Project Report

The Experience of International Students Before and During COVID-19: Housing, work, study, and wellbeing

Despite the vital contribution international students make to the Australian economy and our cities and regions, almost all of these students have to make their own way in one of the world’s most unaffordable housing markets (Pawson et al. 2020). The Report, drawing on two surveys, one conducted before and one during the COVID-19 pandemic, examines the circumstances of international students in the private rental sector (PRS) in Sydney and Melbourne. The PRS is broadly defined to include any situation where an international student is paying rent. Thus, besides those students renting from landlords, the sample includes students in homestay, those residing in purpose-built student accommodation (such as Iglu and Urbanest), and those renting from their educational institutions.