Canberra has been consistently rated as the best place to live in Australia by several living indexes as well as prominent media outlets such as the Daily Mail. The city also receives a top-30 score in the QS Best Student Cities rankings for desirability, which draws on a range of sources to assess both actual quality of life and student demand. 

Student.com makes it easy for you to find convenient and affordable student accommodation in Canberra. From the properties we list you’ll find a wide range of student housing, whether you choose to live with fellow university students in a shared accommodation or if you prefer a space to yourself in a private accommodation. 

All the student housing we provide in Canberra are purpose-built and well furnished with world-class facilities and amenities to ensure a comfortable stay. Some are located near campuses with university facilities right at your fingertips, while others are in the heart of the city, with trendy restaurants and shops within easy reach.

Whatever your preference we are here to help you make the best choice so don’t hesitate to contact us.

Get to know Canberra

The capital of Australia is the largest inland city of the continent and the eighth-largest city overall. 

Established in 1913 Canberra has housed many of Australia’s national and cultural institutions including: 

• The Parliament House
• National Museum of Australia
• National Gallery of Australia
• Australian War Memorial
• National Film and Sound Archive
• National Zoo and Aquarium
• Australian National Botanic Gardens
• Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex

It’s highly planned and well-designed with excellent infrastructure, including the best roads in the country and a wide area of space with large tracts of land set aside as parks, bush reserves and long networks of paths for cycling and walking.

The high level of planning and organisation makes the city easy to live and study in. 

Canberra in an environmentally friendly city

Surrounded by farmland and forests Canberra is one of the few planned cities in the world. It’s also clean and sustainable.

With little traffic or pollution, and more than half of its total area being covered with nature reserves and parks, the air quality is clean. According to a leading global design firm for natural and built assets, Arcadis, it’s ranked 18th for sustainability.

A Liveable city

Situated on the ancient lands of the indigenous Ngunnawal people, the “meeting place” has a population of 400,000. And quite a place to meet it is for international students. Around a quarter of the city's 35,000 students are foreigners so you’ll find a strong sense of community in Canberra.

The capital offers the best of both worlds. It provides all the cosmopolitan benefits of a modern, vibrant city with a relaxed and friendly ambiance of a smaller town. It also boasts one of the lowest crime rates compared to other cities in Australia.

A combination like that usually leads to a high quality of life and Canberra is ranked as having the highest quality of life in the world in Numbeo’s 2020 Quality of Life Index. It’s also ranked as Australia's most liveable city in the REA Group's Life in Australia 2019 report. 

On top of the convenience of a modern, safe city with a pristine natural environment, the high-quality education offered makes for a great student experience.

So, make your student home in the political and intellectual heart of the country, under the blue skies of the Australian bush. Discover the region’s indigenous heritage at the National Museum, or marvel at the National Gallery’s collection of world-famous masterpieces along with national monuments and scenic spaces.

Student living in Canberra

Exhibitions, world-class theatre, burgeoning culinary culture, concerts and festivals make Canberra an exciting place to live, any time of the year.

Events to attend 

Each February the city celebrates one of the biggest events of cultural diversity in Australia - the three-day National Multicultural Festival. 

While for 30 days across September and October each year the city comes alive with beauty, colour and vibrancy as Floriade, “Australia’s Celebration of Spring”, celebrates flowers, food, and family.

Things to do

With a thriving nightlife scene filled with stylish bars, pubs, clubs and beer gardens, 140 wineries and 54 museums, and galleries, there’s plenty to keep students active in Canberra. 

Stop for brunch at the ultra-hip Mocan & Green Grout Café, then explore an array of record shops, craft stalls, and vintage boutiques at the Lonsdale Street Traders.

Natural attractions

Canberra is one of Australia’s few major settlements that’s not located near the coast so unfortunately there’ll be no surf days. However, Canberra has plenty of other natural attractions. 

If you prefer serenity from a scenic green environment, you’ll barely miss the days on the beach. Known as ‘The Bush Capital’ Canberra’s skyline is surrounded by lush green mountains unlike Melbourne and Sydney’s that are dominated by towers. 

On weekends, kayak the still waters of Lake Burley Griffin, hike the scenic bush trails of the Black Mountain Nature Reserve, or take in the view from the top of Mount Ainslie.

What’s more, your daily activities will be feasible and cost-effective. 

Cost of Living

Despite its high standard of living Canberra is a more affordable study destination compared to Melbourne and Sydney, which makes it an even more attractive option for international students. 

Easy travel

Canberra is well-connected with relatively little traffic, so you won’t have to worry about missing classes because of traffic jams. It’s also a cycle-friendly city that offers plenty of bike-friendly cafes and bicycle hire venues.

Where to study in Canberra

Popular for its museums, nightlife, tourist attractions, and universities, Canberra is also home to various top educational institutions and research centres. Also dubbed the ‘The Clever Capital’, the most educated city in Australia is popular for world-class education and its well-educated workforce.

Some of the popular tertiary education providers include the University of Canberra (UC), the Australian National University (ANU), Canberra Institute of Technology, University of South Wales Canberra (UNSW Canberra), Charles Sturt University (CSU) and the Australian Catholic University - Canberra.

These tertiary institutions attract a large population of local and international students to Canberra each year and are one of the main reasons the city ranked 23rd in the 2020 QS Best Student Cities Rankings.

Among Australia’s top-ranked universities, ANU is a prestigious university with an outstanding research reputation and large post-graduate program that’s popular with foreign students. It was ranked 31st overall in the 2021 QS World University Rankings,

The University of Canberra, Canberra’s other ranking university (456th), is renowned for its teaching quality. Its courses cover five faculties: Health, Art and Design, Business, Government and Law, Education and Science and Technology.

Frequently asked questions about university accommodation in Canberra

How do I apply for student housing in Canberra on Student.com?

Use our convenient filter feature and mapping function to easily compare properties by price and find university accommodation in a particular area of Canberra you’d prefer to live in.

After you’ve found your ideal property, go to the property page and click ‘Enquire’ or ‘Book Now’. One of our booking consultants will then be in touch with you to guide you through the next steps.

Is it safe to rent private accommodation?

We only list properties from trusted landlords. Our very strict vetting process ensures that all our student accommodation options are safe to rent. 

What are the different room types you offer?

We offer three different room types on Student.com. 

In a Shared Room, you’ll share your bedroom with a roommate and share other living areas with occupants of other rooms. 

In a Private Room, you’ll get a private bedroom, and in some properties a private bathroom as well. You’ll have to share additional living spaces with occupants of other rooms. 

If you book the Entire Place, you won’t have to share anything with anyone because you’ll get a studio apartment all to yourself. This includes your own bedroom, bathroom and kitchenette for cooking your meals.

Can you arrange a viewing for me?

Yes. If you’ll be in Canberra before your planned move in date, just give us a call and one of our booking consultants will be happy to arrange a viewing for you.