with a study desk. You will usually be asked to share some household chores. Homestay also gives you the chance to practice your English every day at home.

Homestay accommodation for students under 18 years of age includes guardianship arrangements.

Hostel accommodation

Hostels provide a friendly, safe, supervised environment. You get your own room or a shared room with communal facilities such as dining room, games room and television room. Many hostels also provide meals.

Sharing a house or apartment

Sharing a house or apartment gives you more independence than homestay or hostel accommodation. However, you will need to provide your own furniture (if the house/apartment is unfurnished) and linen. You share the cost of rent, telephone, electricity and gas. You need to buy your own food and do your own laundry and cooking (although many sharing arrangements include sharing the cooking).

Renting by yourself

Studio or one-bedroom apartments are smaller and less expensive to rent than larger apartments. You'll need to provide your own furniture (if the house/apartment is unfurnished), pillows, sheets and blankets and pay for expenses such as electricity, gas, and telephone. You'll also need to clean your apartment, do your own laundry, buy your own food and do your own cooking. Costs depend on the size and location of the apartment or house.

For more information, please visit the accommodation page on DET International website »

Finding accommodation

As an international student, there are a number of places to look for advertisements for accommodation:

• Student noticeboards around colleges

• Newspaper classifieds

• Websites such as domain.com.au, realestate.com.au justlisted.com.au realestateview.com.au

• Real estate windows and websites

UWS Village

One local accommodation option is UWS Village at Parramatta. For information, please click here »

Public transport

131500 Transport Info Trip Planner

If you wish to use the Trip Planner, please visit the 131500 Transport Info website.