International students: what your accommodation choice says about you

For many international students arriving in Melbourne, choosing where to live is first and foremost about practicality: budget, distance to campus, safety and accessibility.

But where you live can also reflect the kind of person you are; your values, your independence, your social life. Whether it’s a shared townhouse in the inner suburbs, a modern city apartment, or purpose-built student accommodation, your housing becomes your sanctuary, and it says a lot about you.

Here’s what three different housing choices reveal about three international students at RMIT.

The Shared Townhouse

Melody, a Bachelor of Professional Communication student from Anhui, China, lives in a three-bedroom townhouse in Richmond with two roommates.

She describes herself as an extroverted introvert.

“My MBTI is ENFJ, if you know what that means! I love hanging out with friends and making new connections, but I also need quite a bit of alone time to recharge. On weekends, I usually spend a day catching up with friends. We’ll explore new cafés or matcha spots. The other day is fully for myself. I use that time to read, do house admin, journal and prepare for the week ahead.”

Melody says that over years of studying abroad, she’s become very independent and learned how to navigate and organise things on her own. So, finding a house she loved proved quite easy.

“[My housemates and I] found the property through realestate.com.au. The process was straightforward: we submitted an application outlining our rental history, whether we had pets, and our budget.”

One of Melody’s favourite things about the house is the spacious living room, where she’ll often host dinners, dumpling-making nights, and board-games sessions with friends.

We share lots of food and laughter here.
It’s a heartwarming space, and I really enjoy cooking with my friends.

– Melody, Bachelor of Professional Communication student

“My housemates almost feel like family to me. We met at uni, and since we’re similar in age and all from Asia, we enjoy similar types of food. We share rent and bills equally. When we host dinners, we also split the grocery costs, but we’re not too strict about it. Sometimes I’ll cook and share with my housemates, and they do the same for me. I think making memories in this house is one of the most beautiful parts of being in my twenties, when I still have the freedom to explore and try new things."

Although living with others comes with its own challenges, Melody believes the experience has taught her about cooperation and transparency.

“Our schedules are a bit different. My roommate Rita has a very structured sleep routine, while I’m more of a night owl. But we’ve learned to respect each other’s boundaries and communicate openly whenever there’s an issue. Over time, we’ve figured out how to live really well together.”

And the best thing about the house? She gets to have a four-legged roommate!

“I adopted Mimi when he was one year old from a senpai who had just completed her studies and was returning to China for work. He’s now a healthy, chunky five-year-old, and the most social cat I’ve ever met. He’s so good at charming everyone!”

Melody says she loves living in Richmond for its artsy shops, cheap eats, and cute cafés.

“Richmond has a very chill vibe, while the city feels much more bustling and energetic. One of my favourite cafes here is Heart Coffee. They have one of the best cinnamon scrolls in Melbourne. Whenever I walk in, I immediately feel warm and welcomed, and the staff are always so friendly.”

Although Richmond is about three kilometres east of the RMIT City campus, she says getting to her classes on time is easy.

“I usually take public transport (tram and train), and it takes me about half an hour to get to uni. It’s very convenient because both the tram and train stations are just a one-minute walk from my house.”

The Inner-City Apartment

Jezlyne, a Bachelor of Graphic Design student from Jakarta, Indonesia, lives in a two-bedroom apartment with a roommate in the middle of Melbourne’s Central Business District (CBD).

She describes herself as a very extroverted person.

“I definitely prefer spending most of my time with friends, as socialising helps me unwind and recharge after university. While I do appreciate having my own space, I naturally spend more of my time hanging out with friends, exploring the city, or sharing experiences rather than being alone.”

She says the process of securing her apartment was stress-free.

“I looked at several apartments before finding my current place. I was fortunate to secure it through a personal connection, as the previous tenant was a family friend who was relocating permanently to Indonesia and transferred the lease to my roommate and me. It was straightforward, with only a few documents and contracts to review and sign. The landlord was very supportive and made the entire process easy for us.”

3. You’ll feel supported throughout your studies

Dat, a Bachelor of Professional Communication student from Cần Thơ, Vietnam, says the process of applying for the Academic Merit Scholarship was straightforward, despite transferring from another university.

“When I received the news that I had been awarded the scholarship, I felt really happy. I immediately called my mum to share it with her! This support meant a lot to my family both financially and emotionally, as it reassured us that our efforts had been recognised.”

Throughout his studies, Dat says he's been supported in a multitude of ways, including from academics and through events run by the university.

“My lecturers are always willing to assist and provide clear guidance whenever I need help with my projects. The university also organises a wide range of events and activities that help me engage, learn and feel more connected to the community. These resources and opportunities have made my transition and academic journey much more enjoyable.”

He says he chose RMIT because of its rankings in his favourite field of advertising, and because it is “full of creative energy; exactly the kind of place for someone curious and creative like me.”

In my field, I enjoy working with other creative students. We discuss, exchange ideas and build projects together. I also join campus events to meet people from different countries and hear their stories, which helps me learn new things.

– Dat, a Bachelor of Professional Communication student

4. You’ll graduate job-ready

Jezlyne, a Bachelor of Graphic Design student from Jakarta, Indonesia, completed a Foundation Studies program at RMIT before applying for her undergraduate degree and the Academic Merit Scholarship.

“During Foundation Studies, we had to get a certain score to get the scholarship, so I tried my best and I got it! The scholarship helped a lot with the fees, and for international students, this makes a big difference.”

When asked why she chose RMIT, Jezlyne says it was the university’s #1 ranking in Australia for design studies^, as well as the hands-on nature of the program.

“I knew I wanted to go to RMIT since grade seven. I even had an art teacher in Jakarta who studied at RMIT and he was great! Plus RMIT is the best uni for design in Australia, so I knew that’s where I wanted to go.”

Jezlyne says the internship she did in her second year was instrumental in making her feel job-ready.

“I did an internship working on UI and UX with a company called Habitect, which was new to me, but I learnt heaps of new skills! It helped me to expand the ideas of what I could do with my work, and I feel like the industry needs graphic designers who are multi-talented and multi-skilled. My RMIT supervisor was the one who helped me find the job!”

In addition to the help she’s received from her supervisor, Jezlyne says she’s received guidance and support from many other areas of the university.

“There are so many career fairs that RMIT puts on! My teachers and their lectures helped me to realise that you need to build up your career before you graduate. They give me lots of help and mentor me, and help me with what to put in my portfolio.

“Lots of people in my class have found work before they graduate, and this has inspired me a lot and made me feel really ambitious.”

Story: Sophie MacGillivray

*QS Best Student Cities Rankings 2026

^QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025

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