WHEN DOES COLLEGE ACCOMMODATION OPEN?
Our College Accommodation move in dates vary but are generally 1-2 weeks before enrolment day. The Accommodation application form which will be sent out to you by our Admissions team will have the exact opening date for the semester.

We do not allow early arrivals into College Accommodation before opening date so it is important to make sure your flight is booked after this date. If you do arrive before the opening date you will have to find your own alternative accommodation until College Accommodation opens.

WHEN SHOULD I APPLY FOR COLLEGE ACCOMMODATION?
College leases properties through local real estate agents and accommodation is therefore always subject to availability. We nevertheless try to accommodate every applicant and strongly recommend you apply as early as possible in order to secure yourself a spot. The Accommodation application will generally open a few months before the beginning of semester. Once you have been accepted into College, we keep you updated as to when you are able to apply for Accommodation.

The arrangement for accommodation is for a minimum period of one complete semester of study.

WHAT INFORMATION WILL I NEED TO APPLY FOR COLLEGE ACCOMMODATION?
To fill in the application form you will need your flight details and arrival date and you will need a credit/ debit card to make payments. Please do not fill in the application without your flight details if you are arriving from overseas or interstate by plane.

WHAT ARE THE PAYMENTS REQUIRED FOR COLLEGE ACCOMMODATION APPLICATION?
When filling the Accommodation application form you will need to pay an application fee of $250 (or $275 for late applications after a certain date, as specified in the application) and a Utility & Maintenance fee of $250.

The Hills campus applicants will also have the option of requesting a shuttle service from the airport for $75.

Please note that if you change your mind and no longer require college accommodation, your Application fee and Utility & Maintenance fee are non-refundable. (If we are not given 21 days’ notice before opening day of College Accommodation).

The Application fee covers administration costs of supplying College Accommodation. The Utility & Maintenance fee covers your final utility bills after you move out of College Accommodation, as well as maintenance costs incurred at the end of tenancies and upkeep of lawns.

WHAT HAPPENS ONCE I HAVE SUBMITTED THE APPLICATION?
Once all the required details of the Accommodation application are filled in you can submit the application. It will then be processed straight away and you will receive an email with further information.

APPLICANTS WHO ARE MARRIED
If you are married, you can apply for College Accommodation. The Accommodation application fee and the Utility & Maintenance fee are charged per person.

If you are both going to attend college then you will need to fill in separate application forms. If only one of you is attending college then you need to make the correct selection on the application form and the spouse who is attending college will be invoiced for both your application fees and utility & maintenance fees.

We generally try and allocate married students together with other married students. We cannot always do this however as it depends on the number of married students applying and the availability of properties.

APPLICANTS WITH FAMILIES
Due to child protection rules & regulations, we cannot provide college accommodation for applicants with children. If you require help with finding accommodation in the area we recommend you look on the website www.realestate.com.au

INSPECTION OF PREMISES
It is the responsibility of the students living in the property to ensure that the interior and exterior of the property is kept in a neat and tidy condition. If there are issues identified then students are to contact the College accommodation team who will refer the matter to the realtor.

College will carry out inspections throughout the semester to ensure the property is maintained to an acceptable standard.

The Realtors will also carry out their own property inspections during the semester.

BEHAVIOUR AND CONDUCT OF STUDENTS IN COLLEGE ACCOMMODATION
College Accommodation is an extension of College. Therefore, if students are found to be living or acting in a manner which is not in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct and the guidelines contained in the Student Handbook they will be issued with a written warning and possibly suspension. Continuing behavioural issues may result in College taking further action so it is important to refer to the Student Handbook – Student Behaviour.

Non-payment of rent can also lead to students being suspended so it is important to make sure that rent and utilities are paid in a timely manner.

WHAT SHOULD I KNOW WHEN BOOKING MY FLIGHT?
Please book a flight that arrives in Sydney on a weekday (Monday to Friday) between 5am to 3pm (Sydney time; AEST). This will allow our team to help you settle in.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I ARRIVE IN SYDNEY?
There different options for you to get to our College Campus (e.g. shuttle bus, taxi, public transportation). Once you have applied for College Accommodation College will send you all required information regarding your arrival and travel to our Campus.

We have a “Welcome team” at each campus that will meet you when you arrive at our Campus and that will help you settling in. They will take you to the accommodation team who will explain the housing contract that needs to be signed, process your payments and then issue you your key/s.

The Welcome team can also organise a shopping trip to the local supermarket so you can buy any essentials or food needed. They will also take you to the bank to set up an Australian bank account as well as help you get an Australian sim card for your phone.

Once all that is complete they will arrange they will arrange for you to be transported to your allocated apartment/house.

There is Wi-Fi at the campuses so you can contact your family and friends to let them know you have arrived safely.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I BOOK A FLIGHT THAT ARRIVES ON A WEEKEND OR AFTER BUSINESS HOURS ON A WEEKDAY?
If your flight arrives after business hours (Monday to Friday) we will be able to organise a student/volunteer to meet you, at your allocated house/apartment. College will send you further information closer to your arrival date. You will then need to come to our College campus the following business day to complete the necessary paperwork and meet the Welcome Team.

If your flight arrives on a weekend, you will need organise your own hotel accommodation and then come to our College campus the following business day.

WHAT DO THE COLLEGE ACCOMMODATION PROPERTIES LOOK LIKE?
Hillsong College leases approximately 75 residential houses/apartments from local realtors and private landlords in the Hills and 25 apartments from local realtors in the City. College then sublets the properties to college students and sets up the utility accounts with the various utility companies. The houses are generally 4 bedrooms, shared living & dining spaces, kitchen, 2-3 bathrooms & laundry some with front and back yards. The apartments are generally 2 bedrooms, shared living & dining spaces, kitchen and 2 bathrooms

Each house will accommodate on average 6-8 students depending on size of the property and each apartment will accommodate on average 4-6 students.

There are a few single rooms available in some houses however we cannot allocate students to those single rooms as we leave it up to each household to determine who will go where.

College Housing at the Hills Campus is made up of houses/apartments within close proximity to the Campus. We lease houses in Bella Vista, Glenwood, Baulkham Hills and Kellyville. All properties are within walking distance.

At the City Campus College Housing is made up of apartments within close proximity to the Campus. Again, the properties are within walking distance and are located in Waterloo and Zetland.

ARE THE PROPERTIES FURNISHED?
Most College Houses are non-furnished and students together with their housemates will need to purchase furniture, white goods and general household items they need (dishes, cutlery etc.). Occasionally, the College receives donations of furniture and household items from the local church members/community, which are then shared amongst the College houses. Previous students will sometimes leave furniture and household items behind when they move out for the new students arriving to use as well.

If you are arriving in the winter months we suggest you bring a very warm blanket or sleeping bag as houses in Australia can be quite cold as they are often not well insulated.

Students will be able to order a brand new bed frame and mattress on the day you arrive through College Accommodation. We will be able to deliver it on that same day. You will then be invoiced and required to pay for it. The cost of the bed-frame & mattress is $175 for single students and $275 for married couples. Please note, the mattress and bed-frame is only sold as a package.

CAN I VIEW THE PROPERTY BEFORE I MOVE IN?
It is not practical or indeed possible for College to conduct tours or private viewings of properties before you move in.

IS THERE A RENTAL BOND/DEPOSIT?
Hillsong College pays for the rental bond for each property that is leased. The bond is not charged to students. College therefore takes on the risk for damage & rent loss for the properties.

HOW MUCH RENT IS PAYABLE ON ARRIVAL?
You will have to pay up to two weeks rent upon arrival depending on our rent cycle. The rent cycles are on a fortnightly basis (two week) and run from Monday every second week.

We only accept payments by debit or credit card on the day you arrive. If you do not have a debit/credit card we suggest you set up a temporary travel card that works like a debit card. You can pre load funds onto the card.

For the Hills, rent is generally between $140-$160 per week and for the City, $195 – $210 per week.

Additionally, you will be invoiced quarterly for utility bills (gas, electricity, water) once we receive them from the utility company and depending on household usage.