Enjoy great value for money with Semester in Australia

Our accommodation has been designed with international students in mind. To make sure you get the best value for money, we’ve included everything you need and nothing you don’t. Simply pack your suitcase and leave the rest to us.

Kitchen and laundry appliances

Most apartments have a kitchen with everything you could need, including:

• Plates, bowls and cutlery
• glassware and cookware
• Pots and pans
• Oven, stove and microwave
• Fridge

The apartments also feature an internal laundry with a washing machine and dryer (apartments) or clothesline (for houses with a yard), so you don’t need to worry about paying to clean your clothes at a laundromat.

The Superior City Apartments (private, purpose-built Student Accommodation building) has a communal coin-operated laundry and may not come with all of the kitchen items listed above. For more information, take a look at the Superior City Apartments features section.

Utilities

Connection of utilities (water, electricity, and gas) and usage costs are included in your Semester Housing Fee. Semester in Australia will pay utility bills (except telephone) on your behalf.  There is a very generous allowance per student. You will not be liable for further utility charges unless in extreme circumstances, in which case you will be notified of excessive bills before you are charged additional fees. This only happens if students leave heating or air conditioning on all day and can be easily avoided.

Wireless internet

Unlimited internet connection is included in every apartment. However, you may find that internet connection in Australia may be different to what you’re used to. Internet can be quite slow and is not easily accessible for free in public places. 

Phone and Cable TV

Phone and Cable TV are NOT included in the Housing Fee, unless otherwise indicated. In most cases, you will need to arrange your own service. It is simple to set up and instructions can be provided. Some students prefer to purchase a cell phone instead of a normal residential telephone service.

Housing Services Fee

This SiA Service fee is included in the Semester Housing Fee and covers the housing and arrival services, and includes:

• Pre-arranging/securing fully-furnished private rental accommodation
• Pre-departure and arrival information service
• On-site Resident Director services
• Arrivals information and Welcome
• Semester activities and excursions
• On-going Semester support and Emergency Contact

Utilities

Connection of utilities (water, electricity and gas) and usage costs are included in your Semester Housing Fee. Semester in Australia will pay utility bills (except telephone) on your behalf. There is a very generous allowance per student. You will not be liable for further utility charges unless in extreme circumstances, in which case you will be notified of excessive bills before you are charged additional fees. This only happens if students leave heating or air conditioning on all day and can be easily avoided.

End of Semester Exit/Vacate Cleaning Fee.

There is a mandatory end-of-semester Vacate/Exit Clean Fee of AUD$200, which is in addition to the Semester Housing Fee. Please note that in Australia, real estate agents/landlords request that a ‘vacate clean’ is conducted at the end of a tenancy, by professional cleaners (including steam cleaning of any carpets and curtains, etc), which will be covered by the SiA Exit/Vacate Cleaning Fee of $200. As long as you remove all personal belongings (including any food or rubbish) at the end of your stay, this is the only exit fee you will incur. Including the Exit Cleaning Fee makes vacating your property an easy process, with no need to coordinate with your fellow housemates (who may have various departure dates) and organise your own professional cleaner or carpet cleaner or incurring any additional costs just when you’re about to return home. With an Exit Cleaning Fee included, your bond will be refunded swiftly and smoothly.

Security Deposit/Bond (to be lodged with appropriate State Rental Authority).

There is a refundable Bond/Security Deposit of AUD$250/$300 in addition to the Semester Housing Fee. The Bond/Security Deposit is required and is in accordance with the State Residential Tenancies Act (RTA). It will be lodged with and held in a separate account by the relevant State’s Rental Authorities. The Security Deposit/Bond is refundable at the end of your tenancy less any excessive/additional cleaning costs (beyond the Exit/Vacate Cleaning Fee) and/or any damages/missing items. Provided you have removed all personal belongings (including food and rubbish) and the housing is left in satisfactory condition and all furnishing items are accounted for and intact, generally speaking, you will receive the Security Deposit/Bond refund within 1-3 weeks after the conclusion of the semester.

Leases

All leases are in line with the Australian academic year and run from February to June and July to November. Semester in Australia will provide housing for your entire semester/program at any Australian university. If you require any additional housing, you must request this before you leave for Australia. As extra accommodation is subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed, please consider your travel dates carefully.  

Secure your home away from home now

To reserve your place at any one of our great student apartments, simply complete these four steps:

1. Choose a room and fill out the Reservation Form

• Review the relevant Australian City accommodation options
• Decide on the type of room and apartment you’d like
• Complete the Reservation Form

2. Pay your Holding Deposit

After we receive your Reservation Form, we’ll send you e-mail to let you know whether the room you want is available. If you are unsuccessful, we’ll keep your application on file for the current semester and try to allocate you an apartment, even if not your first choice. To reserve your chosen room, you should review the ‘fine print and further information’ and decide whether you’d like to hold/secure your room.  If you would like to proceed and hold/secure the room, you will then need to pay a AUD$250 Holding Deposit. Once your booking is finalised, this deposit will be deducted from your overall fee. If you cancel your booking, your deposit will not be refunded. Group bookings please note: If you would like to secure an entire apartment or more than one room for yourself and any friends, everyone in the group needs to complete a Reservation Form and pay a Holding Deposit at the same time.

3. Sign and return the Housing Agreement

After we receive your Holding Deposit, we’ll send you a Confirmation Email, a Semester Housing Fee invoice, an SiA Service Agreement and other rental accommodation forms. These forms will need to be completed and returned along with your first Housing Fee payment.  The SiA Service Agreement outlines what Semester in Australia provides as part of the housing and service, expectations of students, and payment options, methods and due-dates.

4. Make your first Semester Housing Fee payment

Your first Housing Fee Payment needs to be paid at least 3 weeks before you arrive in Australia. We’ll send you a new invoice with the Holding Deposit deducted and the Security Deposit included. Payment dates and methods will be on the invoice.