The following are some useful tips and information gathered from our own personal experiences:

If your studies are only for a year the best thing to do would be to look for a fully furnished room or unit to rent this saves you the trouble of getting your own furniture, which could be very expensive. But if you decide on getting a fully furnished unit the bond is usually six weeks instead of the usual four.

The best places to stay if you want to be near campus is Gwyneville or Keiraville but traveling to the city mall to do your shopping could be a hassle as they are quite far from town. If you want to stay near the beach then you would find a place at North Wollongong as units there are only 30 minutes walking distance away from both the University as well as from city centre. Apartments along the beach tend to be more expensive though around $300 per week for a fully furnished two room apartment.

You could always rent a bigger unit then advertise in the University for a housemate or roommate to share with you as you can then choose the kind of person who you want to share with rather than the other way around.

Its much more economical to share your grocery shopping and meals with your housemates. It is also better to lay out the house rules to prevent arguments in the future. Also always discuss any issues that you may have with your housemates frequently instead of keeping it inside.

Finally remember to respect your housemate's privacy and to always pick up after yourself.