We are looking forward to your arrival at ANU Residence! You may find some helpful information right here that you should be aware of before you arrive. To make sure you're prepared to move in, take some time to read through this page.
Moving in date
The move-in dates for the student residences vary depending on location. You will need to refer to your accommodation offer email for your particular contract start date.
Please contact your residence if you plan on arriving before or after the contract start date to make arrangements.
If you arrive early and your accommodation is not available we can help you seek temporary accommodation until your room is ready.
Accompanying family members are welcome to stay for the first week to help you settle in, however they will need to locate temporary accommodation in one of the nearby hotels and motels.
Before you arrive
The ANU welcome service provides free Canberra airport pick-up to commencing international, domestic and eligible students on select days prior to and during orientation week. The service will operate from 10 AM - 1 PM from Canberra airport. Students who have registered for the service will be provided with free transportation to their accommodation in Canberra. Registrations and further information on operational hours can be found at: https://orientation.anu.edu.au/prepare-anu/canberra-airport-welcome-service
You might be eligible for financial support under Centrelink, depending on your circumstances. Explore your options to understand more. There are also a number of bursaries and scholarships to provide support with the University accommodation costs and other support options can be found here.
Canberra has a range of affordable retail stores and multicultural grocery shops, offering a wide range of items you may need to make yourself at home. You can buy most items at a reasonable price in Canberra, so prioritise bringing the essentials like the below:
- scanned copy of your travel documents, including visa, passport and eCOE.
- Australian currency to get you started*
- Snacks or select food from home
- Toiletry products you may need
- Climate appropriate clothing - Universal travel adaptor
Most retail and supermarket chains in Australia do have online stores. It is a good idea to browse through their webpages to understand prices and items that are available in Australia. Examples of major supermarket and household retail stores include: Coles, Woolworths, Big W, Target and Kmart.
*Australia has strict biosecurity control. Understand what you can and cannot bring to Australia. There are limits on certain items you can bring such as maximum amount of cash you can bring and the types of food products you can bring in. Check what you can bring to Australia here: https://www.awe.gov.au/biosecurity-trade/travelling/bringing-mailing-goods
There are no direct international flights to Canberra. There are several options to get to Canberra, including domestic air travel, bus, train and private transport. Most students opt to travel to Canberra via domestic air travel or bus from Sydney or Melbourne.
By air - domestic flight
Domestic flight Canberra is an hour away from Sydney and Melbourne by air. You will need to make your way from the international terminal to domestic terminal if you opt to take domestic flight to Canberra. International customs will need to be cleared at your port of arrival before you can take your domestic flight. This means that you will need to take your luggage with you when moving from international to domestic terminal. Sydney airport is one the biggest airports in Australia. It is not possible to walk between Sydney’s international and domestic terminals.
There are free shuttle buses operating between the two terminals that you can utilise to assist you with your transfer. Melbourne airport is smaller in comparison. The international terminal is a short walk from the domestic terminal.
By bus
Bus to Canberra Canberra is 3.5 hours bus trip away from Sydney and about 7.5 hours bus trip away from Melbourne. Many students opt to travel via bus from Sydney to Canberra. The bus terminal is located outside Sydney domestic airport terminal. For more information on Sydney-Canberra bus services:
- Murrays bus: https://www.murrays.com.au/express-services/canberra-sydney-timetable/
- Greyhound bus: https://www.greyhound.com.au/
Both services depart from Sydney airport and arrive in the Canberra Jolimont Bus Station, which is only 2 km away from ANU.
The ANU welcome service provides free Canberra airport pick-up to commencing international, domestic and eligible students on select days prior to and during orientation week. The service will operate from 10 AM - 1 PM from Canberra airport. Students who have registered for the service will be provided with free transportation to their accommodation in Canberra. Registrations and further information on operational hours can be found at: https://orientation.anu.edu.au/prepare-anu/canberra-airport-welcome-service
What to bring?
Get ready to set up your home away from home. All residences contain your bed (with mattress protector), wardrobe, desk, chair, and a sink. You should bring your clothes, toiletries, sheets and blankets/duvet. If you are going to be living in a self-catered residence you should also bring your cooking utensils and equipment.
Following is a guide on what you should need:
Essentials
Clothing (for all seasons) (Including warm summers and cold winters) | Plug converters (International students) |
| Coat hangers | Laptop/PC/gaming devices |
| Wet-weather clothing | Chargers and converters/adapters |
| Pillow/s | Data cables |
| Duvet/bedding | Bath towels |
| Sheets | Toiletries |
| Umbrella | Washing powder (Some residences have front loaders, so check before buying) |
Cooking utensils (Self-catered residences) | Laundry hamper |
Optional
| Clock Radio | Gym gear |
| Hair dryer/curling tongs/straightener | Runners/trainers |
Small fridge (Some residences may have, so check before buying) | Bicycle/form of transport |
TV (Some common areas have, so check before buying) | Mementos from home |
What not to bring
Due to fire risk the following items are not permitted:
- Heaters
- Kitchen appliances
- Electric blankets
- Additional furniture
Pets/animals of any type are not permitted in any ANU Residence.
Residential Handbook
The Residential Handbook aims to provide residents with a reference to policies, procedures, administration and facilities for each Residence. The Handbook forms part of your Occupancy Agreement so we urge you to read it carefully. Please direct any enquiries to the front office at the Residence in which you reside. The Residential Handbook may be reviewed and/or amended at any time, only students under contract will be notified of changes.
Residential Handbook
Room Guides
There are several important things that you will need to know about your room before you move in. The complete guide to operating the furniture and fittings in your room.
- Bruce Hall Room Guide (PDF, 1.24 MB)
- Burton and Garran Hall Room Guide (PDF, 1.55 MB)
- Fenner Hall Room Guide (PDF, 1.21 MB)
- Toad Hall Room Guide (PDF, 1.92 MB)
- Ursula Hall Main Wing Room Guide (PDF, 1.26 MB)
- Ursula Hall Laurus Wing Room Guide (PDF, 2.19 MB)
- Wamburun Hall Room Guide (PDF, 2.26 MB)
- Wright Hall Room Guide (PDF, 1.11 MB)
Consent Matters
Completing the Consent Matters online module is an important part of ANU’s commitment to our campus being a safe and welcoming environment for all. You will need to complete these learning modules before your arrival, and before joining in with the social and campus familiarisation activities planned for Orientation Week.
Please access the Consent Matters training on Canvas.
Transport
ANU offers limited paid parking. If you intend on bringing a car you should discuss with ANU parking prior to arrival at parking@anu.edu.au. With reliable public transport, short distances and great cycling facilities, we encourage you not to bring a car.
Transportation is easily accessible being so close to the city; buses, Uber, taxi services and the tram are all great forms of travel. The services are reliable and timely. There are walking tracks close by with some of the best views of Canberra. If you like to hike, Black Mountain Tower is on your doorstep.
In Canberra we also have access to e-scooters. These e-scooters, or electric scooters use a rechargeable battery as a power source. You can also choose car sharing services provided by Flexicar and bike share services at the Acton campus. For more information about these services, please refer to: Carshare Scheme and Bike share