Off Campus

The alternative to living on campus is to live in the suburban areas of the campus city within close proximity to the University. Living off campus is more suitable for you if you have a family or if unisex accommodation is unsuitable.

Off campus accommodation means living independent of the University, in or near your city's campus. You can privately rent a house or apartment, share with other students, or board with a local family. Costs for off campus accommodation will vary with size, location and age of the building and the facilities provided. Regular bus services conveniently link the main teaching campuses to the city.

Student Services operates an Off Campus Student accommodation register. This will help you decide where to live and provide you with lists of people offering accommodation including board, shared and rental (not managed by the University). If you are considering private accommodation, it is advisable to arrive at least one or two weeks before session starts to allow time to look for somewhere suitable to rent.

The CSU Study Centres in Sydney and Melbourne have off campus accommodation available (not managed by the University).

Accommodation Styles

Some of the different types of accommodation you might like to consider include:

Board

Board is offered by families or mature age adults who enjoy the company of students and who, by taking in a boarder, reduce their expenses such as insurance, utilities, and rent.

Board has a number of combinations of different services provided. You need to ask what is being offered: washing, ironing, all meals, or making your lunch, and what happens if you are late home for meals?

Board is normally the cheapest type of accommodation because you have: a furnished room; and electricity, gas, food, and washing are usually included. Ironing is usually a bonus.

Sharing a house or flat

Sharing usually means that you share a house or flat with other students, or the owner. Each person has their own bedroom and shares the facilities, i.e. common bathroom, kitchen, laundry etc. Costs for utilities such as electricity and gas are shared, and you are responsible for your own cooking, cleaning and laundry.

Renting a house or flat

Real estate agents have listings of houses and flats to rent and are familiar with students making enquiries. Before you leave home, collect two or three character references (from school, work, or someone in the business community). These can assist in applying for rental accommodation as real estate agents need to assure landlords that the property will be looked after.

There are very few single bedroom flats or bed-sitters in Albury-Wodonga, Bathurst or Wagga Wagga. Students intending to rent may need to already have someone to share with or be prepared to advertise a room or rooms to rent. The first cost to the lessee (student) is the preparation costs of a tenancy agreement. The bond is approximately four weeks rent for unfurnished and six weeks for furnished, plus two weeks rent in advance.

Connection fees for gas and electricity vary depending on the provider. Some providers allow you to pay this fee with your first account. Enquire if the provider will waiver the fee if you set up direct debit on your account. Contact a local electricity or gas provider for more information.

Usually the water access charges are paid by the landlord, but the tenant pays for the water. The amount varies depending on many factors, including garden water usage, number of people sharing the house or flat. Contact your local water provider for more information.

There is a fee for connecting the telephone. Contact a provider for more details.

Renting a farmhouse

The same criteria applies to renting a farmhouse as renting a house or flat. The advantages are you may be able to keep a horse or pet and the environment would be quieter. The disadvantages are you may be further from the University and shopping facilities. Living out of town may save on rent, but transport and fuel costs may be more expensive.

Accommodation register

Visit CSU's off campus accommodation register