Accommodation for international students
International students have 3 accommodation and welfare options.
Students can either live with their parents, with relatives or close friends, with a local family in homestay accommodation. Homestay is the most popular option and is the best way to experience Australia and improve English language skills.
Victorian Government Schools do not offer boarding house accommodation.
Option 1 - Living with a relative
Living with a relative is the option to select if the student can live with their parents in Victoria or has a relative, such as an uncle or aunt they can live with. Students who have enrolled as a dependent of a parent who is studying in Victoria must select this option.
- If the student is living with a relative they must meet DIAC approval. DIAC approved relatives include: brother, sister, step-parent, step-brother, step-sister, grandparent, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, step-grandparent, step-aunt, step-uncle, step-niece and step-nephew.
- Primary school students must reside with a parent for the duration of their enrolment.
- Dependent students must reside with a relative for the duration of their enrolment.
- The Department does not charge a homestay placement fee
- The Department does not charge an airport pickup fee nor arrange airport pickup
Option 2 - Nominated homestay
A nominated homestay is where the student knows a family in Victoria and the parents request that the student live with this nominated family. The family could be close family friends or distant relatives. Under this option the Department is responsible for arranging accommodation and for the overall welfare of the student.
- Student must be aged over 15 years or over
- The person nominated by the student to provide accommodation must meet the Department's homestay criteria and complete a Working With Children Check
- All family members agend over 18 must complete a police records check
- DIAC are provided with confirmation the accommodation has been arranged
- Students are charged AU$220 homestay arrangement fee
- Students can be met at the airport if requested (AU$110)
Option 3 - Homestay Live with a local family
The Department and the student's school arrange homestay for the student with a local family. This can be with another family with their own children or with a single person. Students pay around $AU220 to $AU240 per week, this includes their accommodation and meals.
- Students must be aged over 15 years
- Students are charged AU$220 homestay arrangement fee
- Students are picked up at the airport (AU$110)
- Accommodation is only arranged for the duration of the student's study
