You Live And Learn

You Live And Learn

Sun Herald

Sunday May 4, 2008

Claire Halliday

Book early for choice accommodation that will ease your way through the system, writes Claire Halliday.

FINDING the right accommodation can be critical to the successful completion of a degree.

At the University of NSW, New College Postgraduate Village is still under construction and will be opened early next year.

"While there have been a couple of postgraduate facilities built in the past, this is the most ambitious project of its kind in Australia," says New College Master, Professor Trevor Cairney. "It will be the first self-catered postgraduate community that is based on collegiality, academic excellence and service."

The village will have mentoring and tutoring support for its 319 residents, who will be a mix of Australian and international students.

Cairney says the village will have a variety of academic, social and cultural programs designed to encourage a sense of community and personal support. "It will have two common rooms on every floor, a reading room, games room, business centre, main common room, two private outdoor courtyards, convenience store and rooftop terrace," he says.

The residential community will be supported by a team of residential tutors, academic tutors and an extended network of fellows and staff.

"Our aim is to support postgraduate students as they learn and grow in intellect and character," Cairney says. "This is a community that will help some of the brightest young people at UNSW so they can make a difference to the world."

At the University of New England website (www.une.edu.au/about/living), on-campus accommodation has the option of catered facilities or a "flexi-choice" system where residents pay only for the meals they need.

With seven different residential colleges, there are places for more than 2000 students.

Places for postgraduate students are in high demand but a visit to the Australian National University website's accommodation link (http://accom.anu.edu.au/UAS/978.html) occasionally uncovers an advertisement for single room vacancies. There are five residences and students are encouraged to apply early.