Student Accommodation near The Fashion Institute

The Fashion Institute (TFI) is a private higher education provider in Sydney specialising in the business and communications side of the fashion industry. It was founded in 2010 by former fashion publicist Sarah Stavrow and expanded into Bachelor-degree programmes in 2022.

More than 800 students have graduated from TFI and gone on to pursue careers in the fashion industry.

TFI's academic focus differs from institutions centred primarily on garment construction and traditional fashion design. Its courses focus on areas such as fashion business, public relations, communications, and digital marketing.

The institute also has a network of more than 600 industry partners. Workplace training placements are integrated into its courses, giving students an opportunity to gain practical experience alongside their academic studies.

TFI Campus

The Fashion Institute operates from a single campus at:

55 Regent Street, Chippendale, NSW 2008

The campus occupies a four-level converted creative-industries building. Facilities listed for the campus include:

• Rooftop terrace
• Photography studios
• Styling studios
• Apple Mac-equipped computer laboratories

Its Chippendale location places students within Sydney's inner-city design and gallery precinct. Central Station is around a five-minute walk from the campus, giving students access to a major rail and transport interchange.

TFI is registered with TEQSA and listed on CRICOS, making it accessible to both domestic and international students. The institute is also an approved FEE-HELP provider.

TFI does not publish aggregate enrolment figures, so a specific current student population cannot be stated. Its smaller scale gives it a more focused cohort structure than a large public university.

Student life at The Fashion Institute is shaped partly by its small, specialised college structure and partly by its Chippendale location. TFI has a dedicated student services team rather than a formal student union, with student-life programmes and support aimed at helping students settle into college life. International students also have access to an international student hub.

The campus itself does not have dedicated sports facilities. Students looking to exercise or take part in recreational activities can use fitness centres and other facilities across inner Sydney.

Cafes, Food and Socialising

TFI's Chippendale campus is surrounded by cafes, eateries and small bars, giving students plenty of places to eat or meet friends without travelling far from campus. Chippendale, Surry Hills and Newtown are particularly relevant for students who want access to restaurants, cafes and evening venues.

Surry Hills is known for its concentration of cafes and bars around Crown Street, while Newtown's King Street has restaurants, independent shops and evening entertainment. Sydney's CBD is also within a short train or bus journey, opening up further choices for food, entertainment and social activities.

Shopping and Fashion

Students studying fashion-related business, communication and marketing may find the surrounding inner-city retail scene particularly relevant to their interests.

Surry Hills has independent boutiques and fashion retailers around Crown Street. Newtown offers vintage stores, independent boutiques and smaller fashion businesses along and around King Street. These areas give students places to browse clothing, accessories and second-hand fashion without travelling far outside the inner city.

Sydney's wider retail scene adds larger shopping precincts and department stores, while the CBD can be reached from Central Station.

Arts, Culture and Events

Sydney's arts and cultural calendar gives students access to exhibitions, galleries, museums, theatres and live music venues. Fashion-related events and design exhibitions can also be relevant to TFI students.

Australian Fashion Week is one example of a major industry event when it is scheduled. Gallery openings, design exhibitions and other creative-industry events can also form part of the city's cultural calendar.

Students interested in fashion can therefore engage with the wider creative sector outside their formal coursework, although specific events and dates vary throughout the year.

Health and Wellbeing

TFI operates a student support programme, giving students a channel for academic and personal support. Students should check directly with the institute for the current arrangements covering health and wellbeing services, counselling and other forms of assistance.

International students should also account for Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) as part of their study and living arrangements in Australia. The exact requirements and coverage depend on the student's circumstances and policy.

Safety Around Sydney

Sydney is generally considered a safe city for students, although normal precautions remain important, particularly when travelling late at night. Students should remain aware of their surroundings, keep valuables secure and use well-lit routes when walking after dark.

Some larger university campuses offer after-hours safety services such as security escorts. Students at TFI should check the institute's current policies to confirm what campus-specific support is available outside normal operating hours.

The Fashion Institute's Chippendale campus is surrounded by several inner-Sydney suburbs that can work well for students. Rent varies considerably between neighbourhoods, so students should compare weekly accommodation costs against commute times and local transport options.

The following areas are based on the supplied accommodation estimates for shared rooms.

Chippendale

Chippendale, NSW 2008, is home to The Fashion Institute and offers the shortest possible commute for students who live close to Regent Street.

The suburb has developed a strong creative character, particularly around Central Park, with cafes, small bars, creative businesses, and residential developments. Its proximity to Central Station is another major advantage.

Factor	Details
Distance to TFI	Campus located in Chippendale
Typical commute	Walking
Share-room rent	Approx. AU$360–500/week
Best suited to	Students prioritising proximity

Living in Chippendale can make daily travel simple, particularly for students who prefer walking to campus rather than relying on public transport.

Surry Hills

Surry Hills, NSW 2010, is close to Chippendale and is one of the more established inner-city residential areas for students and young professionals.

The suburb is known for Crown Street, with cafes, bars, restaurants, and design-oriented businesses spread through the area. Its character also makes it relevant to students studying fashion, communications, and related creative fields.

Students can generally reach TFI by walking or taking a short bus journey.

Factor	Details
Distance to TFI	Short inner-city journey
Main transport	Walking or bus
Share-room rent	Approx. AU$370–510/week
Best suited to	Students seeking dining and creative businesses

Redfern

Redfern, NSW 2016, is a useful choice for students who want to remain close to TFI while looking for comparatively lower accommodation costs.

The suburb has its own railway station and a growing selection of cafes and local businesses. Rail connections also make it easier to travel beyond the immediate area.

Factor	Details
Distance to TFI	Short inner-city journey
Main transport	Train, walking
Share-room rent	Approx. AU$330–460/week
Best suited to	Budget-conscious students

Redfern is the budget pick among the main inner-city areas covered here. Its combination of comparatively lower shared-room rents and rail access makes it worth considering for students who want to keep accommodation expenses under control.

Newtown

Newtown, NSW 2042, is one of Sydney's best-known student and alternative-fashion areas. King Street is lined with vintage shops, independent boutiques, cafes, restaurants, and entertainment venues.

For students interested in fashion retail, vintage clothing, and alternative styles, the suburb offers a particularly relevant local environment.

Newtown has train and light rail connections, which can be used for journeys towards Central and the TFI campus.

Factor	Details
Distance to TFI	Short inner-city journey
Main transport	Train or light rail
Share-room rent	Approx. AU$350–490/week
Best suited to	Students interested in fashion, culture and nightlife

Newtown is the premium pick in this group because of its distinctive cultural and retail environment rather than simply its proximity to campus.

Glebe

Glebe, NSW 2037, offers a somewhat quieter alternative to Chippendale, Surry Hills, and Newtown.

The suburb is known for its terrace houses and Saturday markets. Students can travel to TFI by bus or walk, depending on their exact accommodation location.

Factor	Details
Distance to TFI	Short inner-city journey
Main transport	Bus or walking
Share-room rent	Approx. AU$340–470/week
Best suited to	Students wanting a quieter residential area

Comparing the Main Areas

Area	Share-Room Rent	Main Transport	Key Consideration
Chippendale	AU$360–500/week	Walking	Closest to TFI
Surry Hills	AU$370–510/week	Walk or bus	Cafes, bars and design businesses
Redfern	AU$330–460/week	Train or walking	Lower shared-room rent
Newtown	AU$350–490/week	Train or light rail	Vintage retail and cultural scene
Glebe	AU$340–470/week	Bus or walking	Quieter residential setting

The choice largely comes down to what matters most to you. Chippendale minimises the commute, Redfern has the lowest supplied shared-room range, and Newtown offers a strong connection with Sydney's alternative fashion and cultural scene.

Students should still check the exact property location within each suburb. A suburb-level distance does not mean every property within that suburb will have the same journey time to TFI.

Sydney is a costly city to reside in, especially the central city. Students at The Fashion Institute have to have separate budgets for rent and for other expenses.

This excludes rent. The total budget for mandatory and optional costs is around AU$380–550 per week for one student.

Food & Groceries

Food and consumables cost about AU$120-175 per week for students.

That figure includes a usual grocery trip and some casual dinner out. The real cost will depend on how often students cook at home, eat at cafés, buy takeaway or eat out at restaurants.

TFI is in the inner city, and students can access a number of food shops around Chippendale and neighbouring neighbourhoods.

Transport

A student travelling five days a week around should expect to pay about AU$50–65 per week for public transport.

Sydney has a network of public transit using the Opal system. Concession prices may be available for full-time students, which can reduce the cost of normal travel.

Students living within walking distance of TFI may spend less on transport as they do not have to take a train or bus to go to campus each day.

Household Bills

Students sharing a flat or home can budget between AU$50–75 per week for their share of electricity, gas and internet.

The real number depends on the property, the inhabitants, the consumption and whether utilities are included in the rent.

Socialising and Going Out

A weekly budget of around AU$70–120 can cover social activities, dining out, entertainment, and other leisure spending.

Inner Sydney offers many cafes, restaurants, bars, cultural venues, and events, but frequent spending in these areas can push the weekly total higher.

Mobile Subscriptions

A standard Australian prepaid or SIM-only mobile plan can cost around AU$15–25 per week.

The supplied monthly equivalent is approximately AU$65–100, depending on the plan selected.

Course Costs

Students should also budget for between AU$10-20 per week for expenses associated with their education. This is an amortised estimate for textbooks, stationery and other study supplies.

Additional course-specific charges may be incurred by fashion and communications students depending on their program, but no separate figure is provided for these costs.

Student Visa Financial Requirement

International students should also understand Australia's financial-capacity requirement for a Student visa.

The supplied 2026 benchmark is AU$29,710 per year, equivalent to approximately AU$571 per week, excluding tuition fees.

This figure is a financial-capacity benchmark rather than a precise estimate of what every TFI student will spend. It also does not separately itemise rent.

Students living in inner Sydney should therefore build their own budget around actual accommodation costs and personal spending habits rather than using the visa benchmark as their complete weekly budget.

Students looking for the fashion institute accommodation have several room arrangements to consider, and the right choice depends largely on privacy, budget and how much of the living space they want to share. Student residences and private rentals can differ considerably in layout and weekly cost, so understanding the basic room categories helps narrow the search.

Room Type	What You Get	Privacy	Cost Level
Shared Room	A bedroom shared with another student, with access to shared facilities	Low	Lowest
Private Room	A bedroom of your own, with some facilities shared depending on the property	Medium to high	Moderate
Studio Flat	Self-contained sleeping, living and kitchen space with a private bathroom	High	Higher
Entire Place	A complete apartment or house occupied alone or with chosen flatmates	Highest	Highest overall

Shared Room

A shared room places two or more students in the same bedroom. Kitchen, bathroom and living areas are generally shared as well, depending on the residence. This arrangement usually has the lowest weekly cost and can work well for students who are comfortable sharing their personal space.

Shared rooms are common in student residences and some shared houses. The main trade-off is privacy. Students should also check the number of occupants, storage arrangements, and whether utilities are included before signing a lease.

Private Room

A private room allows the student to have their own bedroom, yet other rooms might still be shared. Depending on the property, the kitchen, lounge, or bathroom may be communal.

This configuration stands somewhere between shared student accommodation in Sydney and a studio. It provides students with a personal area without the cost of renting a whole self-contained unit.

Apartment Studio

The studio integrates the sleeping and living spaces into a separate space, typically with its own kitchen and bathroom. It is ideal for students who like to control their own schedule and don’t want to share the major facilities of the housing.

A studio will typically cost more than a shared or private room, so students should think about the extra privacy in relation to their monthly housing budget.

Entire Venue

Whole place means you're renting a full flat or house. A space for a student to use alone or with friends or chosen housemates.

This allows for the most control of the living arrangement but the overall rent and housekeeping expenses can be much greater. If you have flatmates you trust, it could be more practical to share the cost.

The Fashion Institute is located at 55 Regent Street, Chippendale, and its campus is around a five-minute walk from Central Station. That location makes accommodation in Chippendale, Redfern, Waterloo and Glebe particularly relevant for students who want to stay close to campus.

The following properties are among the accommodation options listed near the institute:

Accommodation	Distance from TFI	Approx. Travel Time	Starting Price
UniLodge Ultimo	0.0 km	At the campus location	AU$100/week
UKO Redfern	1.71 km	12-min walk / 5-min drive	AU$560/week
Iglu Waterloo	1.69 km	22-min walk / 20-min transit	AU$699/week
UKO Glebe	2.08 km	26-min walk / 13-min transit	AU$455/week
UKO Paddington Village	3.31 km	36-min walk / 24-min transit	AU$740/week
Scape Lachlan	4.51 km	22-min transit	AU$689/week

UniLodge Ultimo

The nearest accommodation to The Fashion Institute is UniLodge Ultimo, which is listed at 0.0 km in the accommodation statistics provided. It is also considerably cheaper than the other houses on the list, with a listed starting price of AU$100 a week.

The price needs to be carefully confirmed before booking. Students should check the type of room available, availability, lease length, what is included, and if the offered amount is a typical weekly rate or a special deal.

UKO Redfern

TFI is roughly 1.71 km away from UKO Redfern. The travel estimate suggests a walk of around 12 minutes, or a drive of roughly five minutes. Redfern also has its own railway station, providing students with another alternative for getting around inner Sydney.

Starting price AU$560 weekly.

Waterloo Igloo

Iglu Waterloo is about 1.69 km from the institute. The estimates given are that the trip is about 22 minutes on foot or 20 minutes using public transport.

It’s available for a starting price of AU$699 a week, which is on the pricier side of the accommodation options in this comparison.

UKO Glebe

To go to UKO Glebe from TFI, you would need to walk about 2.08 km, which is about 26 minutes, or about 13 minutes on public transport. Its quoted starting price is AU$455 per week, making it one of the more affordable options among properties within easy reach of the university.

Glebe is also a good option for students who desire to be away from the immediate Chippendale region, but within a reasonable travelling distance of the institute.

UKO Paddington Village

UKO Paddington Village is approximately 3.31 km from TFI. The supplied travel estimates give a walking time of around 36 minutes and a public transport journey of roughly 24 minutes.

The listed starting price is AU$740 per week, making it the most expensive property in this particular comparison.

Scape Lachlan

Scape Lachlan, located in Kensington, is approximately 4.51 km from The Fashion Institute. The supplied estimate gives a public transport journey of around 22 minutes.

Its listed starting price is AU$689 per week. Although it is farther from campus than several other properties, the estimated transit time remains within a reasonable range for students who are comfortable commuting.

Weekly rent can take up a substantial share of a student's budget in Sydney, so price comparisons are useful when deciding where to live. The listed accommodation options range from AU$100 to AU$740 per week, although the lowest figure should be independently checked before being used for budgeting.

Accommodation	Distance	Starting Price	Approx. Travel
UniLodge Ultimo	0.0 km	AU$100/week	At the campus location
UKO Glebe	2.08 km	AU$455/week	26-min walk / 13-min transit
UKO Redfern	1.71 km	AU$560/week	12-min walk / 5-min drive
UKO Potts Point	5.53 km	AU$680/week	25-min transit
Scape Lachlan	4.51 km	AU$689/week	22-min transit
Iglu Waterloo	1.69 km	AU$699/week	22-min walk / 20-min transit

UKO Glebe stands out as the lowest-priced option after UniLodge Ultimo in the supplied list, at AU$455 per week. Its approximately 13-minute public transport journey also keeps the daily commute relatively short.

UKO Redfern, at AU$560 per week, costs more but is closer to TFI than UKO Glebe. The Redfern location may also appeal to students who place greater importance on access to rail transport.

UKO Potts Point is listed at AU$680 per week and around 5.53 km from campus, with an estimated 25-minute public transport journey. Scape Lachlan is slightly more expensive at AU$689 per week, while Iglu Waterloo is listed at AU$699 per week despite being just 1.69 km from TFI.

Price should therefore be considered alongside distance and transport rather than treated as the only deciding factor. A cheaper room farther from campus can involve additional transport costs, while a more expensive room closer to TFI may reduce daily travel time.

Students should also check whether rent covers utilities such as electricity, water, heating, internet or other household charges. The quoted weekly prices are starting figures from the supplied accommodation information and can change according to room type, contract period, availability and booking conditions.

The Fashion Institute is located at 55 Regent Street, Chippendale, NSW 2008, and the campus is approximately a five-minute walk from Central Station. This makes public transport a practical part of everyday student life.

Transport services across Sydney are coordinated through Transport for NSW. The wider network includes Sydney Trains, Sydney Metro, Sydney Buses and Sydney Ferries, with the Opal system used across much of the network.

Eligible full-time students can also receive public transport concessions, subject to the relevant eligibility requirements.

Getting to TFI from Nearby Areas

The neighbourhood where a student lives can make a noticeable difference to the daily commute. Several areas close to Chippendale can be reached on foot or through a short public transport journey.

Area	Main Travel Option to TFI	General Commute
Chippendale	Walk	Short walk
Redfern	Train or walk	Short
Surry Hills	Walk or bus	Short
Newtown	Train/light rail to Central, then walk	Short to moderate
Glebe	Bus or walk	Moderate

From Chippendale

Students living in Chippendale can generally walk to the TFI campus. Since the institute itself is located in Chippendale, accommodation in the immediate area can reduce the need for daily public transport.

From Redfern

Redfern has its own railway station and is close to Chippendale. Students can either walk towards the TFI campus or use the train network where appropriate.

The short distance also makes Redfern a practical choice for students who want to remain close to campus while having direct access to Sydney's wider rail network.

From Surry Hills

Surry Hills sits close to Chippendale and can be reached on foot from many parts of the suburb. Bus services provide another option for students living farther from the campus.

The actual journey time depends on the student's starting point within Surry Hills, so accommodation should be assessed by its specific location rather than the suburb name alone.

From Newtown

Newtown has access to both train and light rail services. Students can travel towards Central and then walk the remaining distance to the TFI campus.

The area can therefore suit students who want to live in Newtown while keeping their commute manageable.

From Glebe

Glebe is connected to the surrounding inner-city areas through bus services, while some locations are also within walking distance of Chippendale. Students should compare their accommodation's exact position with the available routes before choosing between walking and public transport.

Central Station and Wider Sydney Travel

Central Station is particularly important for TFI students because of the campus's proximity to it. The station serves Sydney's suburban rail network and bus connections and also handles NSW TrainLink regional and interstate rail and coach services.

Its location means students can reach destinations across Sydney without having to make a long journey from campus before connecting to the wider network.

Students travelling outside Sydney can also use Central Station for regional and interstate services operated through NSW TrainLink, subject to the relevant timetable and service.

Travelling to Sydney Airport

Students travelling to or from Sydney Airport can use the T8 Airport & South Line from Central Station. Airport stations have a separate station access fee, so students should account for this additional charge when budgeting for airport journeys.

Transport arrangements and fares can change, so checking the current information through the official Transport for NSW and Opal channels is advisable before travelling.

Cycling Around Inner Sydney

Cycling is another option for students living within a few kilometres of campus. Inner Sydney has separated cycleways and cycling routes in some areas, although the network is not uniform across every street.

Students should check the route between their accommodation and TFI before relying on cycling as their main mode of transport. Hills, road conditions, traffic and available bike storage can all affect whether cycling is practical for a particular accommodation.