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Hi! My name is Michelle and I'm from Singapore.
I'm doing a double degree in Arts and Law with Monash University,
and I've been here for 3 years.
Before arriving in Melbourne, I thought about the different kinds
of accommodation available to me.
But living on campus was something I'd always wanted to do,
so the choice for me was really simple.
My name is Maruthi and I came to Melbourne, Australia from India
to do my Masters in Business Information Systems.
One of the things I was initially concerned about was
where to live and what style of accommodation would suit me.
It was my first time living away from home,
and so I wanted somewhere close to campus and in a quiet neighbourhood.
While I waited for a vacancy at the Monash Residence Halls,
my cousin and I shared a place together in the city.
I was lucky,
I didn't have to wait too long for a place to open up.
Living in the city was great
as you're close to shops, restaurants and public transport.
But living at the Halls has been one of the best experiences.
And now that I've lived on-campus for my third year running,
I know I've made the right choice.
I did some research online and found
there were good accommodation options.
Renting an apartment suited me because I like the independence it offers.
So after arriving in Melbourne
and staying with a relative for the first few weeks,
I decided to look for a 2 bedroom unit I could rent with one of my classmates.
Sharing a place to live was a good option for me
as it keeps the costs down
and is a bit more social than living on your own.
Living on campus means there is always an opportunity
to meet people from different backgrounds
and experience university life to the fullest.
I've made so many friends here,
and it's great because we bake each other cupcakes and muffins.
We buy each other food and help each other out with schoolwork
or any other kind of trouble we could be in.
We did searches on the Monash Marketplace website
and a couple of real estate websites to see what was available.
We also visited some real estate agents
to find a good place to live.
We found a nice unit close to campus,
but it's important to visit a few places before deciding.
It was a little difficult at first,
as landlords often prefer to rent to those who are working.
They also require you to sign a rental agreement, which can be tricky to navigate.
But what I discovered was that the staff at
the Monash Residential Services can help you assess your options
and review the rental agreement, before you sign it and pay the bond.
It's a great safety net to have.
I wish I knew about how they could help me before I went out on my own.
Having a safe and secure environment is really important,
and that's exactly what the Residence Halls offer.
The peace of mind in having my bills delivered on time via email is great,
and if I ever need a light bulb changed, all I need to do
is send a maintenance request online.
It's so easy!
I love the view from my window, it's breathtaking.
It's a view I never get in a concrete jungle, having lived in so many before coming to Monash.
Being on-campus doesn't mean you're isolated though.
Here at Clayton, there are regular buses running to the beach, the train station
and to Chadstone Shopping Centre.
My advice to international students looking for accommodation
is to talk to the staff at Monash Residential Services,
they can really help you.
It's a good idea to narrow down what sort of accommodation
you're looking for
and if you can, check out the neighbourhoods they are in.
It's a really good idea to be close to shops and transport.
And make friends with your neighbours.
I would definitely recommend living on-campus to international students.
There are lots of sporting facilities and food outlets
and the convenience of living close to my classes is unbeatable!
Everyone living here is amazingly diverse.
Here at the Halls,
you make friends for life!