Looking for the top student areas in Sydney? Keep reading to learn about the top neighbourhoods for students in Sydney and what makes each desirable! You will also find additional information on the best options for student housing in each of these suburbs. A brief overview of the city will also be provided, along with the main reasons why many decide to make this city their study destination.

About Sydney

Sydney is an Australian city located on its southeastern coast and is New South Wales’ capital. Sydney’s notoriety rose from its position as one of the South Pacific’s most important ports, which was made possible thanks to its unique location.

An example of the city’s strength as a port city includes establishing trade links with China, India, South Africa, the Americas, and the Pacific Islands during the 19th century while it was still a convict settlement.

Today, Sydney boasts various unique industries, with one-third of Australia’s products manufactured in the city. Sydney also has great places to visit and fantastic beaches. One of Sydney’s most iconic landmarks is the Sydney Opera House, which opened in 1973. Its image is often associated with the city and represents the city's modernity with its unique design. Sydney is also home to Australia’s oldest park, Hyde Park, which covers an area of 16 hectares. 

As a student city, it ranks among the top ten student cities worldwide according to the QS world rankings, placing it in the seventh spot between Paris and Berlin. Multiple factors have contributed to the city’s success as a student city, including its high quality of life and high-ranking institutions.

Its top-ranking institutions are the University of Sydney (19th worldwide), UNSW Sydney (19th worldwide), and the University of Technology Sydney (90th worldwide), all based on QS’s rankings for 2024. 

Some interesting facts about Sydney include the following:

• Sydney has blue mountains, which is a unique natural sight

• Sydney has more than 100 beaches, including iconic ones such as Bondi Beach

• The Sydney Harbour Bridge is the world’s most iconic arch bridge

• Sydney Harbour is the world’s largest natural harbour

Why Students Choose Sydney?

Many students choose Sydney as their study destination for a variety of reasons, some of which include the following:

Quality of Education in Sydney and Diversity

As previously mentioned, Sydney provides high-quality education, placing it in the seventh position among other student cities worldwide and is home to some of the world’s top-ranking universities. According to THE, Sydney’s largest institutions attract the following international student populations as of 2024:

• The University of Sydney: 57,414 students, of whom 51% are international students

• UNSW Sydney: 47,044 students, of whom 40% are international students

• The University of Technology Sydney: 28,223 students, of whom 25% are international students

From what we can observe, international students make up a large part of the student population in Sydney, thanks to its world-class education.

Post-Graduation Opportunities in Sydney

Sydney has amazing post-graduation opportunities as it is often considered one of the biggest financial cities in Australia and often referred to as the country’s financial capital, contributing a fourth of the country’s economy. You can also find more information regarding work as a student in Australia by checking out How to Find Work on a Student Visa in Australia.

Living Standards in Sydney

Sydney enjoys a high living standard due to various factors, the biggest being its high safety and health care, low pollution, and nice climate.

Diversity in Sydney

Living in Sydney will never feel different, as you’ll be surrounded by diversity. As many sources report, over 50% of the population is born abroad, making it Australia's most culturally diverse city. It is also linguistically diverse, with 39.2% of its residents speaking another language besides English. Various popular student areas in Sydney have great diversity thanks to the number of international students studying on nearby campuses.

Best Neighbourhoods in Sydney for Students To Live In

Some of the top student areas in Sydney include the following:

Haymarket 

Haymarket is a student favourite among the student areas in Sydney, as it is a lively suburb with a distinct architectural style. Its liveliness is due to its various shopping and dining spots, which attract tourists and locals alike. Haymarket is also home to Chinatown, Koreatown, and Thai Town.

Other landmarks include Darling Square, a shopping centre, the Railway Square plaza, and the central Sydney train station. It is only a nine-minute commute through light rail to the Sydney CBD, Sydney’s city centre. All these reasons make it among the most desirable suburbs in Sydney.

If you’re looking for a place to stay in Haymarket, then you’re in luck, as it is full of options, some of which include the Scape Darling Square and the Scape Quay.

Darlington

Darlington is between two other notorious student areas in Sydney, Redfern and Chippendale, and is full of terrace houses, cafes, restaurants, and a farmer’s market. This suburb is small and cosy and often referred to as a “mini suburb”. It is also within walking distance of the University of Sydney and has great transport options.

If you’re looking for a place to stay in Darlington, we have various options, including the Scape Darlington and the Scape Abercrombie.

Marrickville

Marrickville is a popular suburb among students and is often described as one of the “top-10 coolest neighbourhoods in Sydney”. This suburb features various green spaces, with a total of 10 parks and various places to shop, as well as award-winning dining spots. Some of these parks are directly on the Cooks River. If you’re interested in staying in this particular suburb, you can check out Marrickville Village.

Some interesting facts about this neighbourhood in Sydney include its unique history, as it was once nicknamed “the Athens of the West” due to its extensive Greek population as a result of the Second World War. Marrickville is also home to various festivals, which include the Marrickville Festival, Art Month Sydney, and Sydney’s Fringe Festival.

Randwick

Randwick is an eastern suburb located southeast of Sydney’s CBD district. It is ideal for coastal and city life. It also has one of Sydney’s most iconic parks, Queens Park, a 26-hectare park. It is also home to various affordable, high-quality places to eat, as well as major shopping streets like Belmore Street and Avoca Street. These are lined with retail stores, boutiques, and various places to eat. It is close to several campuses, which include the University of New South Wales.

Chippendale

Chippendale is another well-known suburb with great transport links and is very close to the central station. It is regarded as one of the most creative suburbs in Australia, with a rich creative scene and converted warehouses. 

Must-visit places include the Redfern Green, contemporary galleries such as the White Rabbit Gallery, and the Central Park Mall. It is also full of great places to eat and hang out with friends.

If you’re looking for great places to stay in Chippendale, then you’re in luck, as we offer options such as Iglu Central Park and Iglu Broadway.

Other suburbs worthy of mention include Surry Hills, Potts Point, Newtown, Parramatta, Waterloo, Cronulla, North Ryde, and Eveleigh.

Sydney is an extremely desirable place for tourists and students alike. If you plan on making this city your next destination and studying there, you can always count on Casita to find the perfect Sydney student housing. 

Casita has a wide range of available student accommodation in Sydney, including private options and purposely built student housing. Many of these are in Sydney’s top places to live and are carefully selected to ensure an ideal stay experience.

You could also refer to Casita’s blog for useful resources, such as the Cost of Living in Sydney for International Students and Scholarships for Indian Students at the University of Sydney. For more support, you can always contact our helpful staff while filling out all relevant details for better assistance.