Coming to a new place can be a daunting experience for a lot of us, especially when we do not know anyone in the area and unsure of what to expect.
First-time international students or those who are new in Adelaide would often ask the questions – “how to find accommodations in Adelaide?” or “where to live in Adelaide?”.
But you don’t have to worry. There are a ton of options when it comes to accommodations for international students in Adelaide, South Australia. Your choice will generally depend on your preferences, situation, needs, and most importantly your budget.
To make it easier for you to decide, we present to you the top 5 accommodations for international students in Adelaide:
Check out some handy tips here and learn how the team at Australia Study can help you in looking for a place to live in Adelaide.
Accommodations for International Students in Adelaide
Student apartments
Great for new students or those coming to Adelaide for the first time.
- Central location
- Complete facilities, fully furnished
- Complete information online about the property and units
- Easy application online
- Easy communication to the property/management for inquiries
- Expensive
Popular providers: UniLodge and Urbanest.
Read below to know more.
As the name suggests, these are apartments specifically built for students and are off-campus and mostly located in close proximity to universities and key city areas.
Unit types vary from studio, twin sharing, 2-bedroom up to a 6-bedroom apartment. Each unit is fully furnished, with private bathroom, broadband internet, fully equipped kitchen, study desk and chair, and air-conditioning.
Amenities in these apartments may include group study rooms, laundry (pay per use), TV room, wireless internet, 24-hour reception, and some may have a swimming pool, gym, basketball court, games room, etc.
Prices start from $150 and could cost as much as $399 per week per person, depending on the room arrangement or unit type. Bills (e.g. water, gas and electricity) are mostly included in this type of accommodation.
Student apartments are a great way to start building friendships amongst fellow international students. Here, you can learn and enhance your English-speaking skills as well as socializing with international students like you from around the world.
Another great option for new students or those coming to Adelaide for the first time.
- A cheaper alternative to student apartments
- Information can be found online about the property and units
- Apply online
- Basic facilities
- Facilities are shared (e.g. room sharing, toilets, kitchen)
Popular providers: Torrens Valley International Residence and Highgate Lodge.
Continue reading to know more.
Student hostels are located in the suburbs surrounding the city of Adelaide and offer a cheaper alternative to that of student apartments.
Room types can be a 1-bedroom up to a 4-bedroom apartment. Each apartment is equipped with basic features such as a single bed, wardrobe, internet access, air-conditioning/heating, fridge, study desk and chair. Some properties have units with its own bathrooms, but most have shared bathroom facilities.
This property type mostly features a large shared kitchen facility, dining hall, group study rooms, laundry facility (pay per use), and large common areas.
Prices start from $105 up to $427 per week per person with bills included.
Student hostels are a great way to meet fellow international students. Here, you can learn and enhance your English-speaking skills as well as socializing with international students like you from around the world.
Managed houses
Best accommodation option for international students looking for a home-like environment with a more flexible set up.
- Can view the property and apply online
- Shared house facilities
- Local and international students
- Individual rooms
- Well-managed houses
- Some properties allow a couple
Visit studentrooms.com.au to view properties.
Continue reading below to find out more.
Managed houses are shared houses for students and are fully maintained and managed. These are mostly located outside the city area or in the surrounding suburbs and is close to public transport.
It features a fully furnished room and house with fortnightly cleaning and gardening to keep the house and surroundings tidy. You will not only meet international students in these properties but also Australian students, making it a great way to meet new friends from different places, nationalities and backgrounds. Here, you can enhance your English skills while learning how to live like a local.
Rent ranges from $159 to $189 per week per person with most bills included.
Great for new students who come to Australia for the first time.
Find out more here: University of Adelaide; Flinders University.
Continue reading below to find out more.
The University of Adelaide and Flinders University have a purpose-built student accommodation facility for its students. Flinders University (Bedford Park Campus), in particular, is the only South Australian university with on-campus accommodation. Features of this type of accommodation are similar to that of student apartments.
Rent starts at $271 and could reach up to $272 per week per person, with bills included.
This type of accommodation houses not only international students but also local students. This is a great venue to meet and socialize with local Australian students, learn about their culture and improve English skills whilst living in a community that is safe and secure and with support for all student needs.
If you have stayed in Adelaide (or Australia) for quite some time now, you might already be considering for this option for these reasons:
- You are ready to go out there and have more independence
- You might have a partner or friends to share the apartment with
- You want a place to call your own and have some flexibility (and a bit more space!)
Check these popular sites:
We do not recommend this option for new international students in Adelaide or students who come to Australia for the first time.
Continue reading for more information.
This accommodation type is great if you want independence and are ready to take responsibility of renting an entire apartment unit, house or a townhouse. You will basically need to show a bit more documents such as identifications and payslips to prove that you are capable of paying the rent.
At most times you will be competing with other applicants in applying for a particular property. When successful, you will be signing a contract for a period of 12 months (some 6 months) and have the option to renew should you wish to stay longer.
Most of these properties do not come fully furnished so you will still need to consider the cost of buying your own furniture. You will also be responsible for paying the bills (e.g. electricity, water, gas, internet) as these usually are not included in the rental price.
However, there are other rental properties as well that offer a fully furnished unit in a shared apartment. That means you get to pay your portion of the rental price with one or two other persons (and you also get to split the bills!). Again, there is a wide variety of private rental properties to choose from.
A studio apartment could cost you at least $230 per week (rental price only) within the city area (with no parking space allocation). Meanwhile, if you are willing to spend at least $30-$40 more per week, you can already get a modest 2-bedroom apartment outside the city area where you can have more flexibility (i.e. bigger space and parking allocation).
Another popular option for accommodation for international students in Adelaide is to rent your own private room in a shared house/apartment.
You will be sharing the unit with a person who either owns the property or renting the property under his/her name.
The good point here is: You don’t have to sign a lease or contract to secure a room. Most of the time the owner will be asking for some basic information about you in order get to know the person they will be possibly sharing their house/apartment with.
Rent can start at $130 per week and could reach up to $180 per week. Bills payment may or may not be included in the rental price.
You can find ads of room vacancies in a shared house in Facebook Marketplace and gumtree.com.au, or a local newspaper.
You may also try Flatmates.com.au where you can either search for a room vacancy or find people you can team-up with to rent a property together. This website allows you to connect with people (who have the same interests as you), send messages for inquiries and set up a meeting to view the room/apartment.
However, we do not recommend these options if you are coming from interstate or if you are new in Adelaide or Australia. We would still recommend you to check the property in person.
Residential college
Residential colleges do not only offer complete and comfortable accommodations for students but also an environment that supports academic and professional development for its residents.
It is a dynamic living and learning community where you have the opportunity to engage in different activities and programs that are valuable for holistic personal learning and development. It may include pastoral care and exercise programs, academic, social and sporting events.
Rent starts at $231 per person per week and could reach as much as $507 per week per person. Bills are included in the rent. Depending on what you pay for, meals can also be included.
Homestays
This option is great for students under 18 or is studying at secondary school level. In this type of accommodation, you get to live with a local Australian family in their home where you can experience the Australian culture and lifestyle as well as improve your English language skills.
You can get more information on homestay arrangements with your school.
#1 Consider your budget.
Living within the city can be pricier given that everything you need is at your fingertips. You wouldn’t even need to pay for public transport at some point because of the free tram service and the free bus in key areas.
Meanwhile, living further from the city center can be a cheaper option for you, but will be compensated by the amount of time for your commute to school or uni as well as the costs for transportation.
#2 Visit the Adelaide Student Housing website.
It is a website created by StudyAdelaide Australia.
Here you can find and compare accommodations and directly apply. Applicable for student apartments, student hostels, and university-managed and residential college accommodation types.
#3 Consider the location of your campus and your chosen accommodation.
Check google map so you can see an aerial perspective of its location. Check the distance and travel time to and from your campus and apartment.
Look at its surrounding areas – will there be some shops nearby, restaurants and grocery stores? Is it easily accessible? Are there bus stops nearby? How long is the travel time?
It will help you decide whether or not to live near the campus where everything is within your reach or don’t mind staying a bit further.
#4 Opt for student apartment or student hostel if you are a new international student (temporarily).
They are a reliable option for ease of mind. They are easier to find online with all the necessary information you need. It’s easy to apply and easy to communicate with the providers.
This can be a temporary option for you in your first 6 months (or 12 months) in the city – while you are still looking for a more suitable accommodation that really suits your needs and budget!
How we can help you
Our friendly team of expert education consultants at Australia Study will not only assist you in achieving your dream of studying in Australia through free consultations, visa assistance but also extend our help should you need assistance in finding accommodation for you upon coming to Adelaide for the first time. All you need to do is let us know ahead of time so we can arrange this for you.
Australia Study has more than 15 years of experience in providing student visa assistance to international students just like you! We are more than happy to answer any enquiries regarding studying and living in Adelaide. Contact us today!