If you’re going to be studying in Wollongong, you can easily book your student accommodation with Student.com and get the best of both worlds. You will be living just minutes from the city centre and a short walk from the beach.

Our student accommodation in Wollongong offers luxurious studio apartments for both short-term and long-term stays.

If you need more information on our accommodation for students in Wollongong, simply call us or message us via our website’s live chat.

Get to know Wollongong 

Wollongong is a city in south-eastern New South Wales, Australia.

The third largest city in New South Wales, historically it was a centre of heavy industries such as coal and steel, with Port Kembla at its heart.

This led to the persisting perception that Wollongong was a big, smelly, smoky, and very ugly industrial mess. But in reality, the image of the classic 'dark satanic mills' of the city’s industrial past has been largely superseded by its naturally beautiful landscape dominated by its rainforest-covered escarpment and stunning golden beaches.

Wollongong, an aboriginal word meaning “sound of the sea,” is located on the coast of the Tasman Sea with a coastal sprawl extending nearly 37 miles. Adorned by beautiful northern beaches, charming, rugged woodland, and elegant Botanic Gardens that offer excellent picnic areas, Wollongong is a city worth exploring.

Though it possesses an escape-worthy collection of beautiful scenery and thrilling adventures, the city is also equipped with other iconic attractions, good eats, and intriguing art.

Beyond the beauty

The Wollongong City Gallery is an exceptional regional gallery that houses a large collection of colonial, Asian, Aboriginal, and contemporary art. Notable works from famous Australian painters, including Conrad Martens, Margaret Olley, Arthur Boyd, and Ian Fairweather, can be found in one of Australia’s finest art galleries.

If you are into theatre, music, or comedy, The Illawarra Performing Arts Centre has venues for all three.

The Science Space is home to Australia’s most digitally advanced Planetarium. See demonstrations of science, engineering and technology from over 100 interactive exhibits.

For a dose of the city’s history, check out guided tours of the Port Kembla Steelworks and the historic Blue Mile. With just a short drive south of Wollongong, you can witness Nan Tien Temple, the largest Buddhist temple in the Southern Hemisphere.

Getting there

Located 50 miles south of Sydney, Wollongong is just a 90-minute drive from the capital of New South Wales (NSW). A train ride from Sydney to Wollongong is also an hour and a half.

Student life in Wollongong

Beautiful natural surroundings, oceanic climate that rarely produces unpleasant weather, and a small population, Wollongong provides an excellent environment for great student living.

The city sits on a long, narrow coastal strip filled with beaches and is home to one of Australia’s top universities (University of Wollongong), which is just a short drive inland from the city centre. Well connected to a major city and equipped with high educational standards, Wollongong is rated as Australia’s most liveable small city and best small city for students.

City life in Wollongong

Fairly relaxed when the sun is up, Wollongong tends to get busy when the sun goes down.

No more than three miles wide, the city’s narrowness pushes its restaurants, cafes, pubs, and night life scene into a central area. The concentration is not a bother for students because the majority of the city’s student population live close to the Central Business District (CBD).

Top options such as Humber Rooftop Bar, The Throsby, Night Parrot Bar and Kitchen, The Little Prince, Red Square and Howlin’ Wolf Whisky Bar, make Wollongong’s small bar scene worth checking out.

Food

Due to its migrant history, Wollongong’s food scene has strong international influences. The city has a great range of affordable eating options including Mediterranean, Eastern European, and Asian.

From visiting bustling food markets, exploring the dedicated ‘eat street’ on Keira Street, Babyface Kitchen for a seasonal produce-inspired menu, His Boy Elroy for American-style burgers, to Rookie Eatery for contemporary cuisine, there are a plethora of delightful ‘foodie’ experiences on offer in Wollongong.

Outdoors

The University of Wollongong’s main campus is blessed with a relaxed, quintessentially Australian setting. Blending in with Wollongong’s natural environment, the campus grounds back on to a nature reserve and are ordained with native trees, streams, and duck ponds.

The rest of Wollongong is also filled with plenty of outdoor adventures, from scuba diving to surfing, fishing, skydiving and mountain biking.

Take a dip in the waters at one of the many beaches that line the edge of the city or explore rainforest walking tracks on the Illawarra Escarpment at Mount Keira and Mount Kembla.

A car is very handy for exploring Wollongong’s long coastal landscape that’s loaded with interesting things beyond the beaches.

Where to study in Wollongong  

University of Wollongong

One of Australia’s top universities, the University of Wollongong (UOW) is a leading global university, powered by its partnerships and communities.

A top 200 university globally (193rd in QS World University Rankings 2022), UOW is also considered one of the best young universities in the world, ranking 14th in the 2021 QS Top 50 Under 50 Rankings.

Recognized as a global leader in discovery and real-world learning, UOW has established a reputation for excellence in teaching and learning across its four faculties:

• Engineering and Information Sciences
• Science, Medicine and Health
• Business and Law
• Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities

It was the highest ranked university in New South Wales overall for undergraduate study for Learning and Teaching, and for postgraduate study for Learner Engagement and Generic Skills Scale respectively in the 2018 Australian Government’s Quality Indicators (QILT).

Throughout its history, UOW has built a strong global reputation for world-class research. The university harnesses the expertise of its world-class researchers and research partners to conduct transformative research through the UOW Global Challenges Program.

One of the top modern universities in the world, UOW has become a benchmark for Australia’s new generation of universities. This is evident in its modern and well-equipped facilities across its nine campuses throughout New South Wales, including those for research.

UOW’s research facilities include:

• The Smart Infrastructure Research Facility (SMART)
• The Australian Research Centre (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage
• Early Start Research Institute (ESRI)
• The Molecular Horizons: Centre for Molecular and Life Sciences

Home to more than 15 organisations, the University’s Innovation Campus (iC) allows innovative companies and organisations from around the world to co-locate and collaborate with leading research institutions in a collaborative campus environment.

The 33-hectare research and technology precinct fosters collaboration with leading research institutes including The Australian Institute of Innovative Materials (AIIM), The Sustainable Buildings Research Centre (SBRC), and The iAccelerate Centre.

With about 6,000 international students enrolled across its Australian campuses each year, the university has a strong international focus.

Frequently asked questions about university accommodation in Wollongong

How do I apply for off-campus accommodation for students in Wollongong on Student.com?

You can go to the property page by clicking ‘View rooms’. After selecting your preferred room and the dates you want to book for, click ‘Enquire’. You’ll then be asked to leave your contact details and one of our booking consultants will get in touch with you to answer any questions you may still have and to take you through the next steps in the booking process.

What are the different types of student rooms you offer?

We currently offer studio apartments in Wollongong. This is a fully private option where you’ll get the entire place for yourself, meaning you’ll have your own bedroom, bathroom and kitchenette, without having to share anything with roommates. The perfect option if you love your privacy!

Are bills included in the rent?

Yes, when you book your accommodation in Mantra Wollongong, all bills will be included in your rent.

Are the apartments fully furnished?

Yes, all rooms in Mantra Wollongong are rented fully furnished.

Do you offer both long-term and short-term tenancies?

Yes, we do. You can book for the whole year, but if you need, you can book shorter stays as well. The minimum stay in Mantra Wollongong is five weeks.