International Students

So You Plan to Live in an Australian University College

If you intend taking a place in an Australian University College you need to be clear about the type of accommodation you will occupy and the lifestyle you will be expected to fit into, respect, and become an integral part. The most important aspect of living on campus is respecting others and being prepared to follow a few simple rules associated with College life.

This mis-match of expectations to reality where accommodation and lifestyle are concerned can result in disappointment and feelings of frustration. If you are not prepared to live in an academic environment which is conductive to study perhaps you need to consider living off-campus to avoid this anxiety.

So what is a University College?

A College operates on the assumption that residents are mature, intelligent, motivated students who have come to the University to seek a higher education. Residing in College provides a unique opportunity to enhance an individual's education through contact in a learning-living environment with others who are undergoing similar experiences. The College is not a boarding house or a hostel or a motel. It is a living arrangement (closely connected with the University) which attempts to provide accommodation along with pastoral and academic care, and an environment conducive to study and academic achievement.

Getting In

In Australia less than 10% of all students live on campus in a College. The majority live at home while attending University or rent private accommodation usually in close proximity to their University. There is generally a shortage of residential places at most universities this results in a high demand of those places which are available. A proportion of places in Colleges are allocated to international students.

Getting Out

Colleges are communities and therefore would expect a level of commitment from you to stay for at least the period of one semester. If you want to leave before the expiration of your initial licence agreement you can expect to incur substantial financial penalties.

There are exceptions, but these are rare and usually only apply where a student is withdrawing from University and returning home, or has suffered a serious injury or illness. Withdrawal from your licence agreement without penalty will require written evidence confirming your situation.

Physical Environment and Lifestyle

The University of Newcastle offers a range of different types of accommodation.

Some Colleges are of the traditional long corridor style where up to 30-50 students might live on a floor and share bathrooms, food preparation areas and TV/common rooms. All bedrooms are single occupancy and the most common lifestyle arrangement is mixed sex floors and bathrooms. The majority of residences in Australia are catered with between 5 and 16 meals included in the weekly tariff and normally have a central building with dining, common and recreation areas.

Some of the more recently constructed residences comprise small self-contained units with occupancies of between five and ten to a unit, where residents prepare all of their own meals. The most common unit comprises five students of mixed sex sharing a bathroom and a kitchen/dining/common area. Another accommodation option is where a College provides self-catered accommodation including weekday evening meals included as part of the tariff.

College Governance

The responsibility for managing the College lies with the Head of College. The Heads of College set out to involve as many residents as possible in decision making processes, while providing educational opportunities for you to learn how to take responsibility and make decisions.

You will have the opportunity to join various committees including those arranging social, cultural and sporting activities. Some rules devolve from Australian legislation (harassment, smoking, etc) and the personal behaviour standards are effectively determined and monitored by residents themselves.

College Staff and College Services

Colleges are part of the greater University and attempt to keep fees at the lowest level for your benefit. The Colleges expect you to clean your own bedrooms, while cleaning staff are engaged to maintain common areas and bathrooms. In catering areas, you will be expected to help staff return dishes to the wash-up area and generally avoid creating unnecessary work for staff. Australian residents understand that the provision of services is directly related to the fees which they pay and most prefer to put some effort into the College in return for lower fee levels. This is sometimes not appreciated by international visitors and can result in misunderstanding about what is expected of all residents.

Social, Cultural and Sporting Activities

One of the major benefits of living in a College is the opportunity to take part in, and benefit from, a range of social, cultural and sporting activities. Not everyone will want to take part in every activity, but the expectation which comes with living in a College is that you will participate in some activity - and thereby make a contribution to the life of the College.

Often there are sporting competitions held between Colleges on a single campus and while not every resident may have the skills to make the team, you can support your College on the day of the match. The Colleges provide formal dinners with distinguished invited guests - this is often a rare opportunity to meet and debate issues with politicians, senior academics, business people and the like. A variety of social activities are regularly arranged such as BBQs, spit roasts, balls, drama productions, reviews and discos - all of which provide an opportunity to meet others in a relaxed social setting.

The common theme running through most College social and cultural programmes is the need for others to be able to study and meet academic deadlines (hand in work, prepare for tests, etc). Activities are usually planned for Friday evenings or on weekends, with disruptive noise avoided after late evening (usually about 10.00pm). Residents wishing to continue the party after these hours go off campus to local entertainment venues, leaving those who need to study with a quiet College environment in which to work.

What to Avoid and What to be Aware Of

Smoking - Is totally forbidden inside all University buildings. This includes student bedrooms.

Harassment - Australian legislation makes sexual, sexual orientation, religious or racial harassment an offence and College authorities are required to act on such complaints.

Fire Equipment - Any interference with fire fighting equipment is deemed detrimental to the safety of others and immediate expulsion from the College can occur.

Alcohol - Residents who become intoxicated and behave in an inappropriate manner which is perceived as threatening to others, can be expelled from the College.

Noise - Excessive noise late at night which interferes with the living arrangements of others will not be tolerated.

Mess - You will be expected to clean up after yourself.

Communal Duties - You will be expected to carry out your assigned tasks when sharing a unit with a group of students.

Conclusion

College life offers an opportunity to meet and make many friends from a variety of different nationalities and cultures and to become part of an active academic community.

However, College life does not suit everyone and often living off campus for some individuals might be in the best interest of both the individual and the College.