Continuing on the theme of new arrivals, finding pleasant affordable accommodation may also be marked in red at the top of the to-do-list.
There are two main types of accommodation options favoured by students – university colleges and shared rental housing (although if you are under the age of 18, you might be obliged to consider accommodation options, such as a home-stay, which provide guardianship).
The advantages of living in a university college include the immediate access to a wide range of facilities, such as common lounges, studies, and computer rooms, as well as the vibrant college community, which you can immediately become a part of, by making friends with your neighbours and participating in the social activities. The main disadvantages lie in relatively higher costs, and limited availability.
On the other hand, shared rental accommodation is likely to be cheaper, and it may also prove to be a start to long-term friendships with your housemates. However, when it comes to signing a lease (the written contract between you and your landlord), it is advisable to read every clause very carefully, and make sure you understand the legal rights and obligations you are about to acquire under the lease. The StudyAdelaide website provides useful information under the ‘Accommodation’ tab to assist you in this process.
If you are looking for accommodation, visiting the Accommodation Services Office of your university would be a good place to start. If you have a few friends with whom you want to rent a house together, you might find websites such as www.realestate.com.au useful; or alternatively, if you are looking for people to share a house with, the University of Adelaide has a shared house database at https://accommodation.adelaide.edu.au (it requires log-in IDs of University of Adelaide students).
Again, good luck with settling in!