Queensland University Of Technology Accommodation

Queensland University of Technology (QUT) is a public research university located in Brisbane. The university was established in 1989. It began much earlier through institutions, like the Brisbane Technical College and the Brisbane School of Arts.

In 2024 QUT had around 52,423 students, including 9,615 students. Its two main campuses are Gardens Point and Kelvin Grove. Gardens Point sits beside the Brisbane River and City Botanic Gardens in the CBD, while Kelvin Grove is around 4.5 km away.

QUT was ranked #240 globally in the QS World University Rankings 2027, while its Business School holds AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS accreditation.

The QUT Guild supports student life through clubs, societies, advocacy and welfare services across both campuses.

QUT does not run its own on-campus residential halls or offer guaranteed accommodation for first-year students. You'll therefore need to look at private rentals or purpose-built student accommodation in Brisbane when arranging your QUT accommodation.

Your time at QUT goes beyond classes and assignments. Brisbane gives you plenty of ways to meet people, stay active and make the most of your time away from campus.

Student Societies and Community

The QUT Guild supports clubs, societies and student activities across the university. You can join groups based on your course, interests, culture, hobbies or sport. The Guild also provides advocacy and welfare support.

Sports and Fitness

QUT Sport, in partnership with YMCA, operates fitness and aquatic centres at Gardens Point and Kelvin Grove. The Gardens Point facility includes a 50-metre indoor heated pool and gym. You can also take part in club sports and university competitions.

Nightlife and Social Scene

• Fortitude Valley: Head here for clubs, live music and a busy nightlife scene.

• West End: You'll find live music, markets, independent venues and a more relaxed atmosphere.
• South Bank: Riverside restaurants, cinemas and Streets Beach make this a good choice for a quieter evening.

Shopping and Markets

Queen Street Mall is around a 10-minute walk from Gardens Point and gives you access to major retailers. For something different, visit West End's Boundary Street area, Davies Park Markets or South Bank's weekend Collective Markets.

Culture and Events

You can also make the most of cultural venues around campus, including QUT Gardens Theatre and The Cube. South Bank's cultural precinct is close by, with attractions such as the Queensland Museum, Gallery of Modern Art and Queensland Performing Arts Centre.

QUT's Welcome Week events also give new students a chance to meet people and learn more about university services.

Healthcare

QUT operates QUT Health Service medical centres at Gardens Point and Kelvin Grove. These services are available to enrolled students.

Safety

Gardens Point is located in the CBD and has a busy urban setting. Keep standard city safety habits in mind, particularly when travelling alone at night. Check your route, stay aware of your surroundings and use well-lit areas where possible.

Your ideal area depends largely on your campus, budget and preferred lifestyle. Gardens Point is right in the city, so several inner-city suburbs give you easy access to lectures, shops and entertainment.

Inner-City Suburbs (Gardens Point Focus)

South Bank / South Brisbane

• Distance to Campus: Around 1.2 km from Gardens Point.

• Commute: About 10-15 minutes on foot via the Goodwill Bridge, or a short CityCat trip.
• Vibe: You'll have museums, galleries, cinemas, Streets Beach, restaurants and plenty of places to spend your free time nearby.
• Best For: Students who want a short walk to Gardens Point and enjoy a busy cultural scene.
• Avg. Weekly Rent (Indicative): Individual listings in September 2026 were around AU$725-750 per week.

West End

• Distance to campus: 2km from Gardens Point.

• Commute: 10-15 minutes by bus or walk to South Brisbane and cross the river.
• Vibe: West End is alternative with music and markets independent shops and a wide range of food.
• Good for: Students who like the vibe and shared house lifestyle.
• Weekly rent (indicative): 1-bedroom units were advertized at about $650-660 per week and 2-bedroom units were advertized at about $720, per week in September 2026.w

Spring Hill 

• Distance to Campus: Approx 1.5 km.

• Commute: 15-20 mins walk or short bus ride.
• Vibe: You’ll be living in a residential area but with the CBD on your doorstep.
• Best For: Students who want a city experience but don’t want to live in the part of Brisbane.
• Average weekly rent (median): AU$675 per week for 1-bed unit and AU$780 per week for 2-bed unit (based on Domain figures for September 2026).

Fortitude Valley

• Distance to Campus: 2 km.

• Commute: 15 minutes by train including the walk to and from the stations or around 15-20 minutes on foot.
• Vibe: This is one of Brisbanes areas for nightlife, live music and entertainment. You'll also find Chinatown and plenty of apartment buildings.
• Best For: Students who want nightlife, social activities and easy train connections.
• Avg. Weekly Rent (Median): Around AU$620 per week, for a 1-bed unit, based on September 2026 Domain figures.

Brisbane CBD

• Distance to Campus: Around 0-1 km from Gardens Point.

• Commute: Most journeys can be made on foot.
• Vibe: You'll be close to QUT, Queen Street Mall, the Botanic Gardens and the rest of the city centre.
• Best For: Students who want the shortest possible commute and plenty of convenience.

Kelvin Grove Campus Adjacent Suburbs

Kelvin Grove

• Distance to Campus: Right next to QUT's Kelvin Grove campus and around 4.5 km from Gardens Point.

• Commute: The free QUT intercampus shuttle takes around 12-15 minutes to Gardens Point. TransLink buses are another option.
• Vibe: You'll find cafes, a supermarket, medical facilities and Saturday markets within the Kelvin Grove Urban Village.
• Best For: Students studying Creative Industries, Education or Health at Kelvin Grove.

Red Hill

• Distance to Campus: Around 3-4 km from Kelvin Grove.

• Commute: Bus services run along the Musgrave Road and Waterworks Road corridors.
• Vibe: Red Hill gives you a quieter residential setting, with Queenslander homes, cafes and a more suburban feel.
• Best For: Students who want more space and a quieter area while staying close to Kelvin Grove.

Practical Notes on Rent: QUT does not operate its own student halls, so rental prices around the university come from the private market. The figures above are September 2026 snapshots and can change. PBSA providers such as Iglu and Scape often include utilities and Wi-Fi in the weekly rent, which can make your budget easier to manage.

Rent is only one part of your weekly student budget in Brisbane. You'll also need to allow for food, transport, utilities, phone costs and course-related expenses.

Excluding rent, a typical weekly budget can be around AU$290-350, based on QUT's published monthly cost guidance.

Food prices can vary a lot. QUT’s monthly estimate is from around AU$560 to AU$1,500 depending on your shopping and eating habits. Keeping this expense down can be helped by cooking at home.

Your travel habits also impact the cost of transportation. QUT’s advice is AU$40-100 per month for public transport. Please check TransLink for the most up to date fares before budgeting.

If utilities are not included in your rent, QUT recommends budgeting for electricity, gas and water at around AU$150-175 per month. Many PBSA properties have these bills and Wi-Fi included in the weekly rent.

As of July 2024, the Australian Government’s financial capacity requirement for a Student visa for international students was AU$29,710 per year for the primary applicant. This is a visa requirement so when you plan your actual budget, you should also consider your expected rent and day-to-day expenses.

QUT student housing has many different room types. Your choice often comes down to privacy, budget and how much shared space you’re comfortable with.

• Room: You have your own bedroom usually with basic furniture such as a bed, desk and wardrobe. The kitchen and living areas are shared with residents and sometimes the bathroom is shared too. This is a choice if you want privacy but still want to keep costs low.

• Shared Room: You share your bedroom with one or more students. This option is often among the affordable and works well for students who enjoy being around people and like a social atmosphere.

• Studio Flat: A studio offers you a space that includes a bedroom, living area, kitchen and bathroom all in one room. You get privacy than in a shared setup but it usually comes at a higher price compared to a room in a shared flat.

• En-suite Room: Your bedroom and bathroom are private so you don’t have to share those spaces. However the kitchen and living area are shared with others in the flat.

• Entire Place (Apartment/House): You rent an apartment or house either alone or with friends. This gives you control over your space and more room but you may also be responsible, for your own bills and managing the tenancy agreement.

Often, PBSA properties will have several of these room types, plus shared facilities and, in many cases, bills included in the weekly rent.

You'll find several PBSA options around Brisbane that give you convenient access to QUT. House of Student currently lists properties at different price points and locations.

UniLodge South Bank

• Distance to QUT: Located in South Brisbane, close to Gardens Point.

• Starting Price: From AU$409/week.
• Why it's great: You can walk towards Gardens Point via the Goodwill Bridge while having South Bank's restaurants, cultural venues and entertainment close to home.

UniLodge Brisbane City

• Distance to QUT: Around 0.5 km from Gardens Point.

• Travel Time: 6 minutes on foot, 6 minutes by public transport or 2 minutes by car.
• Starting Price: From AU$319/week.
• Why it's great: If you want to stay close to campus UniLodge Brisbane City gives you a commute as well as easy access to shopping and transport.

Iglu Brisbane City

• Distance to QUT: 0.73 km from Gardens Point.

• Travel Time: 10 minutes on foot or by public transport or 3 minutes by car.
• Starting Price: From AU$449/week.
• Why it's great: Its city location puts you close to QUT, shops, restaurants and other student-friendly facilities.

Student Living. Shafston

• Distance to QUT: Located in Kangaroo Point.

• Starting Price: From AU$468/week.
• Why it's great: Kangaroo Point gives you a side of Brisbane with city views and convenient links into the CBD.

UniLodge Herston

• Distance to QUT: Located in Herston.

• Starting Price: From AU$199/week.
• Why it's great: The lower starting price makes this an option worth considering if you are trying to keep accommodation costs down while staying connected to QUT.

Your final choice should come down to your weekly budget, campus, preferred commute and the type of room you want.

If you're trying to keep your accommodation budget under control, compare the weekly rent with what's included. A property with a slightly higher rent can still work out well if utilities and Wi-Fi are part of the package.

Here are some lower-priced options listed through House of Student:

UniLodge Herston

• Starting Price: From AU$199/week.

• Why it's affordable: It has the lowest starting price among these options and provides access to public transport for trips towards both QUT campuses.

UniLodge Brisbane City

• Distance to QUT: Approx. 0.5 km to Gardens Point.

• Travel Time: It is about 6 minute walk, 6 minutes by public transport and 2 minutes drive.
• Starting price: From AU$319 a week.
• Why it’s affordable: You get a central location and a short walk to Gardens Point, but not at the highest CBD prices.

UniLodge South Bank

• QUT. Distance from South Brisbane to QUT.

• Starting price: From AU$409 per week.
• Why it’s affordable: The location is convenient to the attractions of Gardens Point and South Bank making it a practical choice for students wanting accommodation convenience.

Iglu Brisbane City

• Distance to QUT: Gardens Point is approximately 0.73 km away.

• Travel Time: Approx. 10 min. on foot or by public transport.
• Starting price: From AU$449/week and up.
• Why it’s affordable: The all-inclusive pricing and location make it easier to keep track of what you're spending each week.

Student Living - Shafston

• Distance to QUT: Located in Kangaroo Point.

• Starting Price: From AU$468/week.
• Why it's affordable: The property offers access to the city and QUT while giving you a different residential setting.

Before booking, check the current weekly price and exactly what your rent covers. Utilities and Wi-Fi can make a noticeable difference to your overall student budget.

Getting around Brisbane is relatively straightforward, particularly if you live close to Gardens Point. You can use buses, trains, ferries, walking and cycling depending on where you live.

Gardens Point has its own CityCat terminal, while George Street provides access to major bus routes.

Getting to Gardens Point Campus

From South Bank / South Brisbane

• Mode: Walk or CityCat
• Route: Walk across the Goodwill Bridge or take a CityCat from South Bank to the QUT Gardens Point wharf.
• It’s a ten to fifteen minute walk, or a few minutes on the CityCat.

From West End

• Bus Route: Local buses run along Montague Road and Vulture St. Go to the CBD.

• Journey Time: approx. ten to fifteen minutes.

From Fortitude Valley 

• Mode: Train & walk

• How to get there: Train from Fortitude Valley to Central Station and walk to Gardens Point.
• Time: 15 minutes total.

From Spring Hill

• Mode: Walk or bus

• Route: Walk through the CBD. Catch a local bus.
• Journey Time: Around fifteen to twenty minutes on foot.

Commuting Between QUT Campuses

Between Kelvin Grove and Gardens Point

• Mode: QUT intercampus shuttle or TransLink bus

• Route: QUTs free shuttle bus, route 391 connects Alice Street at Gardens Point, with Musk Avenue at Kelvin Grove. Other TransLink routes also connect the two campuses.
• Journey Time: Around 12-15 minutes by shuttle.

Cycling in Brisbane

Cycling can be a practical option if you live close to campus. Brisbane has riverside cycling routes, and Gardens Point has an on-campus Cycle Centre. Some student accommodation properties are also within a short cycling distance of QUT.

Major Transport Hubs and Airport Access

Central Station, Brisbane is one of the city's main rail hubs. From here, you can connect with Fortitude Valley, South Brisbane and other parts of South East Queensland.

For airport travel, the Brisbane Airtrain connects Brisbane Airport with Central Station in around 20 minutes. From Central Station, Gardens Point is roughly a 10-minute walk. City fares have started around AU$17 based on the information available for this guide.