The college is home to 160 away from home coeducational residents. International house is a balance of postgraduate and senior undergraduate comprised of local, international, and exchange students.


History

International House, founded in 1968, is a multicultural college for more than 166 senior undergraduate and postgraduate residents from over 80 countries, including Australia. Our mission is to promote experiential learning, personal growth and cross understanding between students drawn from different educational, social and ethnic backgrounds.

The first International House was founded in New York. A chance encounter with a Chinese student on the steps of Low Library at Columbia University in 1909 inspired Harry Edmonds – a young YMCA secretary who later became the founder of New York International House, about the need for cross-cultural understanding and mutual respect between people of different race. He realised the paucity of suitable accommodation for foreign students. He later took his vision of founding a multicultural college for American and overseas students to philanthropist John D. Rockefeller. As a result, the first International House opened on Riverside Drive New York in 1924. The success of New York International House led to the establishment of International House at the University of California, Berkeley (1930) , the University of Chicago (1932), in Paris ( cite Internationale Universitaire de Paris, 1925 ) and in Tokyo (1952) as extensions of this idea.

With the help of Rotary International, the International House movement soon reached Australia. It began with the establishment of International House at the University of Melbourne in 1957. Subsequent developments included the establishment of IH at the University of Wollongong (1961), the University of Queensland (1965) , the University of Sydney (1965), The University of New South Wales (1968), the University of Newcastle (1988), James Cook University (1990), and the Northern Territory University (1990).

Nowadays, the International Houses are separate, independent non-profit making institutions united by one mission; to provide students of different nationalities and diverse cultures with the opportunity to live and learn together in a community of mutual respect, understanding and international friendship. So many of the friendships made within the Houses are made for life.

International House provides an ideal atmosphere for students seeking a quiet and mature environment as well as the opportunity to meet friendly students from all over the world. Cultural diversity and tolerance are important concepts at the college. We place a great emphasis for the wellbeing of our residents and offer many in-house facilities to make them feel as at-home and comfortable as possible throughout their stay at IH.

Take a look inside International House

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  • Culturally diverse with a range of events to choose from

  • All-inclusive environment

  • Non-school leavers

Facilities

At International House (IH), we place a great emphasis for the well-being of our residents. We offer many in-house facilities to make them feel as at-home and comfortable as possible throughout their stay.

These include the comfortable and spacious living and common spaces, rooms and equipment for sports and games, as well as the all-important kitchen and dining facilities.

Whether you want to study beside a large tranquil Koi pond, or have a BBQ in the lush garden courtyard, IH has a range of exclusive facilities that translates into a unique college experience. 

I found the IH collegiate living experience to be quite unique. A diverse, welcoming, kind bunch where I could blend active social participation with some serious studying in whatever ratio I preferred.

Avatar of Harshil Trivedi

Harshil Trivedi

Medicine Student

Features

  • Furnished bedrooms
  • All meals provided
  • Exclusive gym, cardio and weight equipment
  • Wi-Fi, electricity, gas, and water included
  • Social and group study rooms
  • Outdoor BBQ facilities
  • Coin operated laundry facilities
  • Sporting, social, and cultural programs
  • 24-hour campus security
  • Regular support from college staff
  • Leadership and networking opportunities
  • Bicycle storage and maintenance tools
  • Recreational facilities - TV room, music room, pool table, table tennis and piano

Photos

Room Types & Fees

Room type
Meals[?]
Bathroom
Cleaning
Contract Period1
Weekly Rate2
Single
CateredBLD
Shared
No
52 weeks
$391.00
  1. Single term contracts are currently not available due to high occupancy numbers, please contact office for more details.
  2. Weekly rates are for 2024 and are expected to change each year. Rates shown are for full year contracts only.

Non-school leavers preferenced. The contract period is from 2 February 2024 to 3 February 2025.

People

Charlene Griffiths

Dean

Hi, I’m Charlene

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