- A photocopy of your ID, such as Passport or Driver's License to assist in your check in
- Bedding/Linen including a pillow
- Towels and hand towels
- Food and household supplies - until you can arrange a group shopping trip with your housemates
- Cooking equipment, crockery, cutlery, glasses, cooking utensils etc.
- Laundry detergent – some areas have clothes lines for communal use, all laundry rooms have dryers
- Toasters, irons, ironing boards, TV’s etc. – although some residents wait until meeting their roommates on arrival to share the costs of small appliances
Everything you need for the ultimate American experience.
Living costs in The US
The costs of living vary depending on what campus/location you're in. According to Shiksha- Study Abroad, for a four-year, out of state college, you can expect to pay:
- Groceries and eating out - $150- $250 per month
- Gas, electricity - $50 per month
- Cell Phone - $50 per month
- Entertainment - $100 per month
Student accommodation costs
All Campus Living Villages properties in America have fully furnished floorplan options, with the majority of utilities included and are on campus.
Here's what our Villages include:
- Rent
- Utilities (gas, water, power)
- Furniture Options Available
- Fast, unlimited internet
- 24/7 Support
- Free student community events
Support
Our Village Management Team and Resident Assistants are an important part of the Village community, providing coverage 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
All of our Villages include key team members work closely with university and community student services to provide the best student experience possible.
Our onsite team are a first point of contact who are available to help International students navigate living in the US. We're here to help you!
Arriving in America
When you land in America, you will need to go through immigration and customs. If you're unsure, you can ask any of the staff for help on your way through. Your passport and Visa will be checked, then you can pick up your bags and go through customs. You can read more about going through customs here.
It's best to book your accommodation before you travel to the United States. You can easily get a taxi or an Uber from any Airport to your Village.
If you still need help, fill out the form below and we'll answer your questions!
Essential Services
Here's where you can find info on essential services you'll need on arrival in America:
- Bank accounts - you can set up a bank account before or after you arrive. You’ll be asked for two forms of identification (typically a passport and a secondary document such as a driver’s license, birth certificate or student identification), government forms related to your domestic studies and a letter proving you are enrolled in university (Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status – For Academic and Language Students). Your University Student Support Officers should be able to help you, and our Village staff can also help direct you to the nearest bank. Learn more here.
- Phone - if your phone provider won't work on arrival, we recommend getting an American SIM Card at the airport as soon as you land. Look for Vodafone or Optus stores to get set up right away. Check the airport website before you leave to see what options they have and how to find them
- Public Transport - Transportation systems are different in each state. Read more here
- Internet - all of our Villages include unlimited WIFI. You'll be able to get access as soon as you arrive and check in
COVID-Safety
Our students are our #1 priority, and from the beginning of 2020 our teams have gone above and beyond to ensure we are supporting students through a very challenging time. Here’s how we’re making our Villages safe, and why living on campus is helping our students thrive despite the pandemic.
See the latest Government travel and visa advice
Frequently asked questions about living in our Villages
Living at our villages gives you the best of both worlds: you get to live independently, with a full apartment where you can cook your own meals, but you also get to live in a supportive community with staff onsite to help you at any time. You're living in a Village that's all students just like you, which makes it the perfect place to make friends and build your own support network to make your way through University life together.
You also get the ultimate convenience - you can move into a furnished apartment where you just need to bring your clothes, laptop and get a few personal household items like sheets/towels and small kitchen items, and you're good to go! No need to buy any furniture or appliances.
All of our Villages have laundry centers and maintenance teams on site to help fix any household issues, and you don't have to deal with a landlord or take out a complicated lease on a property.
Our Villages also provide a year round calendar of events and activities to support students to live, learn and grow. From yoga and wellbeing workshops to Village dinners, trips, quiz nights, movie nights and more - there are so many great opportunities to meet other students and have a great time.
At Campus Living Villages properties, our most common accommodation types are a shared apartment, a studio or a 1 bedroom apartment.
A Shared Apartment means you will be living in an apartment with other students. You each rent an individual room that can come fully furnished (usually with a bed, desk and dresser as a minimum) and share the bathrooms (usually there are 2 bathrooms in our shared apartments, however smaller apartments will have only 1) and you will share a kitchen and lounge space. The kitchen and lounge are furnished, and you will all share the responsibility to clean the apartment together.
Our shared apartments range from 2 bedrooms to 4 bedrooms. Living in a shared apartment is a great way to make amazing friends for life, as you'll be living together and sharing your University experiences.
A studio means you will be in a small apartment that is usually a large bedroom that also includes some kitchen/cooking facilities. You will have your own ensuite bathroom. If you like your own space and privacy, want to balance affordability but still want to live in the Village community, this is a great option for you.
A 1 bedroom apartment is a larger apartment where you have a separate bedroom and a larger kitchen and lounge. This is a premium living option, if you like lots of space and privacy.
Prior to moving in, the village team will email you your village address and unit number. Grab a taxi or an Uber and head to the property using the village address. However, our Village team is always here to help support you.
Generally, the office is open 9am to 5pm from Monday to Saturday and closed on Sunday. If you do plan to arrive outside of office hours you can contact us in advance and let us know your arrival time, and we'll make sure someone is there to check you in.
We recommend that when you leave your home country and move to the US, you pack your personal items and minimum essentials. There are a number of things you can buy locally very cheaply. However, if you are moving into a Shared Apartment, you may find that there are already students living there who have a lot of household supplies you can share, or you can plan and shop for them together so you can split the costs and don't end up with too many of the same items.
Here is a list of what you’ll need:
Every room is private with a lockable door - only you will have access to your room. If you are in shared accommodation, the communal areas will the be accessible to all tenants of the specific apartment.
Unfortunately COVID-19 has caused many disruptions to people's plans. Depending on your circumstances, you have a number of options:
- If you need to change your travel plans slightly you can speak to our team about adjusting your arrival date
- If you cannot get to the US at all this semester - we're happy to help you defer your contract to a different start date
If you're affected in any way that's not listed above, we encourage you to speak to our team and we'll try our best to be as flexible and supportive as possible, based on your individual circucmstances.
Yes, absolutely! All of our rooms have multiple contract types that range from Full Year, Academic Year, Spring, and Summer terms.
Our most common contract types are Full Year or Academic Year. Each of these contract types are subject to availability and may not show on the website if they are sold out.
There is no deadline for applications; however, please note that once the Village has reached capacity, you are only able to sit on the waitlist, and this does not guarantee you a spot with us.
The kitchens are already equipped with large appliances, such as the fridge and dishwasher. However, you will need to supply your own small appliances such as a toaster, microwave, and coffee maker for example, and your cutlery, plates, bowls etc. If you live in shared accommodation, you can always wait until you meet your roommates to organize a group shop to figure out what everyone has brought along with them, or what might already be in your apartment that you can share.
There are many great options to buy low cost appliances nearby, including Target, Walmart and Ikea - all of which deliver if you order online.