Photography by Ibrahim Muan Abdulla
When Jude arrived in Melbourne for his exchange semester, he expected two things for housing: a short walk to class and a long list of new friends. That’s how this young British man ended up at Scape, the neon-lit, modern-styled student apartment complex that towers over the edge of the CBD like a glass spaceship.
‘It’s convenient,’ Jude laughs, swirling a spoon in his instant noodles. ‘Like, I roll out of bed and the tram’s right there. And the gym, study rooms, rooftop views—they have everything that I need or even do not need.’ But when asked if he’d stay longer than his semester, he pauses. ‘It’s expensive. And honestly? A bit soulless. Feels like everyone’s passing through.’
Scape’s rents have seen a notable increase in recent years. For instance, the Scape Swanston location, near RMIT and the University of Melbourne, offers rooms starting at $429 per week. This price point reflects the premium amenities and central location, but it also underscores the financial considerations students must weigh. A quick scroll through housing groups reveals the stress this brings—students often weigh location against lifestyle, balancing social opportunities against financial strain.
For many international students at the University of Melbourne, choosing where to live isn’t just about finding a roof. It’s about crafting a version of home in a city where everything is temporary, fast-paced, and often overwhelming.
Generally, three options are on the table: official university housing, commercial student apartments like Scape, private rentals in the open market. Each offers a different kind of comfort—and a different kind of challenge.
‘It’s safe, it’s close … but I still feel a bit alone.’
Jiayi, a Masters student from China, chose to live in a postgraduate official apartment managed by the University. Her studio is tidy, and the campus is literally across the street. ‘I didn’t want to stress about house inspections or furniture or talking to agents,’ she says. ‘Here, everything’s just settled.’
The cost of such convenience is significant. For example, the University’s Parkville campus offers residential colleges with annual fees ranging from $25,000 to $31,000, which include meals, utilities and Wi-Fi. Compared to the broader rental market, these prices can be overwhelming, particularly for students without scholarships or financial support.
However, being settled does not mean being peaceful. Sharing the floor with other international students hasn’t been as easy as she imagined. ‘My roommate is too frugal, and our different spending habits make it difficult for us to find common ground. We don’t really talk—we all just kind of coexist.’
Last year, dissatisfaction over university accommodation management and rental prices boiled into protests outside the Student Precinct. Posters shared by members read, ‘We are resisting price increases’ as students raised concerns over rising rental prices and lack of transparency in room allocations.
Despite the convenience of living close to the university, Jiayai is looking to move once her current lease ends. ‘Somewhere quieter. Or maybe just more personal. I thought being close to uni would feel like belonging. But it’s not just about geography.’
‘It’s a bit chaotic, but it’s ours.’
Jayden, a cheerful undergrad from Malaysia, lives in a rented apartment in the heart of Melbourne with two of his high school friends. ‘We wanted to stay together and do things our own way,’ he explains. Their two-bedroom flat is older, a little messy, and perpetually low on toilet paper. But it’s home.
‘We split chores, cook together, and argue over laundry. It’s not perfect, but it feels real.’ For Jayden and his friends, finding the apartment was a cyclical saga of messaging strangers on rental apps and chasing inspections across town. ‘I didn’t know how anything worked. Bond? Agent fees? It’s all a blur now.’
Private rentals are often more affordable than university or commercial student housing options, but they come with different challenges and responsibilities. Navigating lease agreements, reporting and waiting on maintenance requests, and dealing with difficult landlords are some of the many challenges private renters often face.
‘Still I’d rather deal with that than feel like a guest in my own space,’ says Jayden as he recalled the water leak he had last month which took two weeks for his landlord to attend to.
When asked what makes him stay at his private rental, he shrugs, saying the occasional surprise. ‘The landlord is renovating the floor [now], and we don’t have to pay rent until it’s done.’
No Easy Answers, Just Trade-offs
Mouldy and overpriced rooms, broken heaters and appliances, and unresponsive property managers are familiar horror stories from students on online forums. Despite the overwhelming challenges, these spaces often become a source of solace for students navigating the housing crisis to simply vent their frustrations, share warnings and recommendations, or help each other out.
These online forums can often raise accommodation expectations through glowing reviews of luxe amenities, pictures of sunset study sessions overlooking the city skyline, and promises of community barbecues. Jude, who looked up Scape on Instagram before applying, admits that social media can shape expectations. ‘It looked vibey, but reality is less curated than TikTok.’
What truly matters? ‘For me, it was convenience,’ says Jiayi. ‘For others, it’s price or freedom.’ Jude values social opportunities and proximity. Jayden values control and independence.
In the end, when leases expire, students are faced with decisions to make—move in with a stranger, pay more for convenience, or brave the private market. For International students, and many local students as well, don’t find their perfect home.
In the end, they find a compromise—between independence and loneliness, safety and spontaneity, a noisy adventure and a quiet home.
Because when you’re thousands of kilometres from everything familiar, even a mismatched couch in a too-small living room can become your universe.
And that may be enough.