Accommodation guarantee for new international students

UNSW has announced it will guarantee on-campus accommodation for all first-year international undergraduate students who commence studies at the University in 2014.

The announcement follows the addition of 1300 new beds to UNSW’s main Sydney campus in the past year. From January 2014, the University will have close to 5000 beds available on, or surrounding, the campus.

UNSW’s Vice-President of University Services, Mr Neil Morris, said UNSW’s accommodation portfolio was now large enough to guarantee rooms for new undergraduates with an offer of study.

“We want to make it simple for international students to find secure and safe on-campus accommodation,” said Mr Morris, who made the announcement in Guangzhou, China.

“There is so much for a student to think about when leaving home and moving overseas to study – knowing they have a guaranteed room makes the process a lot easier.”

Mr Morris said UNSW was also conscious of the cost of living for students in a major city like Sydney.

“International students will not be required to pay rent deposits or bonds for on-campus accommodation at UNSW.

“Easing financial pressures on students who make a major commitment to move to Australia to study with us is a positive way to welcome them into the UNSW community,” Mr Morris said.

The choice of accommodation on offer at UNSW is designed to meet the needs of a wide range of students on different budgets. Options range from brand new spacious one-bedroom ensuited rooms through to traditional college rooms and share apartments.

“Our new colleges opening in 2014 set a benchmark for student accommodation in Australia. They offer great facilities, including student lounges, free wifi throughout, as well as roof gardens with spectacular views,” Mr Morris said.

The new accommodation is part of a strategy to create an active campus life that is safe and secure where residents feel part of a vibrant community, Mr Morris said.

The strategy is complemented by new retail additions on campus such as coffee shops, cafes and supermarkets, which operate late into the evening.

Media contact: Denise Knight, UNSW Media Office, +61 405 207 685, d.knight@unsw.edu.au 

We want to make it simple for international students to find secure and safe on-campus accommodation - Neil Morris