Accommodation in Sydney
During your time in Australia you will learn about the Australian environment and culture, as well as the English language. To make the most of your opportunity, we want you to be comfortable and 'at home' in your environment including your accommodation.
Our preferred accommodation providers will help you to find accommodation and assist you with airport transfer.
The types of accomodation available are:
Many ELICOS students choose to stay with an Australian family while learning English. It is a good way to practise English and learn about the Australian way of life.
Australian households vary, and may be a married couple with or without children, a one-parent family or a single person who wishes to share with an international student. A household may also include other students.
With homestay, you live with a family, have your own bedroom and share the family bathroom. You are treated as a member of the family. You should keep your room tidy and be helpful about the house.
Breakfast and dinner (at night) are provided from Monday to Friday, and on Saturday and Sunday you will have breakfast, lunch and dinner. The family does not provide your lunch from Monday to Friday.
Homeshare is a good option for the independent student. You will have a furnished room in a home. You do your own cooking, shopping and cleaning - the normal everyday chores of shared accommodation. Homeshare is usually fully-furnished and includes sheets, towels, etc.
Preferred Homestay/Homeshare Providers
Temporary accommodation
Temporary accommodation varies, your accommodation provider will be able to assist you with your requirements. This type of accommodation is recommended when you wish to find your own long term accommodation. As a guide rates are:
- Budget rooms: AUD$70-$165 per night
- Other hotel: AUD$165+ per night (room often not available until after 12 noon)
You can also find your own temporary accommodation we suggest you contact the following:-
- Balmain Mansions - consists of 12 bedrooms especially designed for the discerning traveller and students.
- Cheap hotels - is a last minute and all year accommodation in Sydney with savings of up to 70%.
- Study Oasis - is an English Australia approved company. They can assist you with all your accommodation needs.
- Whereis - A website that will show you where the suburb is you are looking for.
- YHA NSW - The YHA offer cheap, temporary accommodation, within close proximity to CET.
There is YHA Accommodation located at Sydney Central, Railway Square, Glebe and Dulwich Hill. - consists of 12 bedrooms especially designed for the discerning traveller and students.
You can rent your own apartment or house or rent a room in a shared apartment or house. Renting a room in 'share accommodation' is one of the best ways of mixing with Australian students.
Rents vary according to the size, standard and location of accommodation. Most rented accommodation in Sydney is unfurnished. Furnished accommodation rents may be higher.
You can find accommodation through advertisements in newspapers, notices on University student noticeboards or from real estate agents.
You will have to visit the apartments or houses and make your own decisions, but this will give you an opportunity to meet Sydney-siders and explore the suburbs.
Websites to help you
- Flatmates - helps you look for shared accommodation
- Accommodation advertisements - search classified advertisements for properties or real estate agents from the Sydney Morning Herald
- Accommodation agents - search for real estate agents in any suburb of Sydney.
- www.flatmatefinders.com.au
- Whereis - A website that will show you where the suburb is you are looking for
- Gumtree - A general classifieds website which advertises apartments, houses and room shares.
If you are looking to stay near the university the surrounding suburbs are Newtown, Camperdown, Glebe, Annandale, Darlington, Chippendale, Enmore, Erskinville.
If you would like to live near the beach but also still in Sydney, suburbs such as Coogee, Bondi, Clovelly, Bronte, Tamarama, Maroubra may interest you.
Costs, conditions and general information about renting
- Apartments - generally for 1 or 2 people, own bathroom (A$185+ single and $140+ per person if sharing)
- House - for a group of 3 people or more (A$135 -$215 per person, per week)
If you rent your own apartment or house, you will usually be asked to sign a contract (lease) to stay a minimum period (usually six months), and pay a deposit/bond equivalent to two or four weeks' rent. The bond will be refunded to you when you leave. You will have to pay two or four weeks' rent in advance. You may also have to pay a bond for telephone, gas or electricity. This bond is usually deducted from your last bill.
Make sure that you get a receipt for all payments you make, and do not lose any receipts. If you lose the receipt for a bond you will have difficulty getting your money refunded.