Semester at the University of Sydney Housing

Here are some general rules, tips, and expectations to help you become accustomed to your new home!

To be edited by the Programs Team. Since this is Module 3, make sure Unblock this post is NOT checked. We want students to have to login to see this info. Delete the italicized text before publishing. LOOK FOR ALL THE ITALICIZED TEXT IF YOU USE THE SPAIN EXAMPLE BELOW AS YOUR TEMPLATE. 

Things to include:

  • housing description, if available (shared apt, dorm, residence, etc.)
  • Housing preferences? (can students choose roommates, or which housing to live in?)
  • Who are my roommates?
  • When will I receive my housing information or info about where I will be living?
  • Are there rules about the following:
  • Noise?
  • Cleanliness?
  • Utilities and Use?
  • Safety?
  • Guests and Alcohol Policies?
  • Financial Liability?
  • Helpful tips for living with other people?
  • Warning process?

Program Specific: (to be filled in by PC for each location, if necessary)

  • Overnight guests policy (allowed? strictly forbidden? during certain hours? with permission?)
  • Homestay rules (if different from above)
  • Are students allowed to have gatherings or parties?
  • Country laws? IE No noise is allowed in apartments in Spain after 10pm. This is Spanish law.

Below is a breakdown of the policy in Spain:

Please note that although CISabroad makes every effort to provide your preferred form of housing, we cannot guarantee that all personal preferences are met. We have carefully selected safe and adequate housing for each student and each living arrangement is distinct and special in its own way.

Every housing placement is different with different pros and cons. Your accommodations will be different than what you’ve come to expect in your home country. In general, be prepared for a relatively small living space in an older building with very basic amenities. Now is the time to open your mind and get ready to experience something different; this attitude is in the spirit of your decision to study abroad. Please also remember, that when you are abroad, you will be representing your home institution and your home country; behave appropriately.

There are no housing changes allowed during the first 2 weeks of the program. There is a natural adjustment period to life abroad and making any housing change decisions during this time is usually premature.

Below is a breakdown of the policy in Spain.

Cleanliness:
Keep your room and the common areas clean; this is especially important when you are sharing a bedroom, apartment, residence, or dormitory.

Noise:
In order to avoid disturbing the neighbors or housemates, please use headphones when listening to music, or keep the volume low, and please keep your voices down.

Utilities and use:

  • Heating and air conditioning should be used sparingly. NEVER leave heating or air conditioning units while you are not home. If you must have them on when you are sleeping, keep them low.
  • Always turn off the lights when you leave the apartment and when you are not in the room.

Safety:

  • You should lock the apartment door at all times. Also, when leaving the apartment, make sure the windows are closed and locked. Neither the study abroad company nor the housing company will not be responsible for any stolen items.
  • If the keys to the apartment are stolen, lost or misplaced, all locks to the apartment will have to be replaced at the student’s expense, including key copies for all apartment members.
  • If the keys are left inside the apartment/bedroom and the locksmith has to open the door for the you, you will have to pay for this service.
  • It is strictly forbidden to throw any object or substance from windows, balconies, terraces or roofs. This includes keys, cigarette butts or anything else big or small.

Guests and Alcohol Policies:

  • Disrespectful behavior related to alcohol consumption will end up in dismissal from the housing and you will have to find your own housing at your own expense.
  • Smoking is not allowed anywhere inside the apartment.
  • The consumption of drugs, as well as keeping or dealing with them, is absolutely prohibited

Financial Liability:

  • You will have to pay for any damage done to the apartment (doors, walls, floors, furniture, kitchen supplies, washing machine, etc.).
  • FOR PROGRAMS WITH HOUSING DEPOSITS. If extra time is needed to clean the apartment, or if items are damaged or missing, you will be charged and those charges will be deducted from your housing deposit. Housing deposits will be returned 8-12 weeks after the program has ended

Helpful tips for living with other people:

  • Respect your hosts and the other people that live in the building.
  • Remember that you are not on a college campus and not in your own home. Respect the property and get out of the “college campus” mentality.
  • Talk to your roommates if they do something that bothers you. Talking it through is the easiest way to solve a small problem before it gets bigger.
  • Talk to the staff if a problem arises and you cannot work it out with your roommates.

Warning process:

  • If any of the above rules are broken, you will receive a first verbal warning. This warning will also be written and sent to your sending study abroad program and your home school.
  • The second infraction of any of the above rules will result in you being evicted from your apartment. You will need to find a new place to live at your own expense.
  • Please read through all of our behavior policies noted in the CISabroad Policy Handbook, linked inside of the attachment to your acceptance email