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.”

Jezlyne’s apartment is situated just behind the State Library of Victoria, and the building itself is very contemporary, having been built in 2015. And as somebody who appreciates her creature comforts, this modern style of living is perfect for her.

“My apartment feels like home. It’s on a mid-level floor and has a balcony with views across the city. The building also has a welcoming lobby and a range of great facilities, including an indoor swimming pool, sauna, steam room, gym, and shared lounges with games like billiards and table tennis. There are also BBQ areas, a Sky Lounge for dining and hangouts, and a study room with great natural light.”

Jezlyne says living in Melbourne’s CBD means that everything is very accessible.

“Trams are close by, uni is only a five-minute walk away, and food, entertainment, and daily essentials are always within reach. Grocery shopping is quick and easy, and there are also plenty of great cafés and dessert spots nearby, like Bakemono. Having places like that nearby makes spontaneous dessert nights really easy!”

Although she appreciates all the modern amenities and luxuries of a city apartment, Jezlyne’s favourite thing about where she lives is more of aa more simple pleasure.

“I love taking evening strolls. I often walk down to Flinders Street to watch the sunset by the Yarra River, where the views are always breathtaking and a perfect way to unwind after a busy day.”

The Student Accommodation

Rahzel, a Bachelor of Business student from Jakarta, Indonesia, lives at Scape; purpose-built student accommodation in the middle of Melbourne city.

He describes himself as an introverted extrovert, with a preference for having his own space.

“Having a comfortable private room while still having shared areas in the building was the perfect balance for me.

“I first found out about Scape through word of mouth. Since it was my first time organising accommodation like this, it was reassuring that the process was pretty straightforward and easy to follow.”

Rahzel’s favourite part of living at Scape are the opportunities to meet other students and all the shared facilities available.

“I feel like the main thing about student accommodation is being brave and going up to people and just talking and networking. Scape has a games area with ping pong and pool, a cinema room, and two communal spaces you could book for a few hours. My room was also really comfortable and well-equipped, with good storage, a kitchen, a bathroom, and a bed that was more than enough for one person.”

On top of all the amenities at his fingertips, Rahzel loves being in the middle of the city and enjoying everyrthing city living has to offer.

“Scape is about one tram stop away from RMIT Building 80. That tram line runs up and down the main part of the city, so it made it really easy to get around the CBD and travel anywhere else.

My friends and I love walking around and exploring the city. If I had to choose one favourite spot, it would definitely be the parks around the CBD. On a nice day, just walking through the park and sitting down to enjoy the view feels like the best thing in the world.

– Rahzel, Bachelor of Business student

I also like indoor rockclimbing at BlocHaus, but it can get expensive without a membership, so I switch it up by staying home to play computer games or going out to play basketball.”

Overall, Rahzel says that moving out of home and living in student accommodation was an important milestone for him, and one that helped him grow as a person.

“I really enjoyed living on my own because it gave me a strong sense of responsibility and independence. I learned to manage my own chores, cook for myself, and organise my budget, which helped me become more confident and self-sufficient.”

Story: Sophie MacGillivray

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