Purpose-built student accommodation around major universities are largely full. Read more at straitstimes.com.
SYDNEY - International students are starting to flood back to Australia but face a dire lack of rental accommodation, which is set to worsen following China’s move to end recognition of online degrees.and a shortage of accommodation, with annual rents increasing by 20 per cent in some areas.
Purpose-built student accommodation around several major universities in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth is already largely full, particularly in inner-city areas. The shortage of accommodation is about to become much worse with an expected influx of about 40,000 Chinese students, after Beijing announced in January that it would recognise only foreign degrees earned in person.
“We’ve seen a lot of people applying for the property before the open house has actually started,” she said. “They’re not just looking at the suburbs near the universities... they are expanding out.” Universities typically set aside on-campus accommodation for students, but much of this is full – partly because some students are staying there longer due to off-campus housing shortages.In Perth, StudyPerth, which promotes international education in Western Australia, has estimated that some 5,000 beds were still needed to house students. The organisation is reportedly working with the state government to try to encourage hotels to offer discounted rates to international students.