International House

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.

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

Watch the full video here.

The Residents' Society (RESOC) works closely with the staff to create a supportive environment that will enable residents to achieve academic success, personal growth and cross cultural understanding. An extensive program of cultural, social and sporting activities are available for residents and guests of the College

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.

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