University students tell us what it’s like living on campus

Imagine moving to Australia to follow your dreams. You find yourself in a new country and an unfamiliar city, starting fresh at university – maybe even living away from home for the very first time. This is the sort of path followed by many international students as part of an exciting university journey. And, for those who choose to live on campus, there are plenty of unique and fulfilling opportunities along the way. 

But what is university really like for international students living on campus? And is it the right choice for everyone? To find out more, we spoke with Deakin Burwood students and university residents Parth and Margie, and Deakin Residential Services digital presence and communications coordinator Anmol Chhabra.  

Meet Deakin University residents, Parth and Margie  

There are many different reasons to live on campus. For Margie, her experience of managing a busy commute to school in the Philippines guided her decision to live on campus at university. 

‘I chose to live on campus mainly to minimise the additional stress that comes with traveling day-to-day on top of the adjustment of living in another country far from home,’ she says. ‘I grew up in the Philippines living at least an hour away from school during elementary school up to university, and I knew very well the challenges and stress that come with that.’ 

The choice has been a smart one for Margie – especially when it comes to living life around classes and lectures. 

‘Without the pressure of commuting, I had more energy to show up and to say yes to things I might have otherwise skipped and I found that the less I had to worry about getting home, the more present I could actually be,’ she says. 

For Parth, living on campus is all about making university life much simpler. 

‘I chose to live on campus mainly because of the convenience,’ he says. ‘Everything is very close – I can get out of bed and be in class within five minutes, which saves a lot of travel time and stress.’ 

While Parth says the social aspect of campus life is a big positive, it is not the only reason to live close to class. 

‘Living on campus is also helpful academically since you are always surrounded by other students, which makes studying together, asking for help or working on assignments much easier,’ he says. 

What does it mean to be a student living on campus?  

‘Living on campus’ means staying in official accommodation on university grounds. At Deakin, students can choose between shared living or private studio apartments. Whichever style of accommodation they choose, Chhabra says that the essence of campus life is ‘the balance between independence and support.’ 

‘As students settle in, accommodation becomes more than just where they live,’ Chhabra says. ‘It becomes a place where they develop important life skills. Managing cooking, laundry, study schedules, and daily responsibilities helps build independence.’ 

Living on campus also brings with it the benefits of having plenty of other students around, creating a comfortable social environment. 

‘Common areas allow students to connect, whether that is through a movie night, music session, or simply spending time together,’ Chhabra says. ‘With over a hundred events and activities each trimester, including wellness sessions, study support during exams, and off-campus experiences, there is always an opportunity to get involved and stay connected.’ 

How many students live on campus?   

Chhabra says that Deakin accommodates around 2,800 students across its four campuses, creating a vibrant and diverse residential community. While this number may seem large, the way accommodation and amenities are designed means the experience feels balanced, with plenty of space for students to live, study and connect comfortably. 

As Margie explains, day-to-day life is shaped more by the immediate living environment than the overall numbers. 

‘There are four of us in the apartment,’ she says. ‘For the most part, the living arrangements work well since we have two bathrooms and two toilets, so access to that has never really been an issue. We are pretty respectful and communicate well with each other. At the end of the day, keeping shared spaces clean and considerate is what matters most, and we have done pretty well.’ 

Across campus, a wide range of shared facilities and social spaces ensure students can find environments that suit their needs, whether they are looking to relax, study or spend time with others. 

Parth lives in a unit on campus with 10 other students and, like Margie, finds the common spaces to be shared respectfully. He says that there are plenty of places to spend time outside of the shared living space, too. 

‘We have a lot of amenities that help spread people out depending on their interests, such as the sports lounge, movie rooms, gaming room, music room, BBQ areas, study rooms and recreation spaces,’ Parth says. ‘There are also larger outdoor spaces like the lawn area, where things like 9-square are often set-up, basketball court and other open areas for sports and activities. Because facilities are spread out and there are multiple options, it usually feels balanced rather than congested.’ 

What are the advantages and perks of living on campus?  

Take it from those who have experienced it firsthand – there are plenty of perks of living on campus. 

Activities and social time 

Living on campus comes with built-in social events and opportunities – whether that is the annual Res Ball (a yearly party and calendar highlight for all Deakin Res students) or visiting the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) for an Australian rules football game. 

For Margie, the biggest advantage of campus life has been having the space to host regular social events. Along with her brother, who also lives on campus, Margie holds a monthly dinner with Filipino and international student friends. 

‘Having that space to be able to do this together and also have dinner together has been such a gift and a way to ease homesickness,’ she says. ‘It is the kind of thing that is hard to do when you live off campus, where space is often too limited to have people over comfortably.’ 

Parth agrees that the social advantages of living on campus are very appealing. 

‘The social environment together with the facilities provided make a huge difference,’ he says. ‘Since everyone lives closer together, it is easy to meet people naturally through shared kitchens, common areas, events and activities. There is usually something happening around Res, whether it is sports, movie nights or casual hangouts.’ 

Convenience 

Students living on campus get the benefits of never being very far away from the biggest parts of university life. As Parth explains, it is a big reason to stay in student accommodation. 

‘One of the best parts of living on campus is how convenient everything is,’ he says. ‘Classes, study spaces, the gym, public transport and shops are all nearby, so daily life becomes much easier. Living on campus also gives easy access to trams, nearby grocery stores and places like Box Hill, so getting around Melbourne is pretty convenient.’ 

Growth 

Living on campus teaches students important life lessons about independence and responsibility. Students can take workshops for life skills like cooking and resume building, while there are also opportunities to develop leadership skills. Since living on campus, both Parth and Margie have taken on roles as part of the Residential Leaders program, assisting other students in a hands-on way. 

‘That may be helping out at events, or being a friendly, approachable person for students who might find it difficult to reach out to Res staff on their own,’ Margie says. ‘To me, what makes it really meaningful is that you are supporting students as a student so you bring this kind of grounded, lived perspective on what people are actually going through.’ 

Safety and security 

‘One thing that makes Res feel safe and supportive is that there is 24/7 security and reception available on campus,’ Parth says. 

For any student living away from home, feeling safe is a big reason to live on campus. As Chhabra explains, it is very much a focus at Deakin. 

‘Deakin Residential Services has received Gold Accreditation for student safety and belonging, which reflects a consistent and recognised commitment to creating a secure and supportive living environment.’

Cost 

Whether you live on Res or in other accommodation, everyone has to consider costs like rent and other living expenses. So how much does it cost to live on campus compared to other living arrangements? As Parth explains, campus living can seem the more expensive option initially, but the cost is ‘affordable when you consider everything that comes with it.’ 

‘In general, living on campus can seem more expensive at first, but a lot of things are already included such as the utilities, internet, security, reception support and access to all the facilities and events around Res,’ he says. ‘Additionally, you do not need to pay a bond to live on res. For me, the convenience and time saved from travelling makes it worth it.’ 

Is living on campus worth it?  

If you ask Margie, living on campus is definitely worth it.  

‘For me, it came down to convenience and how well on-campus living aligned with the life I wanted to build as an international student in Australia,’ she says. ‘Having fewer things to worry about day-to-day meant I could put more of my energy into actually settling in, finding community, and making the most of my time here.’ 

For Parth, there is no doubt that the benefits of living on campus have made it a great choice. 

‘I decided to live on campus because it made the transition into university life much easier,’ he says. ‘Being close to classes, study spaces and other students helped me settle in quickly and feel more connected to the university community.’ 

And while it is always an individual choice, Parth says that living on campus makes life as an international student that much easier. 

‘For students moving away from home for the first time, living on campus can make adjusting to university and living independently much smoother.’