When you’ve decided on “where you will study”, the next big question you must answer is “where are you going to stay?” For those enrolling into the University of Melbourne, accommodation is a major issue, especially if it doesn’t offer accommodation or the rooms are already filled.
In such cases, you must find accommodation near the university at the earliest. This guide will help you in finding the perfect student housing services like Iglu which is indeed an excellent option.
Accommodation at the University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a large standalone university comprising many institutes and residential colleges. More than 50,000 students enrol and study at the university at any given point in time, out of which 13,000 are international students.
There are 11 residential colleges that provide end-to-end accommodation for students, including housing, food, recreation facilities, gymnasium, etc. Therefore, if you’re going to study at one of the University of Melbourne’s residential colleges, you will easily get accommodation within the campus.
For other scholars, university accommodation is the best place to stay. Premises like Little Hall, The Lofts, and Lisa Bellear House provide world-class accommodation for students. But for some reason, if you couldn’t or don’t want to stay within the campus, you have other options.
Select the Right Location
The main factor, of course, is the location. Remember you need to commute to the university almost daily. Although Melbourne has an above-average public transport facility, you wouldn’t necessarily want to spend too much time traveling. Therefore, you need to stay as close to the campus as possible.
But it’s easier said than done. The University of Melbourne is in the inner-city, which has one of the country’s highest population density — almost 19,500 people per sq km. Therefore, part of the city remains packed. To get affordable accommodation, you can try the following options:
Private Accommodation Services
You may look for a student accommodation provider that maintains a chain of spacious and fully-furnished properties located near top Australian universities. In Melbourne, providers like Iglu maintain a 594-bedded facility close to the University of Melbourne. You can avail of accommodation at multi-shared, one-bedroom apartments on a weekly basis.
The best part about the off-campus residence is flexibility. You also get student-centric facilities like the internet, courtyards, on-site laundries, etc. You may even choose accommodations in South Yarra, which is around 3 km from the University of Melbourne. So this type of accommodation is perhaps your best option if you were unable to find on-campus accommodation.
Private Rentals
Many property owners around the University of Melbourne Parkville campus willingly lease out to students. You can find accommodations in hostels and share houses for a nominal fee.
As opposed to services like Iglu, the properties and amenities are not homogenous. At once accommodation, you might not have laundry facilities, while in another, cooking might be restricted. So you’ll have to research and inspect before selecting a private rental facility.
Homestays
The final type of accommodation for students around the University of Melbourne is homestays. Here you’ll essentially be living with a local family as a paying guest. This is a wonderful way to experience the local Australian day-to-day life and keep pace with it. As an advantage, the pricing is also going to be on the cheaper side. On the flip side, since you’ll be living with a family, you should expect some level of restrictions as to what you can and cannot do.
There are multiple providers like Homestay Australia and Homestay Network that connect you to homestays around the University of Melbourne campus.
When selecting accommodation, you should always read the agreement. This legally preserves your rights as a tenant. In case of a dispute, it’s the first thing that’ll be looked at.