Housing in Australia

As a participant on an Arcadia program, you are guaranteed housing. Our priority is to provide a safe, clean, cost-effective and convenient place for you to live, while offering you every opportunity to engage and explore the local culture and community.

• Most student residences in Australia feature self-catered, apartment-style living with single, twin or triple bedrooms and shared kitchens, living and bathroom facilities or residential colleges (dorm-style halls).
• Your program fee does not include meals or meal plans but you’ll be within easy reach of food stores and amenities. Please check out our fees for additional expenses.
• Where possible we will place you with local students. If you want to submit a roommate request we will need it from both you and your friend in writing. While we will do our best to accommodate your request, we cannot guarantee roommate requests.
• It is very common to live in mixed-gender housing in Australia. Your room will be single-gender, though shared common spaces can be mixed-gender. If you would prefer single-gender housing, please note this on your Housing Form and be sure to speak with your Program Advisor to find out what is available on your program.
• Australia is an environmentally friendly country and air-conditioning and central heating are not standard in a typical residence.
• If your housing venue does not provide bed linens, they will be able to direct you accordingly after you arrive.
• Internet access will vary according to your specific program housing.
• You’ll have your housing throughout your term/semester, including breaks during the term/semester. Depending on your program and housing assignment, housing may be available between semesters for Academic Year Southern Hemisphere students; please check with your Program Advisor for further information. Housing is not available between semesters for Academic Year students.
• Housing is typically organized on a first come, first served basis. If you have a request for one particular type of housing over another, we recommend you submit your housing form as soon as possible.
• We will do our best to honor your housing preferences, however we cannot guarantee any specific housing assignments.
• Since housing considerations can vary, we have to reserve our right to change housing options at any time.

Opting Out of Program Housing

We encourage you to take advantage of the housing provided by Arcadia or by your Australian institution. If you wish to decline these options and make your own arrangements, you must submit a written request by the housing deadlines outlined below. Your Program Advisor can talk you through your options.

Special needs

If you have any special needs regarding your housing – dietary, medical, physical – please let us know when applying. Any information received will be treated as confidential and only shared with individuals involved in your housing placement.

Housing Deadlines By Semester:

• Semester 1 (US Spring): November 15
• Semester 2 (US Fall): March 15
• Bond University (January): October 20
• Bond University (September): June 30
• Summer Programs: March 15

Read more

• Specific program Housing details are outlined on each program page.
• Arcadia University Housing Policy is detailed in our Student Handbook.

Residential Colleges and Halls

When researching Australian Housing please note that a dorm style housing facility is referred to as a 'College'; for example, International House and University College are on-campus dorm style facilities within their respective universities.

Residential colleges provide a unique and immersive community experience – complete with dining halls, game and multimedia rooms, tutoring programs, sports teams and many other services, social activities and clubs, such as debating and college musicals. Living within a college or hall is one of the best ways to meet and interact with local Australian students, and can be likened to American dormitories or sorority and fraternity housing. Moreover, colleges are usually multi-cultural in composition and value diversity. In the spirit of friendly competition, colleges often challenge one another in sports, cultural and academic events. This offers a great opportunity for socialization within and outside of your particular college.

Upon arrival, each college offers an extensive orientation program which will help ease you into your new living environment. From a welcome dinner to a scavenger hunt, the optional orientation activities are designed to help you meet other peers in your housing. Showing great pride, colleges offer special merchandise, such as t-shirts and hats, which you’ll be asked to wear during the orientation to help identify you with your new college ‘family’. Because residential colleges offer so much to their students often there will be an additional fee associated with living there.

Student Apartments and Flats

Student apartments or flats – whether on- or off-campus – afford a high degree of independence. You will typically live with other American or international students and have access to shared kitchen facilities. In most cases, you will prepare your own meals and should be prepared for a commute to campus. Though not as immersive as a residential college experience, many apartments or flats offer social, travel and sporting opportunities on a smaller scale through their own programs or affiliations.