Where you live and study can make a difference

Sometimes location does mean everything. The Geelong Waterfront, Waurn Ponds and Warrnambool campuses are located in regional centres away from Melbourne – which means housing and transport costs are more affordable.

Where to stay when you first arrive

Many students want to immediately move into permanent accommodation when they arrive in Australia, and attempt to organise this before they get here. This can be very dangerous – false advertisements and scams mean students end up losing their money and have nowhere to stay.

The safest choice is to book short-term accommodation to allow time to personally inspect and secure long-term accommodation.

Temporary accommodation

Temporary accommodation is available at the Burwood, Waurn Ponds and Warrnambool campuses. You can also find short-term accommodation through the Deakin HouseMe service.

Living on campus

Living on campus is the best way to immerse yourself in the Deakin experience. We offer accommodation across all our campuses with various lease lengths available. Life on campus is both affordable and secure – it is the perfect place to meet new people and live close to where you study. You can also save money living on campus. Utility bills and internet are included in the fee, and there is no accommodation bond.

Read more about living on campus at Deakin

Finding a home off campus

Living off campus is a great option for international students. Whether you are on your own or with your friends, it is an excellent way to get to know your local community.

It is best to organise your long-term accommodation once you arrive in Australia. Our off-campus housing service can help you get set up.

Read more about finding a place to live off campus

When I first started at Deakin I stayed on campus. Since I was new, I wanted to make friends and meet students of different nationalities. It was fun to live on campus!

Muhammad, Pakistan

Master of Marketing

Living costs at a glance

In addition to the cost of tuition, living in Australia as an international student can cost on average AU$21,041 per year. Most of this amount will be spent on housing, food and transport, but you will also want to budget for things like entertainment, exercise and shopping. To help you understand more about your everyday costs, the Australian Government website, Study in Australia, has more detailed information for international students.

Visit Study in Australia to learn more about cost of living

Opening a bank account

Banking in Australia is easy, and we have a wide range of banks that offer discounts, internet banking, and even free financial advice for international students. You should set up a bank account as soon as possible after your arrival.

To open an account you will need your confirmation of enrolment (CoE), passport, Letter of Offer and photo identification. The standard opening hours for most major banks in Australia are Monday to Friday from 9.30am until 4pm.

Access to money

Although most Australian shops, restaurants and cafes accept payments by card – in Australia we call it EFTPOS – it is also a good idea to carry some cash, particularly if you are shopping at a local market. You will have access to your money via Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) in and around each campus.

Visit our campus pages for ATM locations