Living in Australia

Rental Accommodation

Students can rent an apartment or house on their own, or share with other Australian or International students. There are also several purpose-built student accommodation complexes in each city. Minimum lease agreements are usually six months, but 12-month leases are more common. Please be aware of the obligations regarding length of stay in the lease or contract. Students also need to be aware that the additional costs of renting include Security Bond and connection fees for electricity, gas, and telephone. More information can be found at https://www.studymelbourne.vic.gov.au/living-and-accommodation and https://www.studyperth.com.au/living-in-perth/accommodation

Some other useful websites to find accommodation include:

• www.realestate.com.au/share
• flatmates.com.au
• www.domain.com.au
• www.yha.com.au
• www.homestaynetwork.org
• www.austay.com
• www.unilodge.com.au
• www.urbanest.com.au

We recommend you use the following guides to accommodation costs:

• Melbourne
• Perth

It is recommended that you organise temporary accommodation for your first few weeks in Australia to give yourself time to search for a long-term place once you arrive.  Most students prefer to stay in a hotel or hostel for the first two weeks to do this.

We will go over all of your options for accommodation in your Orientation session.  For help understanding your renting rights as an international student, please click here.

Living Costs

To understand more about the average cost of living, please visit the Study Australia website. It is also recommended that students utilise their Cost of Living Calculator to determine specific costs related to living in Australia. The Australian Department of Home Affairs estimates that 12 months living costs for students are $21,041AUD, and that you should budget an extra $7,362AUD for your partner and an additional $3,152AUD per child (as well as at least $8,296AUD per year per child for education if they are of school age).

Don’t forget that you will need to have some money on hand for when you first arrive in Australia. Initial expenses may include:

• Temporary accommodation – at least two-four weeks to give yourself time to inspect places to live longer term whilst you study
• Food – the main supermarkets include Coles, Woolworths and Aldi
• Transport – information on public transport fares can be found here
• Rent in advance – at least two weeks
• Rental Bond – a security deposit, usually equivalent to 4 weeks’ rent is needed to secure
• Furniture and household items – kitchenware, bedding, desk etc
• Utilities – set up costs for electricity, phone etc

If you need any further assistance, please contact the International Student Support Office at int.support@aipc.net.au.

Health Cover for International Students

All international students coming to Australia on student visas (as well as any partners and dependants on your visa) must pay for Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the full duration of their studies, as this is an Australian Government requirement. To ascertain the level of coverage provided, visit the OSHC website.

Student Visa

International students are required to obtain a Student Visa to study in Australia. The visa processing charge (payable to the Australian Government) is approximately $550 AUD. As part of the visa process, students may be required to have a medical check with an Australian Government authorised doctor. The fee for this medical is approximately $300 AUD.

Your visa conditions also mean that any school-age dependants on your visa who are in Australia for more than 3 months need to go to school.  You can find out more information on Melbourne schools and fees at https://study.vic.gov.au/en/international-student-program/Pages/default.aspx

Schooling in Australia

For international students with children, please be aware that fees and costs are involved in your children attending school in Australia. For examples, costs for uniforms, stationery and materials, and excursions apply in both the public and private schooling systems. Private schools also require tuition fees for children to attend.