Student Accommodation in Melbourne for Exchange Students A semester in Melbourne sorted before you land

Yes, Journal welcomes exchange and study abroad students alongside longer-term residents, regardless of home university. Standard leases cover a Semester (6 months) or a Full Year (12 months), with a choice of start dates at booking, so students can line the lease up with their exchange rather than the other way around. Our team helps throughout.

Journal is not restricted to University of Melbourne students. Students on exchange from any university, including RMIT and Monash, can book a room. Journal holds Approved Provider status with a number of university and education partners, but accommodation itself remains open to exchange students studying anywhere in Melbourne, regardless of which institution issued the original offer.

The shortest standard lease at Journal is a Semester, covering 6 months, and a Full Year (12 months) is also available. Both come with a choice of start dates at the booking stage. If an exchange calls for an earlier arrival or a later finish, talk to our team and we will confirm what is possible and what it costs.

It is best to book as early as possible, as room availability can be limited closer to the start of semester. For Semester 1, bookings typically open between September and December. For Semester 2, bookings typically open from April to July. Booking early usually gives students more room options and greater choice.

Both Journal properties put you within walking distance of a university. Campus House faces UniMelb in Carlton with Trinity College just down the road, while Market Way sits by RMIT University and Melbourne CBD within the Free Tram Zone. Melbourne’s public transport also reaches Monash’s Caulfield and Clayton campuses by direct train, and RMIT’s Bundoora campus by tram.

Journal’s all-inclusive rent covers electricity, water and unlimited Wi-Fi, along with full access to shared amenities such as study rooms, the rooftop terrace and the events calendar. Rooms arrive fully furnished with a kitchen already fitted out, so exchange students move in with nothing left to set up separately.

No. Every Journal room comes fully furnished with a bed, desk, storage and a kitchen fitted with a fridge, microwave and stovetop. Exchange students can arrive with a suitcase rather than furniture, which matters when a stay is measured in one semester rather than several years spent settling into a permanent home.

Yes. Residents come from more than 30 countries, and Journal runs up to six or seven events a week at peak times, from social nights to wellbeing sessions. Between the rooftop terrace and sky lounge at Campus House and the cinema room, Speakeasy and Zen Garden at Market Way, friendships form fast.

Yes. Exchange students can view every room type through room walkthrough videos before booking, so there’s a clear sense of the space ahead of arrival. Video tours can also be booked directly with the team, giving students overseas a way to see Campus House or Market Way before their semester starts.

Yes, we contact residents before a lease ends to sort out a renewal and how long it should run, so one semester can turn into two without starting a fresh application. You’ll go through our rebooking process, confirming you’d like to stay on and applying again with a few quick steps.