Narrm Scholarship accommodation allowance

Eligibility

Am I eligible for the accommodation allowance?

Narrm Scholars who'll be studying any undergraduate course and gain a place at a participating accommodation provider will be considered for this allowance if they come from:

• An outer Melbourne local government area (see additional FAQ for full list of postcodes)
• A regional or remote area of Australia (your residential address is located within a Statistical Areas Level 1 (SA1) that is not defined as a major city by the Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS))

Please note:

• Accommodation places are not guaranteed
• You'll need to submit a separate application for accommodation at a participating provider to be considered for this allowance (alongside your VTAC equity schemes and scholarships application for Access Melbourne consideration)
• There are a limited number of allowances across participating accommodation providers. All regional, remote and outer Melbourne Narrm Scholars will be assessed for the allowance if they gain a place.

The accommodation allowance is conditional on staying at a participating accommodation provider and not receiving the ABSTUDY Residential Costs Option.

The limited number of accommodation allowances will be allocated for Semester 1 entry; therefore, mid-year entry allowances will be subject to availability.

What postcodes are considered outer Melbourne?

Home addresses located in the following postcodes are considered:

• Cardina Shire Council

  • 3159
  • 3781
  • 3782
  • 3783
  • 3807
  • 3808
  • 3809
  • 3810
  • 3812
  • 3813
  • 3814
  • 3815
  • 3816
  • 3978
  • 3980
  • 3981
  • 3987

• City of Casey

  • 3156
  • 3177
  • 3802
  • 3803
  • 3804
  • 3805
  • 3806
  • 3807
  • 3912
  • 3975
  • 3976
  • 3977
  • 3978
  • 3980

• Hume City Council

  • 3036
  • 3043
  • 3045
  • 3047
  • 3048
  • 3049
  • 3059
  • 3060
  • 3061
  • 3062
  • 3063
  • 3064
  • 3427
  • 3428
  • 3429
  • 3430

• Melton City Council

  • 3023
  • 3024
  • 3029
  • 3037
  • 3335
  • 3336
  • 3337
  • 3338
  • 3340
  • 3427

• Mitchell Shire Council

  • 3435
  • 3444
  • 3521
  • 3522
  • 3523
  • 3658
  • 3659
  • 3660
  • 3661
  • 3662
  • 3663
  • 3664
  • 3666
  • 3717
  • 3753
  • 3756
  • 3758
  • 3762
  • 3764

• Nillumbik Shire Council

  • 3088
  • 3089
  • 3090
  • 3091
  • 3095
  • 3096
  • 3097
  • 3099
  • 3113
  • 3754
  • 3755
  • 3757
  • 3759
  • 3760
  • 3761
  • 3763
  • 3775

• City of Whittlesea

  • 3064
  • 3074
  • 3075
  • 3076
  • 3082
  • 3083
  • 3750
  • 3751
  • 3752
  • 3753
  • 3754
  • 3755
  • 3757

• Wyndham City Council

  • 3024
  • 3026
  • 3027
  • 3028
  • 3029
  • 3030
  • 3211
  • 3338

• Yarra Ranges Council

  • 3115
  • 3116
  • 3137
  • 3138
  • 3139
  • 3140
  • 3156
  • 3158
  • 3159
  • 3160
  • 3723
  • 3765
  • 3766
  • 3767
  • 3770
  • 3775
  • 3777
  • 3778
  • 3779
  • 3782
  • 3785
  • 3786
  • 3787
  • 3788
  • 3789
  • 3791
  • 3792
  • 3793
  • 3795
  • 3796
  • 3797
  • 3799
  • 3804
  • 3833

These councils are municipalities that form a ring around metropolitan Melbourne, Victoria. This inclusion aims to expand accommodation options for students who currently live a considerable distance from campus, making it easier to access campus and student life.

What is a regional or remote area?

You are eligible for consideration if your residential address is located within a Statistical Areas Level 1 (SA1), an area that is not defined as a major city by the Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS).

To check the rurality rating of your residential address:

First confirm the Statistical Area Level 1 (SA1) code of your residential address here use the 'Address search’, and ensure that the selected 'Census year' is 2021.

Once you have the SA1 code for your residential address (the SA1 code will be an 11-digit number), you will be able to use this code to search for the correlating Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS)rurality rating on the Remoteness areas spreadsheet.

If the ASGS rurality rating of your residence is NOT classified to 'Major Cities of Australia', then your residential address is eligible for consideration.

Accommodation options

Where can I use the accommodation allowance?

The accommodation allowance can be used at the following participating University apartment-style Accommodation providers and residential colleges:

• Accommodation at Dookie (Bachelor of Agriculture students only)

• International House

• Janet Clarke Hall

• Lisa Bellear House

• Little Hall

• Newman College

• Ormond College

• Queens College

• St Hilda’s College

• St Mary’s College

• Trinity College

• University College

• Wilam Hall (formerly Medley Hall)

UniLodge Lincoln House, Student Village Melbourne and The Lofts (postgraduate students only) are not included.

Please note: The accommodation allowance covers the cost of approved accommodation fees, up to $20,000 per year. Where accommodation fees are less than $20,000, the accommodation allowance will equal the total accommodation fee.

Which accommodation option is best for me?

Finding the best fit for you is important. If possible, visiting the various providers in person and taking a tour an Open House or Open Day is a great way to get a feel for the culture and lifestyle.

Please note that some options have year-long contracts, while others have a shorter contract of 34-40 weeks – where you may need to move out during semester or end-of-year breaks.

There is also a lot of information on each accommodation provider's web page, which you can explore before making a decision about where to apply.

Are accommodation places guaranteed?

The participating accommodation providers do not guarantee Narrm Scholars a place, as each has limited rooms available and application processes to complete. There are a limited number of accommodation allowance places available per year.

All Narrm Scholars who come from a regional or remote area in Australia or an outer Melbourne suburb will be assessed for the accommodation allowance if they gain a place at a participating accommodation provider.

If I decide to change my residence in the second or third year of my studies, can I continue to receive the accommodation allowance?

If you change to University Accommodation (Little Hall, Lisa Bellear House, Wilam Hall, or International House) you’ll receive the accommodation allowance of $20,000 per year for the remaining duration of your scholarship.

If you change to a residential college (Janet Clarke Hall, Newman College, Ormond College, Queen’s College, St Hilda’s College, St Mary’s College, Trinity College, or University College), the accommodation allowance may be reduced to $10,000 per year, depending on the availability of college scholarships.

Which rooms can I apply for?

Accommodation allowance recipients can choose any room type at Lisa Bellear House or Little Hall, subject to room availability.

If you apply at one of the other providers, you will be allocated a room based on local college or building arrangements.

Can I receive the accommodation allowance while living at regional campuses?

If you’re already receiving the accommodation allowance and are studying the Bachelor of Agriculture and decide to undertake the optional semesters during second and third year where you'll live and study at our Dookie campus, you’ll be eligible to continue to receive the allowance while staying at University-owned accommodation.

Fees and payments

How much is the accommodation allowance?

The accommodation allowance is valued at $20,000 per year.

There are a limited number of accommodation allowance places available per year across participating accommodation providers. If you miss out, you may be eligible for other scholarships made available at individual residential colleges.

• $20,000 per year at Lisa Bellear House, Little Hall, International House or Wilam Hall

• $20,000 per year at University-affiliated residential colleges*

  • Janet Clarke Hall
  • Newman College
  • Ormond College
  • Queens College
  • St Hilda’s College
  • St Mary’s College
  • Trinity College
  • University College

• Accommodation at Dookie fees fully covered

  • Where accommodation fees are less than $20,000 at Dookie campus, the accommodation allowance will cover the total accommodation fee.

*You may also be eligible for additional scholarships made available at individual residential colleges.

How is the accommodation allowance paid?

The allowance will be administered directly between the accommodation provider and the University as a fee reduction, not as a direct payment to students. For residential colleges, the fee reduction is co-funded by the University of Melbourne and residential colleges.

Is there a fee gap between the accommodation allowance and other fees?

If you receive the allowance, you'll still need to cover some of the costs of living at University apartment-style Accommodation providers or residential colleges. Fees for accommodation vary between approximately $22,000 per year and $39,000 per year.

The inclusions also vary across accommodation options, for example, some include meals in your fees, while for others you'll need to pay for your meals separately. Some will also have one-off fees for O-Week and enrolment, while others may require you to pay an application fee or deposit.

We encourage you to research each of the options to determine which is the best fit for you, and reach out to your preferred accommodation provider to talk about fee gaps and payment options.

You may also be eligible for additional scholarships made available at individual residential colleges.

What is the length of the accommodation allowance?

The accommodation allowance is valued at $20,000 per year, for the duration of your stay at a participating accommodation provider, during your undergraduate course.

Will I also get the relocation and living allowances?

If you receive a Narrm Scholarship and are from a regional or remote area you'll also receive a one-off relocation allowance of $3,000 paid shortly after enrolling in your course, to help with the costs of relocating to Melbourne. This is in addition to the $6,500 per year living allowance that all Narrm Scholars receive.

Applications and offers

How and when do I apply for accommodation?

Residential college applications for 2027 are now open. Contact the colleges directly to be placed on a waitlist.

University apartment-style Accommodation (Lisa Bellear House and Little Hall) applications for 2027 are open now. Apply early to secure your preferred room.

We recommend you view the website of your preferred accommodation provider prior to applying, to get all the information about applications, timing and fees.

How to apply for Lisa Bellear House or Little Hall

How to apply for a residential college

Contact the team at Dookie to discuss your accommodation options

When will offers be made for the Narrm Scholarship?

For students starting in Semester 1 2027, most Narrm Scholarship offers will be made shortly after the release of ATAR results in mid-December 2026. The offer for students from regional and remote areas of Australia or eligible outer Melbourne local government areas will include the accommodation allowance as one of your benefits.

How are the accommodation allowances allocated?

All eligible Narrm Scholars from a regional or remote area in Australia or outer Melbourne local government area will be assessed based on information provided through your VTAC equity schemes and scholarship application regarding socio-economic status; financial disadvantage; medical, disability or personal circumstances and Indigenous Australian status, to determine successful applicants for the limited number of allowances available.

Additionally, some residential colleges will also undertake an internal process to determine eligibility for scholarship and/or financial assistance through income and asset means testing.

If I don’t receive the accommodation allowance in the first round, will I be reconsidered?

Yes, if you apply at one of the participating accommodation providers, you’ll be automatically considered for second-round offers and will receive an outcome in mid-January 2027.

How and when do I secure my accommodation offer?

University Accommodation (Little Hall, Lisa Bellear House, Wilam Hall, or International House): To secure your room, you must sign the Student Accommodation Agreement and meet any conditions outlined in the agreement.

Residential colleges (Janet Clarke Hall, Newman College, Ormond College, Queen’s College, St Hilda’s College, St Mary’s College, Trinity College, or University College): We recommend accepting your college offer as soon as possible due to high demand and limited capacity. Each college may have its own specific terms and conditions, which will be provided with your offer.

Can I choose a different approved accommodation provider than the one listed in my accommodation allowance offer letter?

No. Due to limited availability, you cannot change to another approved accommodation provider other than the one nominated in your offer letter. If you choose to move to a different residence, you may lose your allowance.

I applied at Little Hall or Lisa Bellear House and received an offer for a different room type. Can I be placed on a waitlist for my preferred room type?

Yes. If your preferred room type is fully booked, you can be placed on a waitlist. However, room availability cannot be guaranteed. If your preferred room type does become available, you’ll be contacted by email.

Due to high demand for student accommodation and limited availability, it is strongly recommended that you do not delay accepting an alternative room option while waiting for your preferred choice.

When will I know if I have received the accommodation allowance?

Offers for the accommodation allowance will be sent in two rounds. First round offers: 24 December 2025. Second round offers: 14 January 2026. All students who are eligible for consideration for the accommodation allowance will receive an outcome on 14 January 2026.

Do I have to pay the security deposit if I have received the accommodation allowance?

For University Accommodation options Little Hall or Lisa Bellear House, students can nominate to have the security deposit deducted from the accommodation allowance or to pay it upfront. If the deposit is deducted from the accommodation allowance, the remainder will be allocated towards the annual room rent. Residual rent is payable, depending on which room you have selected and its associated cost. The residual amount will be spread across the year and rent payment amounts will be finalised before you move into your residence.

For University Accommodation at Wilam Hall and International House or Residential colleges (Janet Clarke Hall, Newman College, Ormond College, Queen’s College, St Hilda’s College, St Mary’s College, Trinity College, or University College), please contact your college directly.