The Iglu Guide | Blog
Accommodation guide for parents
Once the university acceptance has come through, it’s time to start thinking about what your accommodation might look like. For many students – and their families! – this will be a huge change, and it can all feel completely overwhelming. Here’s what you need to know.
Do your research!
This is the biggest area where you can help your child. Start with the university location, and find out what you can about the local neighbourhood. Think about the culture and lifestyle opportunities, what the transport links are like and how easy it is to get around. Is it a student-friendly neighbourhood? What are the university hours likely to be? If your child is a reluctant riser, it might be better to live closer to campus. Similarly, if you are worried about them travelling around the city late at night, accommodation closer to home would put everyone at ease. All of these topics will influence your choice. The more informed you are about every consideration, the easier your decisions will be.
Accommodation options
University accommodation comes in all shapes and sizes, and there will be benefits to each one. For some, the decision to stay at home seems obvious and there might be little motivation to do anything else. For others, the desire for independent living is all part of the deal, and for international students it comes as an exciting part of the package. Talking to your child about their wishes and concerns is an important part of the process, even if the university is close to home. Remember, there is no right answer. What might suit one student, would be terrible for another. Many domestic students continue living at home when they start university, but it is becoming increasingly common to live independently as a way to get the most out of the overall university experience.
Independent Rental
Most cites have plenty of share houses available to rent, and they can be found through websites, newspapers or noticeboards. The costs can vary a great deal and much of this will depend on the location and the type of accommodation you choose.
The pros
- Independent living
- Choice of location
- Responsibility of sharing bills, cooking and cleaning for yourself
The cons
- Potentially sharing with complete strangers
- Different interests and lifestyles can be problematic
- Unlikely to have a private bathroom
- Probably located far from campus to keep costs down
- Cost of travelling in and out of university
- Food and bills are on top of rental cost
- Setting up and managing bills can be problematic if anyone leaves
Purpose-built student accommodation
Combining the best of independent living with the added layer of safety and security, there are many purpose-built accommodation opportunities like Iglu available across Australia.
The pros
- Independent living with 24/7 security – peace of mind for students and parents alike
- All Iglu buildings are centrally located to universities and transport links
- No extra costs to worry about – just one all-inclusive bill
- Built-in community – packed with a like-minded and diverse student family just perfect for networking
- Fantastic facilities – communal and private study areas, BBQ area, gym and media rooms
- Private rooms and share rooms available – all with ensuite
- Supportive and qualified staff are on hand at all times
- Off-campus benefits of a fresh new community
- Some financial support available such as the Iglu Regional Scholarship
The cons
- Too close to university if you enjoy daily travel
- Unsuitable if you don’t want to live and share experiences with other students
University halls
These are usually owned by the university and are located on or near to campus.
The pros
- Close to university campus
- Community of students on hand for a built-in social scene
- Bills included in the fees
The cons
- Not all universities have them
- Usually a single bedroom with shared facilities
- Mix of catered and self-catering
- You may not like the food, which means wasting money
- Prices can vary wildly
If you’re a domestic student, once you’ve decided what your student accommodation looks like you can start planning for the transition to uni life and how to settle in. International students can find more about studying in Australia, access visa application tips and much more.
