Frequently Asked Questions

Future Residents

Who can apply and live in University Accommodation?

You are eligible to apply if you currently have an offer to study at The University of Melbourne or are intending to apply to study at The University of Melbourne. University Accommodation is available exclusive to those studying full-time at The University of Melbourne. This includes both undergraduate, postgraduate degrees, visiting study abroad and exchange students.

When can I apply for accommodation?

Applications for Full-year and Semester 1 (Start Year Intake) open in August the previous year, usually before the University of Melbourne Open Day.  Applications for Semester 2 (Mid-Year Intake) open in April of the same year.

We recommend applying for accommodation as early as possible, as offers will be made on a first-come first-serve basis, depending on availability of your selected room type preferences.

As a new student, you can apply for accommodation before receiving a course offer from the University of Melbourne. This means you maybe eligible for our Commencing Student Cover if you do not receive an offer of study or decide to study somewhere else. Terms and conditions apply.

How do I apply?

Applying is easy! Visit our online portal, create your account, select your preferences and submit your application.

Can I inspect an apartment/residence before applying or accepting an offer?

Yes - all our residences are available for inspection during office hours on weekdays. To organise an inspection, please use our Book a Tour form.

Note: Depending on our occupancy levels, we may or may not be able to show you all room types. We are unable to disturb the privacy of our residents at times when all rooms are fully occupied. However, our virtual tours will provide the information about the room configurations and set up. Please refer to the websites for each residence for the virtual tours.

I will be under 18 when I apply, am I eligible to stay in University Accommodation?

Students under 18 years are eligible to apply for University Accommodation; however, you may not be able to see all locations on your application. If you are an international student under the age of 18, you must ensure your accommodation is arranged prior to your arrival in Australia, as a condition of your Confirmation of Appropriate Accommodation and Welfare (CAAW) and Confirmation of Enrolment (COE). If you are currently a student at Trinity college foundation studies or Hawthorn Melbourne on a packaged offer and become eligible for a University of Melbourne course, you will need to have University of Melbourne approved accommodation. For any further questions please contact the University's Under 18 International Supervision team.

Please note that U18's may be placed in the same floor as other age groups. However, it is mandated that U18 students will only be placed alongside other U18 student and strictly never with any students who are over 18.

Can I apply for University Accommodation and Residential Colleges at the same time?

Yes, however, you will be bound by the first offer you accept as per the terms of the contract you accept.

Are Apartment style living and Residential Colleges the same?

University Accommodation provides a similar experience to residential colleges in that both offer a regular schedule of academic and residential enrichment programs and resources for residents. However, there are some key differences:

• Colleges typically offer dormitory-style accommodation - with students living in similar room types. In contrast, University Accommodation offers a broader range of room and apartment types to select from.
• Residential colleges are usually catered and meals are provided for residents. University Accommodation is self-catered, meaning you will need to prepare your meals. Most apartments feature either shared or private kitchens and most buildings have ample communal cooking and dining facilities.
• Colleges offer a tutorial program specifically tailored to your chosen subjects at University, whereas University Accommodation's academic support is more focused on study skills.
• For Residential Colleges, you have to pay the fees for each semester upfront. For Apartment style University accommodation, fees during the semester / year are charged on a fortnightly basis during your stay.

I will be studying as an undergraduate, can I apply for The Lofts at Melbourne Connect?

Some of our University Accommodation locations are postgraduate only; such as The Lofts at Melbourne Connect so you will not be able to choose these locations as part of your application.

Are meals available?

• Lisa Bellear House, Little Hall, and The Lofts at Melbourne Connect are self-catered, meaning you will need to provide your own food. All the apartments include a shared or private kitchen.
• Medley Hall includes all meals.
• International House offers different catering options.

Is parking available?

Unfortunately, none of our University Accommodation options provide dedicated parking for residents. However, the University does provide public parking that is available to students.  Additionally, there is public parking close to the Parkville. You can use a site like Parkopedia to try and locate suitable parking during your stay.

What facilities and amenities are available in University Accommodation?

All our University Accommodation residences are conveniently located close to the Parkville campus and feature an array of common facilities and amenities available exclusively for residents including gyms, entertainment areas, rooftop terraces, fully-equipped communal kitchens, basketball courts, music rooms, cinemas and more.

Is there security at University Accommodation?

The University of Melbourne is committed to ensure University Accommodation provides a safe and secure environment for all residences. The University has trained security officers patrolling our campuses 24-hours a day. These officers are responsible for the safety of the University community and its property. University grounds and buildings are monitored by CCTV. There is also a free escort service available to all students anywhere on campus to get you home safely. There is a team of dedicated Residential Assistants at each residence who are available to assist you 24/7.

Are there accommodation scholarships?

There are a range of scholarships available to University of Melbourne students that may assist with the cost of your accommodation. You can view and filter available scholarships on our University Scholarships website.

• Melbourne University Accommodation Scholarship: The Melbourne University Accommodation Scholarship is offered to domestic students who are enrolling in an undergraduate degree, are residing at University Accommodation and are experiencing disadvantaged circumstances. The Melbourne University Accommodation Scholarship provides an accommodation allowance of $12,500 per year for three years. The allowance is paid directly to the accommodation provider.
• Housing Bursary: This scholarship is designed to assist students who are relocating to attend the University. An allowance of $2,500 for one year, paid in quarterly instalments in April, June, September and November.

• Hansen Scholarship Hansen scholarship is awarded to 20 students each year, providing financial support to students who experience barriers to accessing higher education. Recipients of the Hansen Scholarship also receive a supported place at Little Hall. The Hansen Scholarship is not available to International students.
• International House Scholarships: Once you have applied for a residential place at International House, you can apply for an International House scholarship. A range of scholarships available to new and existing students. See here for more information.
• Medley Hall Scholarships: Medley Hall provides generous fee-remission bursaries to students who are experiencing financial hardship, with approximately one third of Medley Hall's students receiving some form of financial assistance from the College. A range of bursaries available to new and existing students, see here for more information.

• Sisson Family Scholarship: This scholarship has a total value of $97,000 and is offered to enrolling domestic students who reside and completed Year 12 at a Government school in Mildura or Murray Plains Districts, intend to study a Bachelor of Biomedicine or a Bachelor of Science, and are experiencing disadvantaged circumstance.
• The Hansen Access Residential College Scholarship: If you are enrolling through the Access Melbourne program and have applied to stay at Medley Hall, a Hansen Access Residential College Scholarship can help you to access the residential college experience. Students will be supported for the duration of their stay at Medley Hall (up to 3 years) with Residential College Fee Remission valued at $20,000 per annum. Preference is given to students who were shortlisted for the Hansen Scholarship but were ultimately unsuccessful and have applied to reside at Medley Hall.
• Indigenous Accommodation Grant: The Indigenous Accommodation Grant is offered to Indigenous students who are residing at University Accommodation or Residential College and are ineligible for government accommodation funding or other forms of financial support.
• Indigenous Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarship: These scholarships are provided by the Australian Government and available to students of Australian Indigenous descent. The Indigenous Commonwealth Education Costs Scholarship (ICES) is awarded to assist with education, teaching and training costs and the Indigenous Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarship (ICAS) is awarded to assist with relocation and/or accommodation costs.

I will be studying at Trinity, am I eligible to stay in Melbourne accommodation?

Trinity Foundation Studies students are not yet students of the University of Melbourne and are unable to move to University Accommodation until they receive an offer to study from the University. If you are looking for accommodation during your time at Trinity, you will need to follow the school's processes to apply for accommodation. For further information, please visit the Trinity website.

Do I need to find people to share my apartment with?

No - moving into a shared apartment is the quickest way to make new friends at University! Your accommodation provider will allocate you to a shared apartment with like-minded people. When you apply, you can list any preferences you have in relation to your allocation to a shared apartment. Please note, it may not always be possible to accommodate these requests.

Can I live with friends?

Yes - when you apply for University accommodation, you will be asked to provide information on any special requests you have relating to your room allocation. This is an opportunity to nominate if you would like to live in a shared apartment with a friend. Please include information about your friend and ensure they have also applied for the same preferences as you. Please note, your friend will have to nominate you as well.

Can I live with my partner and children?

We do not allow children in University accommodation. There is accommodation available for couples for UoM postgraduate students only. These rooms are shown as '(Double Occupancy)' rooms on our University Accommodation website and are available at The Lofts at Melbourne Connect. Please note, the main tenant will have to be a University of Melbourne postgraduate student and the second tenant must be a current student of any Australian higher education institution. There is very limited availability for this option, so we encourage students to enquire via email and seek approval first.*Terms and conditions apply

Can I live in a single gender apartment?

When you complete your application to live in University accommodation, you will be asked to nominate a preference for single-gender accommodation. You can use this to request to live in a single-gender apartment. Please note, while we aim to accommodate these requests, it is subject to room availability.

Can I bring a pet?

We are unable to accommodate pets or other animals in any of our student accommodation facilities. This includes 'emotional support animals' (commonly known as companion animals or therapy animals that provide comfort but are not trained to alleviate the effects of a disability to be assistance animals. However, residents with accessibility needs can request to be accompanied by a trained assistance animal that is permitted to access the premises and live in the residence. We encourage students to enquire via email and seek approval before application. Terms and conditions apply.

Can I move in early?

On the final page of the application process you will be asked to nominate if you would like to move in early. You can use this section to select when you would like to move into your accommodation. Please note, it is not always possible to accommodate early move in requests.

Is accommodation available near the Southbank campus?

Unfortunately, all of our University accommodation residences are located close to the Parkville campus which is separate from the Southbank campus. However, most of our University Accommodation residences are located next to ample public transport facilities that make it easy to travel between your accommodation and the Southbank campus. We usually have a group of residents living in University Accommodation studying primarily at the Southbank campus.

I will be studying as an undergraduate next year, where should I apply to live?

All of our accommodation options offer private bedrooms including a study desk so you have somewhere private to rest, relax and study. There are Studio and Shared Apartments available in University accommodation. If you would like to share common areas like a kitchen, bathrooms and lounge area with a small number of other students a shared apartment would be ideal. If you would instead prefer greater privacy, a studio apartment contains a private bathroom and kitchen. All of our residences for undergraduates have ample common facilities and amenities in the building such as gyms, lounges, cinemas, study areas and large communal kitchens where you can meet other students and socialise. Both Little Hall and Lisa Bellear House are excellent options for undergraduate students. The website features interactive virtual tours for a selection of rooms and is a useful resource to familiarise yourself with the style and features of rooms in University Accommodation.

Is there disability specific accommodation available?

All of our University accommodation options are DDA compliant and contain specific accessible apartments at each location. Your can apply for University Accommodation using our online application portal. Once you apply, you will be contacted by one of our accommodation locations. At this point, please mention you have specific requirements for your accommodation and they will work with you to accommodate this.

What do the names for rooms mean? For example, one option is "4 bedroom, 2 bathroom". Does this mean that 4 people share an open-plan set of rooms (2 bathrooms and 4 bedrooms)?

The names for rooms on our University accommodation represent different styles of apartment. For example, the 4 Bedroom, 2 Bathroom apartment at Little Hall is a multishare apartment containing 4 private bedrooms with 2 shared bathrooms and a communal kitchen, dining and living area. Similarly, a 3 Bedroom, 3 Bathroom apartment contains 3 private bedrooms, with 3 private bathrooms and a communal kitchen, dining and living area. You can view a virtual tour of this 3 Bedroom, 3 Bathroom.

Current Residents

What are the rules for living in University accommodation?

The rules that apply to students living in University accommodation are available in each residence's Residential Handbook. You can access these handbooks via our online application portal.

What is the Residential Life Program?

Residents living in University accommodation enjoy access to a regular program of events and activities including, academic skill workshops, social events, career training and sporting competitions. Residents are also connected to a range of University support services. You can find out more about our Residential Life Program on our University Accommodation website. Residents will have access to a team of dedicated staff and residential assistants, with a focus on supporting you as you grow your independence.

Can I get a job living in University Accommodation?

The University has a number of Residential Assistant positions for University of Melbourne students in University Accommodation. These positions are advertised and recruited internally at each residence. As such, to be considered for these roles you must be a current resident living in University Accommodation. If you would like to work as a Residential Assistant, once you have applied to live in University Accommodation, you should raise this directly with your accommodation provider.

What happens if I move out before my agreement ends?

You can move out of your apartment early if you wish to, by informing your hall staff, but you will still incur regular fees for the duration of your accommodation contract.

Students have the provision to Terminate formally, and the terms and conditions that may apply if you break your agreement are listed in your student accommodation agreement. Most residences require you to pay an Early Departure Fee equivalent to 2-weeks rent, and to continue paying rent until a new student is found to take over your lease. You are expected to source your own replacement resident, but they must be eligible to live in the residence, which usually requires them to be a full-time University of Melbourne student.

Once I receive an offer, can I back out?

You can change your mind at any point before signing your accommodation agreement. After you have applied, you will be contacted by one of our accommodation providers with your offer of accommodation and you will also receive your accommodation agreement to sign. Once you have signed your accommodation agreement, you remain bound by the terms of your agreement. If you have questions about your agreement, you can ask the residence team that sends you your accommodation offer.

Do I need to move out during semester breaks?

Most of our accommodation options offer standard full-year (12-month) or single-semester (6-month) accommodation agreements.. This means you will be able to continue living in University Accommodation during the holiday period. However, there are two exceptions to this. Both International House and Medley Hall usually require students to vacate at the end of their residency contract, during the summer break period.

How do I pay for my accommodation and do I need to pay for the year upfront?

All agreement terms and conditions will differ depending on your residence. An agreement will be sent to you when you receive your accommodation offer which explains payment terms and conditions. Agreement lengths are generally 6-months or 12-months and require a security deposit up-front. Accommodation fees for our apartment style options are charged fortnightly. However, if you chose to pay in advance for the full term or monthly, you can do so in advance. Fees for the Residential colleges must be paid upfront for the full term, however, alternative payment options may be available upon request.

Can I request for an invoice for the full period of my stay?

Yes. We can invoice for the full period of a student’s stay; however, the invoice is always issued to the resident and invoicing details cannot be changed to a different party / entity.

Residential colleges accommodation

Can I apply for Residential Colleges from this website?

No. Applying for entry to the Residential Colleges is separate to your university accommodation application. The colleges have a combined application and admission process, which you can find more information about at the colleges’ website. Please note the college selection process will usually require you to present further information about your suitability for college such as: CV, school results, references, and a personal essay, often followed up with an interview. For Medley Hall and International House you may also apply directly to the college.

Problems applying

Why can't I see all accommodation options when I apply?

The University Accommodation options available to you are determined by a range of factors, including the term you are applying for, your age and degree level. For example, The Lofts at Melbourne Connect is a postgraduate-only residence. If you are applying as an undergraduate student, you will be unable to preference this location when you apply.

How do I reset my password?

You can reset the password to your university accommodation account in the MyAccount section of the online application portal.

Accommodation Offers

Am I guaranteed an Accommodation Offer?

The University of Melbourne has an Accommodation Offer for all commencing students who are new to Melbourne, subject to availability.

The Accommodation Offer is available to all students who are:

• commencing full time studies at the University of Melbourne;
• at either undergraduate or postgraduate level;
• either full degree students or participating in exchange or inbound study abroad programs; and
• currently living outside the Melbourne metropolitan area, which covers regional Victoria (including Geelong), interstate and international locations.

Why did I not receive an offer for my first preference?

When allocating your application, the University considers your accommodation preferences, but cannot guarantee your preferred choice. In addition to your nominated preferences, a range of factors determine which residence you are allocated to. These may include room availability, intended length of stay, existing residence demographics, residence eligibility requirements such as age and degree level or other obligations. If you do not wish to accept the offer, you may decline and we will organise another offer, which may be for a different residence, depending on room availability.

How do I accept my offer of accommodation?

Your offer of accommodation will be emailed to you. Detailed instructions and further information will be provided to you in your offer email. If you are unsure of what you need to do, you can contact the residence that sent your offer directly and they will answer any questions about the acceptance process.

Cost & Inclusions

Are utilities included?

All of our University Accommodation residences provide free unlimited internet and utilities. Your utilities (water, gas, electricity) and internet are included in the weekly rates shown on our University accommodation website.

Are there other costs besides rent?

All fees are explained in your Accommodation Agreement and Residential Handbook. You will pay a deposit to secure your room. This is usually equivalent to 4-weeks fees. This amount is refunded to you at the end of your stay. You may be required to pay a cleaning fee upon departure of your room - this fee is payable when you arrive. Other fees may include an early departure fee, if you terminate your agreement before your agreement end date and a room relocation fee may apply if you decide to change your room/apartment. You may also be charged a replacement fee if you lose your key or swipe card.

You can access Residential Handbooks for each location on our application portal.

Are the prices on the website per-person or in total?

All rates advertised on our University Accommodation website are per-person, per-week. For example, at Little Hall a 4 Bedroom, 2 Bathroom is priced at $449 per-week. This means, each student living in this apartment will pay $449 per-week.

How much does University accommodation cost?

*_{Varies on room type and length of stay}

What is included in the rate?

One payment covers everything - rent, utilities, amenities and unlimited internet. University Accommodation residences feature a suite of facilities for residents including gyms, rooftop terraces, meeting rooms, game rooms, music rehearsal studios, sporting and laundry facilities, dedicated study spaces, 24/7 staffing, a year-round program of events and much more. For full details, please check the accommodation website

Is the application fee refundable?

No. The application fee is non-refundable.