Help + advice

Accommodation During Your Studies

There are a variety of accommodation options available to international students studying in Western Australia. All accommodation options listed below are for students over 18 years old. For information regarding under-age students, please view the Accommodation for under 18s page. The prices listed below are for 2019 and are subject to annual review.

Types of accommodation

• Temporary accommodation
• Homestay
• Rental accommodation
• Campus Living Villages

Be sure to arrive well in advance of your course commencement to secure good accommodation, as per the date stated on your student visa. With all types of shared accommodation, you will need to specify if you prefer to share with either men-only or women-only.

Temporary accommodation may be a good option for when you first arrive. There is a range of tempo​rary accommodation on offer in Perth, which you can book online using websites HostelWorld Perth and YHA Hostels. There are many backpacker hostels or budget hotels to choose from that start from $30 per night for a shared room and $60 per night for a private room.

Homestay allows students to live with an Australian family. This is very popular because you can make friends, embrace the Australian lifestyle and improve your English. Homestay costs between $290-$325 per week, depending on your age and level of service provided. There is also a Homestay placement fee of $290.

Bookings must be made at least two weeks in advance. Late bookings will incur additional fees.

Homestay options are:

• Full service: $325 per week, includes 3 meals per day
• Half service: $290 per week, includes 2 meals per day

The fee also includes laundry, snacks, electricity and gas.

You may wish to consider a four week short homestay to transition into your local area and college. Homestay accommodation is only available in the metropolitan area. Regional placements will only be considered where a parent nominated homestay can be arranged. For more information about Homestay and to make a booking, contact Australian Homestay Network (AHN) at homestaynetwork.org.

Many students choose to share a rental house or apartment with other students as this reduces costs. The average rental price for a furnished room in share accommodation is around $160 per week but can range from $70–$250 per week. This cost does not usually include electricity, water or gas.

New city based accommodation
From 2019 new student accommodation will be available in the heart of downtown Perth, just a stroll from the shopping and entertainment precinct:

• Campus Perth - rooms start from $162 per person per week (four share)
• The Boulevard - rooms start from $239 per person per week (twin share)

Some useful websites to search for rental accommodation are:

• realestate.com.au
• reiwa.com.au
• domain.com.au
• flatmates.com.au

You can also look in local newspapers such as The West Australian or The Sunday Times, where a large range of rentals are advertised. The International Student Centre at your college may be able to provide assistance in identifying suitable accommodation in one of the local suburbs.

Accommodation Checklist

• Make sure you have read and understood the terms and conditions of any tenancy agreement before you sign.
• If you pay a security deposit, make sure you obtain a receipt.

Visit Consumer Protection's website to view legal information about renting a property in Western Australia.

Accommodation is available to TAFE international students over 18 years old on several different university campus locations in the Perth metropolitan area, and regional Western Australia.​

Metropolitan locations

• Edith Cowan University (ECU) Village Joondalup - a short distance from the TAFE Joondalup campus, rooms start from $200 per person per week.
• Edith Cowan University (ECU) Village Mount Lawley - 10 minutes by bus from the centre of Perth and transport to other TAFE campus locations, rooms start from $201 per person per week.
• Murdoch University Village, Murdoch - only one kilometre from the TAFE Murdoch campus, rooms start from $172.50 per week.

Regional locations

• Edith Cowan University (ECU) Village, Bunbury - rooms start from $187 per person per week.
• Pepperell Village, Geraldton - rooms start from $130 per person per week. Contact the Residential Administration Officer on (08) 9956 2873 during office hours or email residential@crtafe.wa.edu.au.

Airport Transfer

Airport pickup can be arranged at a cost of $130 and is compulsory for students under 18 years old. Students will be taken directly to their homestay family or temporary accommodation. Please contact AHN to organise thi​s service. Please view the Departure and Arrivals page to see costs of travel to Perth city. 

Useful links

• stayz.com.au/accommodation/wa/perth/perth-city - search for short-term accommodation​​ options in Perth.
• gumtree.com.a​u​ - search local advertisements for second hand furniture, cars, jobs and real estate.
• flatmate.com​ - find accommodation and flatmates.

Disclaimer: The information and contacts provided by TAFE International Western Australia (TIWA) are to assist you in your search for accommodation and provide you with details of the services you may require. The information provided is compiled in good faith, and is intended as a guide only. TIWA may not investigate the content of any information provided and does not endorse, guarantee, warrant, or recommend the accuracy of the information or necessarily subscribe to any such opinions or recommendations. TIWA does not profit in any way or sponsor any of the contacts listed, they are provided solely as a convenience to you.