Accommodation & Airport Pickup
We could organize your Airport pickup and Accommodation before you leave home. You do not need to put the pieces together yourself – we can organise the pickup and accommodation all with one simple booking and payment. Our providers transport and accommodate thousands of students every year!
Airport Pickup
Arriving in a country for the first time as an international student and finding your way to get to your accommodation from the airport could be an anxious task but you do not need to be worried about it. We can help you by booking your airport pickup. This service will pick you up form the airport and drop you to your accommodation. You can book this service before you leave your comfort zone.
Accommodation
Arriving in a country for the first time as an international student and choosing where to live could be an anxious task but we could take this stress away from you. We can help you by booking your short-term accommodation while you are in your home country. Therefore, you can have peace of mind that you have a suitable place to stay when you arrive. By doing so, you can take time to explore your city, University, and surrounding areas before finalizing your choice of accommodation and the area you may love to live in.
Types of accommodations to choose from:
Homestays
If you’re moving to Australia to study as an international student, you could consider trying a homestay to help you settle in or give you a feel for a new city. Homestays match up students with an individual or family host in Australia – who hopefully live close their chosen university.
Homestays are a particularly good option for international students who have never visited Australia before and want a bit of help adapting to the lifestyle, learning about the culture and improving their English language skills.
Pros:
- it can be relatively affordable
- you’ll receive support (and maybe even home-cooked meals) from your host
- it will help you adapting Australian lifestyle
- A good way to improve your English (and maybe learn some Aussie slang)
- Living in a family can help you feel less homesick
- You have someone to guide and support you as you settle in.
- you may feel safer living with a host family.
Cons:
- you may not have independence or your own space
- your host may not live close to your university
- you might not get the full university experience (as you would living with other students or on-campus).
Homestays provide more than a place to sleep and eat; this will essentially be your home away from home, and your host may even become your second family – one that you keep in touch with for the rest of your life! With this option, you’ll pay your host to provide accommodation and support for a certain amount of time. Some homestay providers may even include meals and internet in the fees, help you with the application, or offer phone and ongoing support.
Tips: Make sure you’re respectful of your host by finding out what’s expected of you and abiding by the house rules. If you have different living or cultural customs, make sure you let your host know so they can understand why you might do things a particular way.
Your host can help you have a great experience, but only if you help them, too – consider teaching them some words or phrases in your language so you can communicate more easily.
Also, try and become friends with other students and go to university events; this will make your experience much more memorable.
Living in a hostel
Student accommodation can be relatively expensive in Australia, which is why hostel living is a popular option – especially for interstate and international students.
Not only is hostel living a cheaper way to have a roof over your head, but it’s also a great way to make friends from all different cultures and connect to other like-minded people who are in similar situations.
Pros:
- it’s one of the cheaper student accommodation options
- some hostels may even let you help out in some way to get free accommodation
- it’s easy to connect with people from different backgrounds and make new friends
- it’s always a fun time with plenty of social events
- you’ll have the independence to do your own thing
- hostels typically have a central location.
Cons:
- you’ll have less privacy
- you might not get quiet time to study (it may get quite loud)
- you’ll have to share a bedroom, bathroom and even cutlery
- there may be limited staff for support
- there may be curfews (depending on the hostel).
While the social aspect is a compelling reason to choose this option, it has its drawbacks.
If you prefer having your own space and privacy, living in a hostel may not be the right choice, as rooms and facilities are usually shared (which is why it’s a cheaper accommodation option).
Also, you’ll probably have to live with people you don’t know; this can be a problem for some, but, if it isn’t, then you could be right at home in a hostel.
Tips: If you’re living in a hostel as a student, make sure you always lock up your valuables; you don’t want to lose your laptop with the assignment you’ve been working on for weeks!
Also, if possible, learn some basic phrases in other languages to communicate with international guests (or download a translator app) – this will make it a much more enjoyable experience for everyone.
Living on campus (halls of residence)
Also known as halls of residence, some universities and colleges offer this accommodation option to allow students to live on campus (or somewhere nearby).
Living on campus is a convenient option for those who want to immerse themselves in the full experience and culture of college – and those who don’t want to be late to class after a night of studying (or partying).
However, because these residences may be owned by the institution (or connected to them in some way), availability may be limited and you’ll have to get in early to secure your room!
Universities enforce stringent guidelines to ensure a safe environment. Getting to class is convenient and simple. Socializing with other students is easy. You will get the full experience of a university or college. Involvement in co-curricular activities i.e. sports teams, student clubs) is simple. You can also use university facilities (e.g. gym, swimming pool) and reduce the cost of petrol/parking/public transport.
Pros:
- Universities enforce stringent guidelines to ensure a safe environment.
- Socialize and study with co-students. Enjoy the full experience of a university or college.
- Save money on transportation
- Involvement in co-curricular activities i.e. sports teams, student clubs) is simple and convenient.
- it’s easy to get involved in co-curricular activities (i.e. sporting teams, student clubs)
- You can also use university facilities (e.g. gym, swimming pool)
- Support staff are available if need help or are unsure about anything
- You live in a safe, secure environment.
Cons:
- it could be very costly (paying for convenience)
- you may have less privacy
- it could be distracting trying to keep up with social events
- there may be a lot of rules regarding partying, noise levels, guests, and usage of shared spaces and equipment/appliances.
Your college or university might offer studio-style apartments, which will give you more privacy and a private bathroom or kitchen or will have the option to rent out a bedroom (with a shared bathroom).
You’ll also be able to cook your meals in a common kitchen or be provided with daily cooked meals (depending on the university and accommodation arrangement).
Accommodation pricing may differ significantly between universities – especially rural universities compared to universities in metropolitan cities (see Estimated costs of student accommodation in Australia). Your accommodation fee will usually include your expenses for utilities (i.e. electricity, gas and water), amenities (library, gym, sport and recreational facilities) and possibly your internet access/usage (this may cost extra). Fees for room cleaning services may or may not be included.
Tips: If you’re struggling with fees, try and get assistance or apply for a scholarship or bursary to help with the costs of student accommodation. Also, if you get a place within the halls of residence, make sure you take advantage of your living situation; use the university’s gym or swimming pool, and get involved in university life – this is (typically) a once-in-a-lifetime experience and you’ve got a front-row ticket!
Living in shared student accommodation (offsite)
If you need to cut back on some costs while you’re studying and don’t mind sharing spaces and living with other students, then this could be the right choice for you!
Pros:
- it often has fewer rules than living on campus
- you can live independently in self-contained accommodation
- you’ll have the support of other students in the building
- the building will have recreational and social events for residents;
- it helps build life skills
- it’s good value for money
- you’ll have access to specialised student amenities to help with studying, as well as access to shared living spaces
- it’s usually in a central location – close to a university or public transport.
Cons:
- you might not get the full college experience (compared to living on campus)
- it takes longer to get to class than if you lived on campus
- it may be harder to get involved in college life
- you’ll have to organise your meals (and possibly learn to cook)
- you may still have to budget for transport costs.
Companies like Urbanest and Atira (among others) own specialised buildings in different locations around some of Australia’s capital cities. These buildings aren’t affiliated with particular universities but offer tailored student accommodation.
So, how exactly is shared student accommodation tailored to students?
1. These buildings are specially designed and operated for students to get the most out of, often including quiet areas and study spaces decked out with computers.
2. The buildings create a safe and social environment to live in, such as a communal kitchen and dining and recreational hubs (i.e. gym, terrace, cinema room), and security and support from management.
3. Specialised student accommodation is usually conveniently located close to universities (or public transport access) in a centralised location.
4. Expenses can be more predictable, as rent may often cover utilities like water and electricity, as well as sometimes including contents insurance and internet expenses.
5. It’s full of other students; this means you can easily make friends and have a good social support network while you’re navigating your course.
Tips: Shared student accommodation buildings may have certain rules and restrictions – make sure you’re fully aware of these before you sign up to live there.
Also, make sure you’re respectful of other people’s belongings, space and food – you don’t want to be in the bad books of someone you have to live with or see every day around the building!
Renting private accommodation (off campus)
Sometimes you need your own space to do your own thing, but that can come with a bit of a price tag and a long-term commitment. Renting out your property can be a suitable option for some students, especially if you able to cover rent because private rentals can be expensive.
Pros:
- you can live independently and have more freedom
- you’ll have your own space with fewer rules
- there are more accommodation options to choose from
- you’ll learn how to be responsible.
Cons:
- it may cost more than other options
- it’s a more significant commitment
- you’ll have extra responsibilities
Staying with friends or relatives
The reality is when you are studying at university, you might not be able to spend a decent amount of money for your accommodation also could be homesick. If this is the case, you can share accommodation with your relatives or friends. This could help you financially and emotionally also give you security by living with friends or relatives.
Pros:
- it’s generally cheaper than other accommodation options and can help you save money (even if you have to pay some board)
- you get to enjoy the perks of living at home (i.e. home-cooked meals) and the support of friends/relatives
- you may have your own quiet space to study (which you might not get in shared accommodation).
- Emotional support form close friends/relatives
Cons:
- you may have less freedom to do your own thing than you would if you were to rent your place
- it may not be as convenient if your friends or relatives don’t live close to your university
- if you’re living a distance from your university, you may have to budget for transport costs and take into account transport times to and from home
- it may be harder to get involved in social activities at university, and you could feel neglected from social groups.
However, you might not have the freedom of your place or the convenience of living on campus, staying at home can be one of the cheaper accommodations options and can make things a bit less stressful money-wise.
Tips: Don’t spread your classes out over the week; try and fit your classes all in one or two days, because you’ll want to stay home if you have to make the trek to university just for one lecture.
Also, make sure you create a dedicated study area (possibly outside of your bedroom) where you can concentrate on your work without any distractions.
