Student Accommodation Loan

Compare your options to get the best personal loan for student accommodation. 

Written by 
Savvy Editorial Team
Savvy's content writing team are professionals with a wide and diverse range of industry experience and topic knowledge. We write across a broad spectrum of finance-related topics to provide our readers with informative resources to help them learn more about a certain area or enable them to decide on which product is best for their needs with careful comparison. Meet the team behind the operation here. Visit our authors page to meet Savvy's expert writing team, committed to delivering informative and engaging content to help you make informed financial decisions.
Our authors
, updated on October 4th, 2023       

Fact checked

At Savvy, we are committed to providing accurate information. Our content undergoes a rigorous process of fact-checking before it is published. Learn more about our editorial policy.

Personal Loans Banner

What is a student accommodation loan?

A student accommodation loan is a personal loan product designed to give you the financial support you need to help fund your student accommodation. It allows flexibility and less strict criteria to ensure students can be approved, even though they may not meet traditional loan requirements. Lenders are aware of this fact, as they usually haven't worked full-time and are instead working casually or part-time. Even if you don’t have a strong credit history, proof of consistent income or proof of significant savings, you could still be successful in obtaining a student accommodation personal loan.

When applying for a student accommodation loan, you will still have to provide all the usual documents, including bank statements, payslips, tax returns and identification. In addition, most lenders will require you to be an Australian citizen or permanent resident, although some can provide loans for those studying in Australia from abroad. As a trade-off for the less strict criteria, lenders only generally approve smaller loan amounts and provide stricter loan terms and repayments for borrowers to abide by.

How do I get a cheap student accommodation loan?

Most students operate on a budget, so it’s important that you know how to get a cheap student accommodation loan. There are a few things you can do to save money on your loan, including:

Consider a guarantor

A guarantor is a family member or close friend who is liable to pay off your loan if you can’t do so yourself. Using a guarantor will provide a form of security for the lender and ensure you can get a lower interest rate and better terms on your student accommodation loan to save money.

Avoid loans with extra fees

If your student accommodation loan has extra fees, you could end up paying a substantial amount more. Make sure you avoid loans with costly establishment fees or admin fees which can each run up the total cost of your student accommodation loan. While student loans are unlikely to have these fees waived, you can still search for and compare those which have cheaper linked costs.

Shorter loan term

If you opt for a shorter loan term, you will save money on interest and any ongoing fees. While shorter loan terms will require more expensive repayments, it can be a worthwhile trade off.

Types of personal loan

Why compare personal loans through Savvy?

How do I compare student accommodation loans?

Frequently asked questions about student accommodation loans

How much can I borrow on a student accommodation loan?

Borrowing limits will vary between lenders. As students will likely have little to no borrowing experience and potentially no full-time income, they will struggle to get approved for expensive personal loans.

Is it possible to make additional payments on my student accommodation loan to pay it off early?

Yes – certain lenders will let you pay off your student accommodation loan early, but they may also charge a fee to help recoup any money lost from interest payments or ongoing admin fees.

Can I use a HECS-HELP loan for student accommodation?

No – unfortunately, HECS-HELP loans are only available to students who are Australian citizens and do not cover the costs of accommodation. These are designed to fund the cost of students’ education, so they can only be used to pay for tuition fees at your university or higher education institution.

How long does it take for a student accommodation loan to be approved?

The processing times for student accommodation loans will differ between lenders and can change on a case-by-case basis. Your application is likely to be processed within one to two business days, as online lenders who can more freely cater to students’ finance needs are able to process personal loan applications quickly.

What can the funds for a student accommodation loan be used for?

While student accommodation loans are designed and taken out to provide funds for your student accommodation, the use of the funds is flexible once it’s transferred into your account. You're able to use any extra funds to help pay for other living costs, such as food or vehicle maintenance, or for any other approved purpose.

Where should I go to compare student accommodation loans?

To compare student accommodation loans, you should compare online with Savvy. Savvy makes it easy for you to compare the best student accommodation loans across an array of lenders to ensure you get the best option for your needs.

Helpful personal loan guides

Still looking for the right personal loan?

Personal loans come in all shapes and sizes, so read more about the ways you can use them, as well as how they might work for you.