In Brisbane, the University of Queensland’s own October 2026 guide puts purpose-built student rooms from about A$210 a week at the cheaper end to A$777 a week for a UQ residential college, with most private student blocks falling between about A$250 and A$510. Colleges charge by the year: St Leo’s College is $27,700 to $31,000 for 2026 and Emmanuel College is $26,680 to $29,455. This guide sets out the prices, fees and rules I could confirm.
Details come from the University of Queensland, St Leo’s College, Emmanuel College and the Queensland Residential Tenancies Authority, checked on 24 October 2026. All amounts are in Australian dollars. The UQ figures are indicative starting prices, so confirm them with each provider before you pay.
Cost at a glance: what to add up
Before you compare the prices on this page, check what each figure actually covers:
- Rent period: per week, month or semester, and per person or per room.
- What is included: utilities, internet, contents insurance and any meal plan.
- One-off costs: deposit, application or booking fee, and any first-month payment.
- Getting to campus: travel passes, or the extra cost of living further out.
- Currency: prices here are in the local currency. Convert them at your bank’s current rate and add the transfer fee. Rates change daily, so we do not publish rupee figures.
Anything we could not confirm from an official source is flagged on this page as “could not verify”, so read those notes before you rely on a figure.
Weekly costs by area
UQ’s student accommodation guide (published 14 October 2026) lists “from” prices per person per week. It sourced the accommodation costs in October 2026 and the private rental figures from the April to June 2026 quarter.
| Area | Student housing, from (per person per week) | Private rental, one-bed / two-bed (whole property) |
|---|---|---|
| St Lucia | $414 (Kev Carmody House) to $777 (The Women’s College) | $367.50 / $690 |
| Toowong | $359 (UniLodge Toowong) up to $670 (Raymont, single room with meals) | $550 / $700 |
| Kelvin Grove | $399 (IGLU) | $515 / $700 |
| South Bank | $289 (Scape Tribune) to $509 (Scape South Bank) | $650 / $850 |
| Brisbane City | $249 (Student One Adelaide Street) to $429 (Iglu) | $600 / $850 |
| West End and Highgate Hill | $319 (Scape Merivale Street) | $650 / $850 |
| Woolloongabba | $289 (Scape Regent Street) to $379 (UniLodge Park Central) | $582.50 / $800 |
| Herston | $210 (UniLodge Herston, not air-conditioned) | $630 / $820 |
UQ also lists International House from $509 a week. Private rental figures are for the whole apartment, so divide by the number of sharers to compare with a per-person student room. UQ notes that purpose-built student accommodation typically includes utilities, 24/7 staff and study spaces, and that Toowong residents should consider whether they need a car, since on-street parking can be hard to find.
Residential college fees for 2026
| College | Room type | 2026 fee (per year) |
|---|---|---|
| St Leo’s College | Standard room | $27,700 |
| St Leo’s College | Shared-ensuite room | $29,700 |
| St Leo’s College | Ensuite room | $31,000 |
| Emmanuel College | Smaller room, communal bathroom (limited availability) | $26,680 |
| Emmanuel College | Standard room, communal bathroom | $29,455 |
- St Leo’s: room fees cover approximately 39 weeks and all rooms are air-conditioned. New residents also pay other fees, which the page lists as $575, $424, $187, $250 and $300, and it states a pre-payment of $1,486, which does not match their $1,736 total, so confirm the amount with the college. Optional parking is $950 a year. St Leo’s says all fees are subject to change for 2027 from September 2026.
- Emmanuel: a 39-week contract from 23 February to 22 November 2026. A non-refundable $1,500 acceptance fee is due when you accept an offer. A single semester is available by application and is charged at 60 percent of the full-year rate.
UQ suggests checking whether a college accepts students from other universities, as some places are for UQ students only, and asking about extra fees such as parking.
Renting privately in Queensland
- Bond limit: the Residential Tenancies Authority says that from 30 September 2024 a rental bond cannot exceed four weeks’ rent.
- Lodgement: the tenant or the property owner or manager can lodge the bond with the RTA, and anyone receiving bond money must generally lodge it within 10 days.
- Before you pay: do not pay a bond or advance rent for a place you have not seen or a lease you have not read. UQ’s accommodation services team can help with organising housing.
College, student block or private rental?
| Question | College | Student block | Private rental |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billing | Yearly fee over about 39 weeks | Weekly, from $210 to about $510 | Weekly rent for the whole property |
| Extras | Joining fees and optional parking | UQ says utilities are typically included | Utilities usually extra |
| Who can apply | Some are UQ students only | Open to students of any university | Open market |
Before you commit, read our guide to university halls versus private housing, the checklist of what to look for before you sign and our safety guide. Comparing cities? See Sydney, Melbourne or the other Australian city guides.
Talk to us about your budget and city
Not sure which option suits you or your family? Send us your city, budget and room type, and we will point you to the right guide and the next steps to check. Students and parents are both welcome to ask.
FAQs about student accommodation in Brisbane
How much does student accommodation in Brisbane cost?
UQ lists purpose-built student rooms from $210 a week in Herston to $509 at Scape South Bank, and UQ colleges from $509 to $777 a week. Colleges such as St Leo’s and Emmanuel charge $26,680 to $31,000 a year for 2026.
What is the maximum rental bond in Queensland?
Four weeks’ rent, from 30 September 2024. It must generally be lodged with the RTA within 10 days of receipt.
Do I pay a deposit for a college?
Emmanuel College asks for a non-refundable $1,500 acceptance fee when you accept an offer. St Leo’s lists commencement and other fees for new residents. Check each college’s current terms.
Can I live in a UQ college if I study elsewhere?
Not always. UQ says some accommodation is for UQ students only, so ask the college whether it accepts students from other universities.
Sources
- University of Queensland: student accommodation in Brisbane
- St Leo’s College: 2026 new resident fees
- Emmanuel College: undergraduate residential fees
- Queensland RTA: rental bonds fact sheet
All checked 24 October 2026.
