The Times Australia
The Times World News

.

As international students flock back, they face even worse housing struggles than before COVID

  • Written by Alan Morris, Professor, Institute for Public Policy and Governance, University of Technology Sydney
As international students flock back, they face even worse housing struggles than before COVID

Australia is welcoming back international students in much greater numbers this year. Some predict new enrolments in 2023 could even be higher[1] than the pre-COVID record in 2019. Student visa applications in the second half of 2022 were up 40%[2] on the same period in 2019.

The downside is many of these students are likely to struggle to find affordable and adequate accommodation. They are facing record low[3] private rental vacancy rates and higher rents[4] than before the pandemic.

Redfern Legal Centre’s International Student Legal Service NSW has been assisting international students for over a decade. Its senior solicitor, Sean Stimson, told us:

The tenancy situation facing international students in the second half of 2022 – including illegal evictions and illegal rent increases – is the worst I’ve seen. We are increasingly seeing international students who are occupying substandard, illegal accommodation, exposing themselves to dangerous environments.

To make matters worse, a number of universities have been selling off[5] a proportion[6] of their student housing[7] in response to falls in revenue[8] during the pandemic. For example, in 2021, University of Technology Sydney sold three buildings with 428 beds for A$95 million[9] to Scape, the largest provider in Australia’s A$20 billion purpose-built student housing sector[10].

In some cases, this has made student accommodation more costly. Rents are typically equivalent to, or even higher, than rents in the wider private rental market.

Cover of report on international students and the impacts of precarity
The authors’ report, International students and the impacts of precarity. Institute for Public Policy and Governance/UTS, Author provided

Like any group, students’ financial resources vary greatly. However, little was known about these inequalities and their impacts on international students’ housing and everyday living.

Our recently published study[11], involving more than 7,000 international students, shows many were struggling financially even before the post-COVID rental crisis. They suffered great anxiety about finding the money to pay the rent and worried about becoming homeless.

We also found food insecurity was common among these students. More than one in five had gone without meals. Similar numbers were unable to heat or cool their home adequately.

Read more: Australia wants international students to stay and work after graduation. They find it difficult for 4 reasons[12]

What did the study look at?

To study students’ experience of financial hardship or precarity, we used a scale of seven financial stress indicators[13] from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. We added a new item, “Could not afford to buy prescribed textbooks”.

Our research project[14] surveyed students who depended on private rental accommodation in Sydney[15] and Melbourne[16], Australia’s top destinations for international students, in late 2019.

The sample was drawn from all three post-secondary sectors. It included ten universities, 24 vocational colleges, seven English language colleges and two foundation course institutions.

We divided the 7,084 valid responses to the survey into four groups: secure (no financial stress indicators), moderately precarious (one to two indicators), highly precarious (three to five) and extremely precarious (six to eight).

Some 44% of students were secure, 31% were moderately precarious, 20% were highly precarious, and 5% were extremely precarious.

Read more: International students are returning to Australia, but they are mostly going to more prestigious universities[17]

How many students are struggling financially?

A large proportion of students were struggling, as the chart below shows. Some 21% reported going without meals in the past 12 months. And 22% were unable to heat or cool their home adequately.

Horizontal stacked bar chart showing students' responding 'yes' or 'no' to whether they had experienced eight indicators of financial stress over the previous 12 months Chart: The Conversation. Data: International students and the impacts of precarity, Author provided[18] How affordable is students’ housing? More than half of the students classed as highly and extremely precarious (53% and 58% respectively) said they could not “easily afford housing costs”. This compared to 34% of moderately precarious and 17% of secure students. Vertical bar chart showing students' level of agreement or disagreement with proposition that they can easily afford housing costs, grouped by level of financial stress Chart: The Conversation. Data: International students and the impacts of precarity, Author provided[19] Paying the rent was a source of much anxiety across all groups. Some 64% of highly precarious students and 81% of extremely precarious students said they often worried about paying the rent each week, compared to 38% of moderately precarious students and only 16% of secure students. Vertical bar chart showing students' level of agreement or disagreement to proposition 'I find myself often worrying about paying the rent each week' Chart: The Conversation. Data: International students and the impacts of precarity, Author provided[20] Worryingly, 70% of extremely precarious students reported going without necessities such as food so they could pay the rent. This proportion drops to 40% for highly precarious students, 16% for moderately precarious students and 11% for secure students. Vertical bar chart showing students' level of agreement or disagreement to proposition 'Quite often I go without necessities like food so I can pay for my accommodation' Chart: The Conversation. Data: International students and the impacts of precarity, Author provided[21] Read more: How many Australians are going hungry? We don't know for sure, and that's a big part of the problem[22] Many international students have a job and paid work is strongly related to precarity[23]. A large percentage of extremely precarious students and highly precarious students (87% and 70% respectively) agreed having paid work was essential to pay the rent[24]. In contrast, half of moderately precarious students and a quarter of secure students said they needed paid work to pay the rent. Severe financial need may drive students into accepting underpaid or unsafe work[25]. Vertical bar chart showing students' level of agreement or disagreement to proposition 'To pay the rent, I have to get a paid job' Chart: The Conversation. Data: International students and the impacts of precarity, Author provided[26] Read more: Australia is bringing migrant workers back – but exploitation is still rampant. Here are 3 changes needed now[27] How secure do students feel about their housing? High rents are only part of the housing insecurity problem. When asked whether they worry about being told to leave their accommodation at short notice, just over half of extremely precarious students said yes, as did 31% of high precarious students. Only 18% of moderately precarious students and 11% of secure students had similar worries. Vertical bar chart showing students' level of agreement or disagreement to proposition 'I worry that I might be told to leave this property and be given a short time to leave' Chart: The Conversation. Data: International students and the impacts of precarity, Author provided[28] A particularly worrying finding was that seven in ten extremely precarious students and just over one in three highly precarious students had felt in the past year that they could become homeless. Only 13% of moderately precarious students and 6% of secure students had this concern. Vertical bar chart showing percentages of students' 'yes' and 'no' responses to question 'In the past year, have you ever felt you could become homeless?' according to level of financial stress Chart: The Conversation. Data: International students and the impacts of precarity, Author provided[29] Read more: As international students return, let's not return to the status quo of isolation and exploitation[30] Looking ahead The rental housing crisis means the circumstances of international students in need of housing are likely worse now than in late 2019. The risks are particularly high for students from poorer backgrounds or countries. Policymakers and education providers must pay more attention to the issue of housing students who come to study in Australia. References^ could even be higher (www.afr.com)^ up 40% (www.theage.com.au)^ record low (www.smh.com.au)^ higher rents (www.sgsep.com.au)^ selling off (campusmorningmail.com.au)^ proportion (www.uts.edu.au)^ their student housing (www.theaustralian.com.au)^ response to falls in revenue (kordamentha.com)^ sold three buildings with 428 beds for A$95 million (www.afr.com)^ A$20 billion purpose-built student housing sector (www.realcommercial.com.au)^ recently published study (internationalstudentsandhousing.com)^ Australia wants international students to stay and work after graduation. They find it difficult for 4 reasons (theconversation.com)^ seven financial stress indicators (www.abs.gov.au)^ research project (internationalstudentsandhousing.com)^ Sydney (www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au)^ Melbourne (www.studyaustralia.gov.au)^ International students are returning to Australia, but they are mostly going to more prestigious universities (theconversation.com)^ Chart: The Conversation. Data: International students and the impacts of precarity (internationalstudentsandhousing.com)^ Chart: The Conversation. Data: International students and the impacts of precarity (internationalstudentsandhousing.com)^ Chart: The Conversation. Data: International students and the impacts of precarity (internationalstudentsandhousing.com)^ Chart: The Conversation. Data: International students and the impacts of precarity (internationalstudentsandhousing.com)^ How many Australians are going hungry? We don't know for sure, and that's a big part of the problem (theconversation.com)^ is strongly related to precarity (internationalstudentsandhousing.com)^ essential to pay the rent (www.tandfonline.com)^ accepting underpaid or unsafe work (journals.sagepub.com)^ Chart: The Conversation. Data: International students and the impacts of precarity (internationalstudentsandhousing.com)^ Australia is bringing migrant workers back – but exploitation is still rampant. Here are 3 changes needed now (theconversation.com)^ Chart: The Conversation. Data: International students and the impacts of precarity (internationalstudentsandhousing.com)^ Chart: The Conversation. Data: International students and the impacts of precarity (internationalstudentsandhousing.com)^ As international students return, let's not return to the status quo of isolation and exploitation (theconversation.com)

Read more https://theconversation.com/as-international-students-flock-back-they-face-even-worse-housing-struggles-than-before-covid-195364

Times Magazine

The Decline of Hyper-Casual: How Mid-Core Mobile Games Took Over in 2025

In recent years, the mobile gaming landscape has undergone a significant transformation, with mid-core mobile games emerging as the dominant force in app stores by 2025. This shift is underpinned by changing user habits and evolving monetization tr...

Understanding ITIL 4 and PRINCE2 Project Management Synergy

Key Highlights ITIL 4 focuses on IT service management, emphasising continual improvement and value creation through modern digital transformation approaches. PRINCE2 project management supports systematic planning and execution of projects wit...

What AI Adoption Means for the Future of Workplace Risk Management

Image by freepik As industrial operations become more complex and fast-paced, the risks faced by workers and employers alike continue to grow. Traditional safety models—reliant on manual oversight, reactive investigations, and standardised checklist...

From Beach Bops to Alpine Anthems: Your Sonos Survival Guide for a Long Weekend Escape

Alright, fellow adventurers and relaxation enthusiasts! So, you've packed your bags, charged your devices, and mentally prepared for that glorious King's Birthday long weekend. But hold on, are you really ready? Because a true long weekend warrior kn...

Effective Commercial Pest Control Solutions for a Safer Workplace

Keeping a workplace clean, safe, and free from pests is essential for maintaining productivity, protecting employee health, and upholding a company's reputation. Pests pose health risks, can cause structural damage, and can lead to serious legal an...

The Science Behind Reverse Osmosis and Why It Matters

What is reverse osmosis? Reverse osmosis (RO) is a water purification process that removes contaminants by forcing water through a semi-permeable membrane. This membrane allows only water molecules to pass through while blocking impurities such as...

The Times Features

The Role of Your GP in Creating a Chronic Disease Management Plan That Works

Living with a long-term condition, whether that is diabetes, asthma, arthritis or heart disease, means making hundreds of small decisions every day. You plan your diet against m...

Troubleshooting Flickering Lights: A Comprehensive Guide for Homeowners

Image by rawpixel.com on Freepik Effectively addressing flickering lights in your home is more than just a matter of convenience; it's a pivotal aspect of both home safety and en...

My shins hurt after running. Could it be shin splints?

If you’ve started running for the first time, started again after a break, or your workout is more intense, you might have felt it. A dull, nagging ache down your shins after...

Metal Roof Replacement Cost Per Square Metre in 2025: A Comprehensive Guide for Australian Homeowners

In recent years, the trend of installing metal roofs has surged across Australia. With their reputation for being both robust and visually appealing, it's easy to understand thei...

Why You’re Always Adjusting Your Bra — and What to Do Instead

Image by freepik It starts with a gentle tug, then a subtle shift, and before you know it, you're adjusting your bra again — in the middle of work, at dinner, even on the couch. I...

How to Tell If Your Eyes Are Working Harder Than They Should Be

Image by freepik Most of us take our vision for granted—until it starts to let us down. Whether it's squinting at your phone, rubbing your eyes at the end of the day, or feeling ...