Key takeaways
- USyd Semester 1 classes start Monday 22 February 2027, after the Welcome Program on 8 to 19 February 2027
- UTS Autumn session classes start Monday 15 February 2027, after orientation on 1 to 12 February 2027
- INSULR has two rooms in Glebe for a February move in, from $350 per week with every bill included
- A 6 month lease covers the whole semester and the break after it, with a 4 week bond up front
- You can view by live video and reserve from overseas, so the room is yours before you fly
The dates that matter
Both universities publish their calendars well ahead. These are the dates for Semester 1, 2027, read from each university's own calendar on 27 October 2026. Check the links if your course runs on a different timetable, which some medicine, health and teaching programs do.
| University of Sydney: orientation | Welcome Program, 8 to 19 February 2027 |
|---|---|
| University of Sydney: classes start | Monday 22 February 2027 |
| University of Sydney: last day to enrol | 19 February 2027 |
| University of Sydney: census date | 31 March 2027 |
| University of Sydney: semester ends | 19 June 2027 |
| UTS: orientation | Orientation, 1 to 12 February 2027 |
| UTS: classes start | Monday 15 February 2027 |
| UTS: last day to enrol | 1 March 2027 |
| UTS: census date | 18 March 2027 |
| UTS: semester ends | classes end 14 May 2027, final assessments to 11 June 2027 |
The practical point: UTS students want to be in Sydney by the first week of February, USyd students by the second. Allow a few days before that to find the supermarket, get an Opal card and sleep off the flight.
Why rooms go early for a February start
Offers for Semester 1 land between October and January, and every student who accepts one starts looking for somewhere to live at the same moment. A house like ours has only a handful of rooms to begin with. Enquiring in November or December is not early. It is on time.
What is free for February at INSULR
INSULR is a 5 room type house for 8 students at 246 Glebe Point Road, Glebe, about twenty minutes on foot to USyd and twelve minutes to UTS by light rail. As at 27 October 2026, this is what is open:
| Twin Share | A$350 per week per person. Available for February. |
|---|---|
| Single Room | A$475 per week, all inclusive. Taken, waitlist open. |
| Large Room | A$500 to A$520 per week, all inclusive. Taken, waitlist open. |
| Large Room with Private Bathroom | A$520 to A$600 per week, all inclusive. Taken, waitlist open. |
| Balcony Room | A$550 per week, all inclusive. Available for February. |
What a semester actually costs
Our minimum lease is 6 months, which is about 26 weeks and covers the semester and the break after it. Every weekly figure includes electricity, gas, water, unlimited WiFi, furniture and weekly cleaning of the shared areas, so the arithmetic below is the whole cost of the room. There is nothing to add.
| Twin Share, Room 1 | A$350 × 26 weeks = A$9,100 per person, plus a refundable bond of A$1,400 |
|---|---|
| Balcony Room, Room 7 | A$550 × 26 weeks = A$14,300, plus a refundable bond of A$2,200 |
Leases never end in December, so a February start runs through to at least August, and you can stay on for Semester 2 without moving.
Included, and not included
Included in the weekly rent
- All bills included
- Unlimited WiFi
- Fully furnished
- Air conditioning and heating
- Weekly cleaning of shared areas
- 24/7 secured access
- Security cameras on site
- Communal kitchen and dining
Not included, said plainly
- A private bathroom. Every bathroom in the house is shared
- Meals. There is one shared kitchen, and you cook
- A laundry inside the house. The laundromat is across the road
- A gym or pool. This is a home
Booking from overseas, step by step
- Send an enquiry below with your campus and your arrival date.
- We reply, usually the same day, with what is free and the exact weekly figure.
- You see the room on a live video call, and meet whoever is showing you around.
- You pay the 4 week bond and the room is held for your arrival date.
- You land, unpack, log on to the WiFi. Every bill is already connected.
Common questions
When does Semester 1 2027 start at the University of Sydney and UTS?
University of Sydney classes start on Monday 22 February 2027, with the Welcome Program running 8 to 19 February 2027. UTS starts a week earlier: Autumn session classes begin Monday 15 February 2027, with orientation 1 to 12 February 2027. Both dates were read from the universities' published 2027 calendars on 27 October 2026.
When should I book student accommodation for Semester 1 2027?
As early as you can, and ideally before the end of the year. Rooms near USyd and UTS fill in December and January as offers land, and in a house as small as INSULR there are only two rooms to begin with. Booking in November or December means you arrive to a confirmed room rather than searching from a hostel in February.
Can I move in before orientation week?
Yes. The rooms we have for Semester 1, 2027 are available now, so you can move in as early as you like and settle in before orientation rather than arriving the day before classes. Most students aim to be in the house by early February.
Can I reserve a room in Sydney before I arrive from overseas?
Yes, and most of our international residents do. We run live video viewings so you can see the actual room, then you reserve it with a 4 week bond and we hold it for your arrival date. There is no application fee and no agent fee.
What if my university offer arrives late?
Tell us the dates you are working to and we will say honestly whether we can hold a room that long. Late offers are common, especially for international students, and a quick message on WhatsApp is enough to find out where you stand.