Accommodation FAQ

What are the application criteria when applying for Accommodation?

All our Accommodation is for full time students studying at the University of
Auckland only.

First-year high school leaver (SL) (students aged 17-19):

• You are eligible if you are completing (or have completed) your final year of high school in 2025, or if you completed your final year in 2024, at a high school in Aotearoa New Zealand or an international equivalent.
  

Undergraduate (UG): You are eligible if you meet any of the following criteria:

• You are currently undertaking undergraduate studies and are not a first-year school leaver.
• You have previously lived in University of Auckland Accommodation.
• You are a current University of Auckland student who has never lived in University Accommodation (19+)
• You are a new student, either domestic or international, and aged 19 or older.
• You are a transfer student from another tertiary institution (within New Zealand or overseas) (19+)

Postgraduate (PG): 

• You are undertaking Postgraduate studies (i.e. Masters, or PhD). Please note: If you are undertaking a Graduate Diploma or Honours - You are considered an undergraduate applicant for Accommodation.

How does the selection process work / what are the key dates?
For Accommodation commencing at the start Semester One (February), offers will be made for every available bed in early - Mid October the year prior. After all spaces are offered, any further offers are then made to those waitlisted on a 'rolling' basis as declines and withdrawals are received. To be considered for the October offer period, your application must be received no later than 30 September. If you apply for accommodation after 30 September, and there are no vacancies available, we'll place your application on the wait list. You can only be waitlisted for one residence.

Can applicants list more than one preference / make more than one application?
Applicants can only submit one Accommodation application, with one residence preference. If we are unable to offer a place in the applicants preferred residence, we will email to advise what options are available – either a waitlist for their preferred residence, or an offer for another residence with availability. Note applicants cannot accept an offer and be on a waitlist at the same time.

What are the chances of getting my preferred residence?
We try to place everyone in their preferred residence but due to the number of applications this is not always possible. We will always try and offer a similar residence.

Is it a fixed length contract or can applicants choose the period they want to stay?
We only offer fixed term length residential agreements, and residents are required to pay for the duration of this term, no matter their arrival or departure date. Our fixed terms are either 38 weeks (SL), 42 or 52 weeks (UG and PG). Study abroad or those finishing their degree midway through the year can apply for a Semester Only term.

You're applying for a scholarship – do you have to apply for Accommodation?
Yes, you need to complete an Accommodation application – you will be asked as part of the application if you are applying for an Accommodation-inclusive scholarship. If your scholarship application is unsuccessful, you can choose to pay your Accommodation fees yourself or withdraw your application.

Can applicants change their residence preference?
Yes, applicants can manage their Waitlisted application via their Accommodation Portal using the 'Manage Application/Offer' tab. Note you can only be on one waitlist, but you will be considered for every space we have available across all of our residences.

Can applicants apply for Accommodation if they live in Auckland? Will this mean they are last to get offered?

No, this will not impact your Accommodation application. There isn't a hierarchy for applications from a specific location. Please see our Accommodation selections page for further information.

Does it cost to apply for Accommodation?
No - it does not cost to make an Accommodation Application. You will not be required to pay anything until you have received an offer.

How much do applicants have to pay upfront?
When applicants receive an offer, part of securing their spot is paying a $1000 deposit. $350 of this is the Administration Fee, and $650 of this goes towards their Accommodation fees. By signing your Residential Agreement Offer and paying your $1,000 deposit, your booking is confirmed.

Do I need to pay anything else before moving in?

Yes - please see your payment schedule for your specific payment obligations. You will be charged one instalment of approximately three weeks' rent which will need to be paid prior to moving in (your $650 above goes towards this). This then lines up your future fortnightly payments with StudyLink dates. You will also be charged a one-off Residential Services Fee.

What is the one-off Residential Services Fee?
The one-off Residential Services Fee ($375 for an Academic/Full year, $187.50 per Semester) is due prior to arrival, and covers laundry facilities, alongside a wide array of events and engagement programming provided throughout your stay. Membership to HIWA Recreation Centre is also included in your Accommodation booking.

How are charges applied?
Charges are applied fortnightly in advance.

Will StudyLink cover the cost of Accommodation?
This depends on the fees for the hall or residence you are offered, and your personal circumstances when applying for StudyLink. Most residents will either work over the summer to supplement their StudyLink payment through the academic year or have a part-time job. Please see the StudyLink website for more information.

What do Accommodation fees include?
Accommodation fees vary depending on the residence style, room type, and whether meals are included. All residences have power, water and laundry facilities free of use. Residents also have access to the University of Auckland WiFI network within their residence.

How can a Resident pay their Accommodation fees?

Please see our Accommodation fees page for all payment information.

If an applicant doesn’t like their hall or residence, can they leave?

We recommend residents speak to their Resident Manager to discuss options. You can see more information on our withdrawal process here.

Which is the most popular residence?
All of our University Accommodation offers the same community engagement and social programming, pastoral support, and safety and security measures. It's not about which is the most popular, but which feels right for the applicant. University Accommodation is what you make it – if residents get involved they’ll make friends for life no matter the hall or residence.

What security and safety measures are in place?
We expect our residents to take a certain amount of personal responsibility for their wellbeing and safety – the first few weeks in our residences there is a focus on personal care, wellbeing and safety through events, info sessions and meetings with their Residential Adviser (RA). Each hall and residence has a team of Accommodation staff who provide pastoral care and levels of escalation for emergency response as needed.

Can parents come to visit?
Yes, we encourage residents to have visitors, however, we recommend giving them some space to get settled in and involved in their residential community on their own. You can learn about our Visitor Policies and more in our Residence Handbooks.

Are there carparks available?
Some of our Accommodation have carparks available for residents to hire. An email will be sent to those with reserved bookings at the end of the year with the process to apply for Accommodation carparks. Sometimes there are more applications than carparks available, these are offered on a need basis first.

Are there alcohol free and single-gender floors?
Yes, applicants can indicate if they would prefer an alcohol free and/or a same sex floor on their application, and Accommodation teams will do their best to meet these preferences (dependent on availability).

How do I list all members of my group in the Accommodation Portal? 

When you reach the group application page you will see the following:

When entering the names of your group please ensure that you use their preferred name as stated on your University enrolment, to ensure that your group gets allocated correctly.

Group Leader:
Group Leader preferred name | Group Leaded Last Name | Group Leader Student ID Number

Group Members:
Please include the below for every Group Member and include the Group Leader:

Group Member preferred name | Group Member Last Name | Group Member Student ID Number  

How many members do we need for a group?

Your group can be anywhere between two to five people. Please note that we have limited numbers of each apartment size – whilst we will try to room your group in an apartment to reflect your group number, your group may be placed with another group or single applicant in the same apartment.

What if we only have a group of two or three?

You are welcome to make a group application with only two members, however, please note we do not have two bed apartments at any of our residences (other than those allocated to families). If you make a two-person group application, you do so knowing you will be roomed with either a second group or other single applicants. If one member of your two-person group withdraws, the other member will automatically become a single applicant.

*Please note that three-person groups are only able to apply for Carlaw Park Student Village - three-person groups for Stuart McCutcheon House will be placed in a five-bed apartment with either a two-person group or other individual applicants.

What is a ‘Group Leader'?

The Group Leader is the liaison between the Accommodation Solutions Team and your group. If we need to get in touch regarding your group application, we will contact your Group Leader and expect they will share the information with the wider group. As part of your application, you will tick to agree to the Group Leader being your chosen liaison. If any changes to your group occur, the Group Leader would be responsible for liaising with the Accommodation Solutions Team with the understanding they have cleared the amendments with the wider group.

What do we expect from the ‘Group Leader’?

Know your group! The Group Leader needs to ensure all Group Members have completed their applications by the 31 August and are aware of the offer criteria for a group application.

What if we currently live in different UoA Accommodation residence?

Your group can be made up of any current UoA Accommodation residents, no matter which residence they currently live in. All criteria for selection still apply. If one of your group members is a UoA student but not a current resident, please ensure that they have submitted their application by the 31 August in order to be considered as part of your group.

What do we expect from the ‘Group Members’?

As a Group Member we expect you to keep your Group Leader advised of any changes to your application or circumstances. You must meet the criteria set out to qualify for an offer. If you have any doubts on meeting the criteria, it is your responsibility to check with your current residential manager to make sure there is nothing on your part that will hinder the group being offered accommodation.

What is the group selection criteria?       

• You are a responsible and respectful member of the community. [This will be determined by evaluating any incident reports relating to you]
• You have taken care of your current room and common space. [This will be determined by any damage charges applied to you alone - it does not include community charges]
• Your current account status and payment history. [This will be determined by reviewing your account and whether you have met your contract/agreed payments in a timely fashion]

What if we want to change our group members?

We can accommodate group member changes prior to offers being sent. If group member changes are requested after offers are sent out in mid-September, they will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis dependent on availability.

To add or remove a group member, the Group Leader must email the Accommodation Solutions Team with the name and student ID of the student in question. Contact the Team at accom@auckland.ac.nz.

What if one of our group members doesn’t get an offer?

Choose your group members wisely. If a group member does not meet the criteria as listed above to receive an offer, the remainder of the group will be offered without them. 

What if we want to change our chosen residence?

Your group can apply for either Carlaw Park Student Village,  Stuart McCutcheon House or University Hall Apartments, you all have to apply for the same residence to be considered as a group. If the whole group wants to change their residence option, the Group Leader will need to communicate with the Accommodation Solutions team, who will do their best to re-offer but may not be able to. See how many bedroom flats each property has on the Group Applications page. 

When do we have to have our group application in by?

ALL members of the group will need to have completed their application by the 31 August to be considered for an Group Offer in mid-September.

Can we apply and be offered as a group after the advance offers have been made?

No group offers will be made after our group offer round in mid-September. We strongly advise that you get your group application in by the due date to make sure you do not miss on out on an offer.

When will we receive an offer?

Provided that your group has met the selection criteria, group members will receive an offer by mid-September. 

What if we do not receive a group offer?

You are very likely to receive a group offer if all of your group members have a complete application that meet the criteria. If you do not receive a group offer, your application will automatically be considered for a single offer - in late September for current students, and mid October for new students. 

How do I know if my offer is a group offer?

If you have received a group offer - your offer email will container the header that it is a group offer. If you have not been successful in receiving a group offer, your group will be notified.