Deakin University Accommodation

Deakin University is a public research university that was established in 1974. Its Melbourne Burwood Campus, at 221 Burwood Highway, is the university’s main metropolitan campus and has around 30,544 students. Across all campuses, Deakin has more than 61,704 students.

The Burwood campus has a leafy setting and plenty of spaces for study, food and social activities. Deakin offers 217 undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across four faculties: Arts and Education, Business and Law, Health, and Science, Engineering and Built Environment. You’ll also find facilities such as the Deakin University Art Gallery and direct tram access through Route 75.

Deakin follows a trimester system, with three academic periods each year. Each trimester has around 12 teaching weeks followed by exams, so it helps to sort out your Deakin student accommodation before your classes begin.

Life at Deakin’s Burwood campus gives you plenty to do between classes. You can join student clubs, play sport, attend events or head into nearby suburbs for food and entertainment.

Student Union and Societies

The Deakin University Student Association (DUSA) runs clubs, societies, events and student support services. You can join groups based on your course, culture, hobbies or interests.

There are also services such as academic support, welfare assistance, a food pantry and free breakfast programmes. Events such as trivia nights and O-Week give you easy ways to meet people.

Sports and Recreation

Deakin Sport offers several ways to stay active on campus. You’ll find a gym, fitness classes, ovals and courts, along with club sports such as football, basketball, netball and ultimate frisbee.

Joining a sports club can also be a simple way to meet other students outside your course.

Nightlife and Socialising

Burwood itself is fairly quiet, so you’ll have to head towards Box Hill or central Melbourne for a wider choice of nightlife.

Box Hill is around 3 km away and has plenty of restaurants, bars and cafés. For larger nightlife venues, Melbourne’s CBD offers far more choice. You can also take part in DUSA events on campus if you prefer social activities closer to home.

Shopping and Markets

For everyday shopping, you’ll find local shops around Burwood Highway and Warrigal Road. Box Hill has a larger range of shops and Asian supermarkets, making it useful for groceries and affordable meals.

Camberwell Junction is another popular option, especially if you enjoy browsing markets and local shops.

Culture and Events

You can visit the Deakin University Art Gallery without leaving campus. Wattle Park, beside Burwood, is another nearby spot when you want some outdoor space.

During the academic year, DUSA also runs events, club showcases and O-Week activities.

Healthcare and Safety

Deakin’s Burwood campus has an on-campus medical centre and counselling services. Students can also access disability support, multifaith rooms and low-sensory reset rooms.

For your own safety, use the university’s support services, stay aware of your surroundings and check local transport information when travelling late.

Your main choices around Deakin’s Burwood campus include on-campus residences and private rentals in the eastern suburbs. Think about your commute, weekly rent and the kind of area you’d enjoy living in before you make a decision.

On-Campus: Deakin Residences

Deakin Residences at Building MB, 70 Elgar Road, gives you the shortest possible commute. More than 1,000 students live here, with campus facilities just a 2-5 minute walk away.

Room choices include shared units and studios, with indicative rents starting from around AU$279 to AU$363 per week. Utilities and Wi-Fi are bundled into the accommodation cost, and there is no bond. You also have access to shared spaces such as a music room, sports lounge, rooftop terrace and zen zone, along with regular student events.

For first-year or international students, this can be a practical way to settle into university life without having to arrange a long daily commute.

Burwood (Immediate Campus Suburb)

Burwood sits right around the university, so you can live close enough to walk to class. Many share houses are around 5-20 minutes from campus.

The suburb has a quiet, leafy feel and a diverse community. Whole houses can cost around AU$695-950 per week for three to five bedrooms, while sharing with other students can bring the cost per person down.

Burwood works well if you want your home close to campus and prefer a quieter place to study.

Box Hill (VIC 3128)

Box Hill is around 3 km from Deakin and gives you more of a busy town-centre feel. You can reach campus using Deakin’s free Route 201 shuttle or SmartBus 903, with journeys taking around 10-15 minutes.

You’ll have plenty of Asian supermarkets, restaurants, shops and everyday services nearby. Box Hill Station also connects you to Melbourne through the Belgrave and Lilydale lines.

Median house rent is around AU$689 per week, although sharing a house can make the area more affordable.

Camberwell (VIC 3124)

Around 5 km from campus, Camberwell offers leafy streets, local shops and a more established suburban setting. Its main shopping area is Camberwell Junction, and the Sunday market is popular for vintage goods and local produce.

Two-bedroom units can go for about AU$475 per week, while houses can range from about AU$860-940 per week. Catch the Belgrave, Lilydale or Alamein line to Camberwell Station and then take a tram or bus toward campus. The entire trip could be 20-30 minutes.

Glen Waverley VIC 3150

Glen Waverley is about 7km south east of Deakin and is a good option if you prefer a quieter, family orientated suburb. The Glen shopping center has a lot of shops and food options and the area has a strong Asian-Australian community.

Getting to campus usually involves a bus connection and may require a change. Allow around 25-35 minutes for the trip.

Mont Albert (VIC 3127)

Mont Albert is roughly 4 km north of campus and has a calm residential feel. You can travel by train on the Belgrave or Lilydale line and connect towards Deakin through Box Hill.

A combined journey can take around 20-25 minutes. This area suits you if a peaceful home matters more than being right beside campus.

Budget Pick

For a lower-cost and simple setup, Deakin Residences starts at around AU$279 per week for shared units. Utilities and Wi-Fi are included, and you also have easy access to campus.

For an off-campus option, a room in a shared house around Box Hill could give you more flexibility with rent.

Premium Pick

Camberwell is a strong premium option if you like leafy streets, local shopping and a more established suburban setting. Rent tends to be higher, but you get good access to rail services and plenty of things to do nearby.

Your Deakin accommodation prices will take up a large part of your student budget, but you’ll also need to allow for food, transport, bills and social activities.

A rough weekly budget for one student around Melbourne Burwood, excluding rent, is around AU$320-480.

Expense	Approx. weekly cost
Groceries and food	AU$100-150
Transport	AU$45-55
Household bills	AU$40-60
Socialising	AU$60-100
Mobile plan	AU$15-25
Course materials	AU$10-20

Your actual spending will depend on your lifestyle. Cooking at home, sharing bills and using public transport can help keep your weekly costs manageable.

The Australian Government’s student visa financial capacity figure is AU$29,710 per year, or around AU$571 per week. This is a visa requirement benchmark rather than a fixed weekly living budget.

You’ll come across several types of student accommodation near Deakin University. The right option depends mainly on your budget and how much private space you want.

• Studio Flat: You get your own bedroom, living space, kitchen and bathroom in one self-contained unit. Studios give you plenty of privacy but usually cost more.
• Private Room: You have your own bedroom while sharing areas such as the kitchen and living room. This is a popular middle-ground option.
• Shared Room: You share your bedroom with one or more students. It can help reduce rent and gives you a chance to meet other students.
• Entire Place: You rent a whole apartment or house. Sharing the rent with friends can make a larger property more manageable.

Before signing a contract, compare the rent, included bills, room size, location and commute to campus.

The best Deakin student housing for you depends on how much you want to spend and how far you’re happy to travel each day. Deakin Residences gives you the closest access to campus, while House of Student has several Melbourne properties for students who prefer city or inner-suburb living.

UniLodge Park Avenue

• Address: 8 Leonard Street, Parkville, Melbourne

• Starting price: AU$329/week
• Distance to Deakin Burwood: Approximately 18-19 km
• Suits: Students who want a lower rent and prefer living closer to Melbourne’s city centre. You’ll have a longer commute to Burwood.

UniLodge Lincoln House

• Address: 125 Bouverie Street, Carlton, Melbourne

• Starting price: AU$449/week
• Distance to Deakin Burwood: Approximately 15-16 km
• Suits: Students who like Carlton’s cafés, restaurants and city-fringe location and are comfortable with a longer trip to campus.

UKO Melbourne Central

• Address: 19 Exploration Ln, Melbourne VIC 3000

• Starting price: AU$620/week
• Distance to Deakin Burwood: 15.66 km
• Estimated transit time: 57 minutes
• Suits: Students who want inner-city living and easy access to Melbourne’s shops, restaurants and entertainment. Route 75 also gives you a direct tram connection towards Deakin.

West Tower, Melbourne Quarter

• Address: 648 Flinders Street, Melbourne VIC 3000

• Starting price: AU$700/week
• Distance to Deakin Burwood: 16.97 km
• Estimated transit time: 56 minutes
• Suits: Students who prefer modern city accommodation and easy access to Melbourne’s transport network.

Caulfield Place

• Address: 5 Caulfield Boulevard, Caulfield North VIC 3161

• Starting price: AU$820/week
• Distance to Deakin Burwood: 9.77 km
• Estimated drive time: 19 minutes
• Suits: Students who want to live in an inner-southern suburb and have a shorter distance to Burwood compared with CBD options.

Keep the daily commute in mind when comparing these properties. A cheaper room can cost more in time and transport if you travel to Burwood every day.

If keeping rent down is your main priority, compare the weekly price with your expected transport costs and travel time.

Deakin Residences

• Starting price: AU$279/week for shared units

• Distance to Deakin Burwood: On campus
• Why it works for a budget: Utilities and Wi-Fi are included, and you have immediate campus access.
• Suits: First-year students, international students and anyone who wants a simple all-in-one setup.

UniLodge Park Avenue

• Starting price: AU$329/week

• Distance to Deakin Burwood: Approximately 18-19 km
• Why it works for a budget: A lower starting rent for managed student accommodation in Parkville.
• Suits: Students who prefer city access and can manage a longer commute.

Campus Melbourne

• Address: 205 Bell St, Preston VIC 3072

• Starting price: AU$266/week
• Distance to Deakin Burwood: 20.52 km
• Estimated transit time: 87 minutes
• Why it works for a budget: One of the lower starting rents among the listed PBSA options.
• Suits: Students focused mainly on keeping rent low and comfortable with a longer journey to Burwood.

UniLodge Lincoln House

• Starting price: AU$449/week

• Distance to Deakin Burwood: Approximately 15-16 km
• Why it works for a budget: It gives you managed student accommodation in Carlton at a lower starting price than some premium CBD options.
• Suits: Students who want a lively city-fringe area and have a little more room in their budget.

Getting to campus is fairly simple from many eastern suburbs, thanks to Melbourne’s tram, train and bus network. Your choice of Deakin University student accommodation can have a big effect on how much time you spend travelling each week.

Public Transport - Myki

Melbourne uses myki for public transport across trains, trams and buses. A standard fare allows unlimited travel for two hours, with daily fare limits also applying.

Check the current fare rules before budgeting for your weekly travel, as prices and concessions can change.

Key Transport Routes to Deakin Burwood Campus

• From Burwood: Many share houses are within a 5-20 minute walk of campus.

• From Box Hill: Route 201, SmartBus 903 and Bus 767 connect Box Hill with the university. The trip can take around 10-15 minutes.
• From Melbourne CBD: Route 75 runs along Burwood Highway and stops at the campus. The tram takes longer than driving but gives you a direct public transport option.
• From Camberwell: You can take the Belgrave, Lilydale or Alamein train lines to Camberwell and connect towards Deakin by tram or bus. Allow around 20-30 minutes.
• From Mont Albert: Take the Belgrave or Lilydale line and connect towards Box Hill and Deakin. The combined trip can take around 20-25 minutes.
• From Glen Waverley: Bus connections usually form part of the journey, with a change often needed. Allow around 25-35 minutes.

Cycling

Cycling can work well for students living in nearby suburbs. Deakin provides bike racks, lockers and a secure bike cage on the Burwood campus.

The eastern suburbs have cycling routes, although the network is less dense than in inner Melbourne. Check your route before cycling to campus, especially if you’re new to the area.

Intercity Rail and Airport Access

Intercity rail: Regional and interstate trains leave from Southern Cross Station in the CBD. From Box Hill you can access the station on Metro train services.

Airport access: SkyBus Eastern Express from Box Hill to Melbourne Airport. You can travel from Deakin Burwood to Box Hill by shuttle or public transport and then take the airport service. Depending on connections and traffic, the trip from Burwood to the airport takes between 35 and 45 minutes.

Check with Public Transport Victoria for the latest information on current routes, fares and travel times before you travel.