To go to university, many students must move out of home and away from the comforts of friends and family. This experience can be daunting. Fortunately there are a number of options for students, each with their own advantages and disadvantages.
Residential Colleges
University Residential Colleges are perhaps the most popular options for students moving away from home. Each college has its own distinct charm and culture. While not quite like the crazy student dorms seen on American TV a college offers an opportunity to meet people from all over the world and a chance to make lasting friendships.
Going to university is daunting enough in the first place, let alone moving away from the comforts and support of friends and family. A college however provides an instant community and support network, made up of people experiencing the same feelings as you are. A comprehensive O-Week is organised to allow you to get to know everyone and social events are run throughout the year. Furthermore, within each college is a network of later years who are trained to provide pastoral and academic support for those just starting university.
Ormond College, Melbourne
A sense of community and college pride is fostered by competing for your college in a range of sporting and arts events. Events range from tradition sports such as soccer and cricket, to short film competitions, debating, theatre sports and public speaking just to name a few. There’s an opportunity for everyone to get involved and meet new people along the way.
At a college, each student has their own room fully equipped with a bed, desk, chair, lamp, shelves, cupboards and in some colleges a basin. Bathrooms and laundries are communal. Furthermore, most colleges are catered, providing 3 meals a day, 7 days a week – meaning there’s one fewer thing you have to worry about in your first year.
Unfortunately, residential colleges are often quite expensive. However, for financially disadvantaged students bursaries and scholarships are offered by most colleges. Furthermore, the Federal Government provides relocation scholarships for rural and remote students. Applications for residential colleges open at about the same time as university applications.
Self Catered Student Apartments
For those who prefer more independent style living, student apartments such as UniLodge or private student hostels provide a great alternative to residential colleges. There are often a wide variety of living configurations available. For example, you may choose to live by yourself in a single studio apartment or a five bedroom apartment with others. Each apartment is fully furnished, with a television, bed, desk, chair and cupboards.
Kitchens are located in each apartment, or in a communal area. Generally, you’ll have to provide all your own cooking utensils, crockery and cutlery. Bathrooms are located in each apartment, rather than communal areas like residential colleges. Also, many apartment complexes are equipped with common rooms and gyms.
A studio apartment at UniLodge, Brisbane
While, self catered apartments provide more independent living through the cooking of own meals and private bathrooms they do not totally lack the community of a residential college. Many self catered apartments also provide a degree of pastoral care, run social events, and often compete in sporting and arts events against the residential colleges.
Self catered accommodation is cheaper than residential colleges as you are responsible for providing your own food. On the downside, some self catered accommodation providers only offer 48 week contracts, with the standard university year being only 40 weeks. Applications for self catered accommodation open around the same time as university applications.
Share Housing
Share housing can be great fun, but also a daunting and complicated experience the first time. It is the most independent and least expensive option for students, you and your housemates will have have to take care of responsibilities such as rent, utilities, maintenance, internet bills and phone bills. Furthermore, securing a rental property for the first time takes considerable time and effort. There are a number of legal requirements to consider when renting a house.
In a share house, you’ll have your own room while bathrooms, kitchens and living areas will be common areas for everyone. Shopping is either done as a group and the cost split, or alternatively each housemate buys their own food. It’s possible to both move out with friends and create your own share house, or move into a share house with strangers. Regardless, both bear the possibility of personality clashes and it’s important to discuss with your prospective housemates ground rules and what kind of household you would all like to live. You don’t want to discover a couple of weeks into the year that your housemate has night terrors and is apparently allergic to dishwashing detergent.
Just make sure you have cleaning roster...
It’s important to begin looking early for rental properties if you’re establishing a share house. A number of vacancies arise around November/December of each year when other students leave their property. Each university has a guide on renting in their city and provides a place for advertisements. It is also important to consult guides about the legal necessities of renting properties.
Homestay
Homestay involves living with a family, couple or single person in their home. Thus it’s generally the least attractive options looking to throw off the shackles of family life. Depending on the arrangement, some or all meals may be provided or you may live in an adjoining flat with your own facilities. In some cases, board may be exchanged for weekly household duties, such as cleaning or childcare instead of rent.
Homestay has the advantage of feeling like a home and feeling as though you are part of a family. However, there is the obvious potential of only feeling like a guest and of personality clashes with members of the household. It’s important to consider the impact of those you board with on your academic, social and sporting commitments and vice versa. Homestay placement agencies are available to place students with providers for a fee or you can search classifieds for advertised vacancies.