International Housing: 6 Tips Every International Student Should Consider

We aren’t surprised that you have chosen Australia for your higher education. This country attracts thousands of students from all over the world every year. One reason behind this phenomenon is that Australian universities and colleges celebrate diversity and provide high educational standards.

Your first step after securing admission in an Australian university- would be to search for accommodation. Thankfully, you will be spoilt for choice. Big cities like Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, etc. have plenty of accommodation choices for you to pick from. However, we’d like you to exercise some discretion while choosing your housing.

Please read this article before selecting and moving into your apartment.

1. Lifestyle and budget

Every student has a unique lifestyle, and so do you. Likewise, you would have a fixed budget to operate within. Australia is not an inexpensive country, so you would have first to figure out your budget. Now that you are sure about your lifestyle and budget, it is time to choose your accommodation. Some choices are:

• University run hostels or halls
• Accommodation tailormade for students
• Homestays with families
• Residential colleges
• Serviced apartments
• Hostels
• Rental properties

Your choice would also depend upon your length of stay, and whether any of your friends or classmates would accompany you, you may even find unlikely roomies in them.

2. Managing expectations

Probably, you are arriving in Australia for the first time, and you don’t have much knowledge of the city or the renting and cultural issues. It would be great to first enquire about them and then make any decision regarding your final accommodation for the longer haul. If you are planning to take a homestay, you need to be aware of their cultural virtues.

You would face many difficulties in the beginning, if you haven’t cleared out some questions. For example, some hostels and serviced apartments expect you to pay rent in advance or take cleaning-related charges exclusively. Manage your expectations before booking your accommodation and minimize your hassles. Just in case you are planning to go online for a quick inspection, visit website.

3. Start early

While Australia is a great place to live and study, many first-time students find it difficult adapting to their new environment. You can avoid this situation by getting here a few days in advance. We’d advise you to arrive at least a couple of weeks before your course starts. Know how things work, what are the various cultural issues, where is the nearest bank or post office, etc.

4. Length of stay

As said earlier, your length of stay should decide on your accommodation. Most Purpose Built Stay Accommodation houses and on-campus hostels require students to sign a long-term lease. As a first-time Australia traveler, you may not want to get into a long term commitment. So here is what you can do. Come to Australia a couple of weeks before your course starts, and book yourself a homestay. See how this arrangement works, and if you are ok, continue with it.

5. Stay away from illegal providers

We understand the need to stick to your given budget. You are coming from a different country and are anxious to save every dollar. But don’t do this at the cost of your well-being. Many illegal accommodation providers in Australia will promise you the moon but deliver very little. Often they will give you accommodation in crowded places; these properties will be dirt cheap but come with a load of financial difficulties later on.

6. Stay safe

Please take up accommodation that is safe and secure. Your apartment should have CCTVs, guards, and other security measures already checked in place.