TAFE Queensland Brisbane Accommodation

TAFE Queensland is one of Queensland's main vocational education and training (VET) providers, with roots dating back to 1882. You can study a wide range of certificates, diplomas, advanced diplomas, associate degrees and some bachelor's degrees.

For many international students, the TAFE Queensland South Bank Campus is the main campus. It sits in Brisbane's South Bank arts and cultural precinct, close to shops, restaurants, entertainment and public transport.

The campus is around a one-minute walk from South Bank railway and busway stations. You also have access to industry-focused facilities, including the 66 on Ernest training restaurant, a dental prosthetics CAD-CAM lab, a professional recording studio and a public-facing skin and beauty spa.

TAFE Queensland is CRICOS-accredited and offers pathway options into partner university degrees. Courses include nursing, business, early childhood education and care, civil engineering, games and interactive design, music, dental prosthetics, hairdressing, beauty and skin therapy.

TAFE Queensland accommodation also supports international students through the Brisbane Student Hub. You can get free help with accommodation, healthcare, employment and legal information, along with access to Wi-Fi and computers.

Life around the TAFE Queensland South Bank Campus gives you plenty of options once classes finish. South Bank, West End and Brisbane CBD are all close enough for you to enjoy restaurants, cultural attractions, markets and entertainment.

Student Support

International students can use the Brisbane Student Hub for free support with accommodation, healthcare, employment and legal information. The hub also provides Wi-Fi and computer access.

Sports & Fitness

The South Bank Fitness Centre is located on the TAFE Queensland South Bank Campus. The central location also gives you access to local sporting facilities and clubs around Brisbane.

Nightlife & Social Scene

• South Bank Parklands: Streets Beach, the Wheel of Brisbane, cinemas and restaurants around Grey Street give you plenty of options for a day or evening out.

• West End's Boundary Street: You'll find cafes, bars and live music venues close to the South Bank area.

• Fortitude Valley: Take a train or bus to reach one of Brisbane's main nightlife areas, with clubs, bars and entertainment venues.

Shopping & Markets

• Davies Park Markets: Held on Saturdays in the West End, these markets are a good place to browse fresh produce, street food and local stalls.

• South Bank: Stanley Street Plaza and Grey Street have shops, restaurants and cinemas close to campus.

• Brisbane CBD: Head into the city for major retailers, shopping centres and everyday essentials.

Culture & Events

South Bank's cultural precinct gives you easy access to:

• GOMA: A major destination for modern and contemporary art.

• QPAC: A venue for theatre, music and dance performances.

• Queensland Museum & Science Centre: Exhibitions covering science, natural history and Queensland's heritage.

• State Library of Queensland: A useful place for study, research, events and exhibitions.

You'll also be close to Griffith University's Queensland Conservatorium and Queensland College of Art, adding to the creative atmosphere around South Bank.

Healthcare

TAFE Queensland provides AccessAbility Support and Counselling services on campus. The Princess Alexandra Hospital is also nearby in the Woolloongabba/Dutton Park area.

International students are required to have Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of their visa.

Safety

South Bank and West End are busy inner-city areas with plenty of activity around the parks, campuses, shops and public transport. You should still stay aware of your surroundings, especially when travelling or walking alone at night.

TAFE Queensland does not provide traditional on-campus student halls, so you'll need to look at accommodation in nearby suburbs. Your options can include purpose-built student accommodation in Brisbane, homestays, share houses and private rentals.

Here are some areas worth considering.

South Brisbane / South Bank

Distance to campus: 0 to 800 metres

Vibe: South Bank is one of Brisbane's main cultural and leisure areas. You have South Bank Parklands, GOMA, QPAC, Queensland Museum and Streets Beach close by, along with restaurants, cinemas and shops around Grey Street.

Best for: You want the shortest possible commute and like having plenty to do close to home.

Rent: Units average around AU$800 per week. PBSA options can range from around AU$329 per week for twin-share rooms to AU$719 per week for premium studios at places such as UniLodge South Bank.

West End

Distance to campus: 1 to 1.8 km, around 15 to 20 minutes on foot or about 5 minutes by bus

Vibe: West End has a relaxed, multicultural feel, with independent cafes, bookshops and plenty of places to eat along Boundary Street. Davies Park Markets are also held on Saturdays.

Best for: You want a social area and are looking for shared housing or a more budget-conscious option.

Rent: Median unit rent is around AU$750 per week, while rooms in share houses can cost around AU$235 to AU$400+ per week.

Highgate Hill

Distance to campus: Around 1.5 km, roughly 20 minutes on foot or a short bus ride

Vibe: Highgate Hill is quieter than South Bank and West End, with an elevated position that gives parts of the area river and city views.

Best for: You want a quieter place to live while staying within easy reach of campus.

Rent: Median unit rent is around AU$580 per week.

Woolloongabba

Distance to campus: Around 2 km, roughly 15 to 20 minutes on foot or a short bus ride

Vibe: Woolloongabba is known for the Gabba stadium, apartment developments and its mix of shops and local businesses.

Best for: You want to keep rent and location balanced and are comfortable with a slightly longer commute.

Rent: Median unit rent is around AU$718 per week.

Wider Neighbourhoods

• Dutton Park: Around 2.5 km from campus, Dutton Park offers a quieter residential setting and a direct train connection to South Bank of around 10 minutes. Median unit rent is around AU$600 per week.

• Kangaroo Point: This area is approximately 1.5 to 2 km away and is known for riverside parkland, cliffs and views. You can walk across the Goodwill Bridge or catch a bus or the CityCat ferry to South Bank.

• Fortitude Valley / Brisbane CBD: 2-3 km from campus, these areas are great for students who want close proximity to nightlife, shopping, offices, restaurants and entertainment. Public transport takes about 10-15 minutes.

Practical tip: Translink has a flat fare of 50 cents for bus, train, ferry and tram trips, but not for Airtrain. If you’re trying to keep your weekly rent down, this can make living further from campus more manageable.

Normally rent is the biggest part of your student budget, but you’ll also need to budget for food, transport, bills, mobile plans and course-related expenses. The general cost of living (excluding rent) is about AU$220 to AU$320 per week, says the guide.

Here’s what you might have to budget for.

• Groceries and food: Supermarkets like ALDI can help with everyday grocery costs. Home cooking can also help you control your food spending.

• Transport: Regular travel can be kept low cost with the 50-cent fare from Translink. Using the figures in this guide, a regular commuter would spend around AU$2.50 to AU$5 per week.

• Household bills: In shared accommodation the electricity, internet and sometimes water bills are usually split between housemates. Your share may vary seasonally and with usage.

• Socialising: Allocate some funds for dining out and entertainment. You can extend your budget by attending loads of free events around South Bank and cheap eats in the West End.

• Cell plans: Choose a student-friendly mobile plan that fits your data and call needs. 

• Course costs: Some practical TAFE courses may require you to spend more on equipment, toolkits or materials. Further requirements may be required for courses including dental prosthetics and hairdressing.

International students also need to meet the financial capacity requirements for an Australian Student visa (subclass 500). The figure included in this guide is AUD $29,710 for the first 12 months per primary applicant. This is a financial capacity threshold and covers living costs rather than providing a separate rent-only figure.

When searching for TAFE Queensland Brisbane accommodation, you'll come across several room types. The right option depends on your budget, privacy needs and preferred way of living.

Private Room

A private room gives you your own lockable bedroom within a shared apartment or house. You may share the kitchen, living room and bathroom with other students.

This works well if you want your own sleeping space but prefer a lower cost than a studio.

Shared Room

A shared room usually means sharing a bedroom with another student, often in a twin-share setup. It tends to be one of the more affordable choices and can give you an easy way to meet other students.

The trade-off is having less personal space.

Studio Flat

A studio combines your bedroom, living area and kitchen into one open-plan space, with a private bathroom. It gives you more privacy and independence, making it a good option if you like having your own space for studying and relaxing.

Studios usually cost more than shared or private rooms.

Entire Place

With an entire place, you rent a whole apartment or house either on your own or with friends. You get more space and control over your living arrangement, although the overall cost can be higher.

Think about your weekly budget, privacy preferences and social needs before settling on a room type.

If you're looking for TAFE Queensland/Brisbane accommodation, these House of Student options cover a range of locations and budgets.

UniLodge South Bank

Address: 125 Colchester Street, South Brisbane, QLD 4101

Distance: 0.0 km from TAFE Queensland South Bank Campus

Starting price: AU$409 per week

If being close to class is your main priority, UniLodge South Bank is hard to beat. The property is right beside the campus, so you can keep your daily commute to a minimum. Its South Bank location also puts you close to cultural attractions, restaurants and other everyday facilities.

Student Living - Shafston

Address: 9-19 Castlebar St, Kangaroo Point, QLD 4169

Starting price: AU$468 per week

Student Living - Shafston gives you a Kangaroo Point location close to the river and surrounding parkland. You can reach the campus by walking across the Goodwill Bridge, taking a bus or using the CityCat ferry.

It's worth considering if you want a scenic area and are happy to spend a little time commuting.

UniLodge Herston

Address: 86 Bramston Terrace, Herston, Queensland 4006

Starting price: AU$199 per week

UniLodge Herston is the lowest-priced option in this list. It's further from the South Bank campus, but the low weekly rent and Brisbane's 50-cent public transport fare can make the location appealing to students working with a tighter budget.

UniLodge Brisbane City

Address: 41 George Street, Brisbane City, Queensland 4000

Distance: Listed as 31.59 km from campus, with an estimated transit time of around 76 minutes

Starting price: AU$319 per week

Located in Brisbane CBD, UniLodge Brisbane City suits students who want city-centre living. You'll have shops, restaurants and entertainment close by, with public transport providing a connection to South Bank.

Iglu Brisbane City

Address: 65 Mary Street, Brisbane City, Brisbane QLD 4000

Distance: Listed as 32.44 km from campus, with an estimated transit time of around 71 minutes

Starting price: AU$449 per week

Iglu Brisbane City is another CBD option for students who enjoy being close to the centre of Brisbane. You can choose this type of location if city amenities matter more to you than having the shortest commute to TAFE Queensland.

Your cheapest accommodation option may sit further from campus, so look at rent and travel costs together. Brisbane's 50-cent Translink fare can make this approach more practical.

Here are the options listed in this guide:

UniLodge Herston offers the lowest starting price, making it a useful option for students who want to keep rent down and are comfortable using public transport.

UniLodge Brisbane City gives you access to the CBD at a lower starting price than some other purpose-built options in the list.

UniLodge South Bank costs more per week than the cheapest choices, but its location beside campus can save you commuting time and travel costs.

Iglu Brisbane City gives you a CBD setting with modern facilities, while Student Living - Shafston offers a riverside location in Kangaroo Point.

When comparing TAFE Queensland accommodation, look at the full weekly cost rather than rent alone. Travel time, transport costs and the convenience of your location can all affect your overall student budget.

The South Bank Campus is at 66 Ernest Street, South Brisbane, around a one-minute walk from South Bank railway station and South Bank busway station.

Brisbane's 50-cent Translink fare also makes regular public transport affordable. The fare applies to bus, train, ferry and tram journeys, while Airtrain services have separate fares.

Here are some examples of travel from popular areas:

• West End: Around 15 to 20 minutes on foot or approximately 5 to 10 minutes by bus.

• Indooroopilly: You can travel by train to Roma Street and then change for South Bank. The journey takes around 21 minutes based on the figures in this guide.

• Chermside: Route 333 provides a direct bus connection to South Bank busway station, with a journey of around 35 minutes.

• Woolloongabba / Kangaroo Point: A local bus or walk can take around 10 to 15 minutes. Kangaroo Point also connects to South Bank via the Goodwill Bridge, while CityCat services offer another option along the Brisbane River.

Cycling

Brisbane has riverside cycling paths around South Bank and Kangaroo Point. CityCycle bike-share docks are also available around the area, giving you another option for shorter journeys.

Intercity Rail

South Bank railway station connects with several Queensland Rail services, including:

• Beenleigh line

• Cleveland line

• Gold Coast line

Roma Street is also nearby and provides connections to services, including the Airport and Sunshine Coast lines.

Airport Access

Train: Airtrain connects Brisbane Airport with the rail network. The journey to South Bank takes around 31 minutes. Airtrain has a separate fare from the 50-cent Translink fare, with the guide estimating around AU$12 to AU$18.

Driving, taxi or rideshare: A journey from Brisbane Airport to South Bank can take around 16 minutes, depending on traffic.

For the latest routes and journey times, check Translink before you travel.