Colombo House
Enjoy the freedom to cook, clean and manage your own routine while building friendships, accessing support and participating in a diverse residential community.
Colombo House combines the independence of apartment-style living with the connection and support of a residential college. Home to residents from more than 30 nationalities and a wide range of study areas, Colombo is a multicultural community where you can create your own routine, share your culture and take part in community life.
- Overview
- Community and Activities
- Student Support
- Why Colombo?
Overview
Colombo House is a self-catered residential community for students who value independence while still wanting access to College events, support and social connection.
Residents range from first-year undergraduates to postgraduate students and represent a wide range of faculties, ages and backgrounds. Colombo is generally calm, with opportunities to increase your involvement when you want to connect, meet new people or try something new.
Living at Colombo House
Colombo House is self-catered, with large communal kitchens where residents prepare their own meals. The kitchens also provide a social space to cook with others, exchange recipes and build confidence preparing food.
Residents manage their own meals, cleaning and daily routines. Colombo provides an opportunity to develop practical life skills such as budgeting, shopping, meal preparation and maintaining a healthy routine.
With residents from more than 30 nationalities, Colombo is a place to share food, stories and cultural experiences while learning from people with different backgrounds.
Events and activities take place throughout the year, but there are no mandatory formal social events. Residents can choose how they participate based on their interests, study commitments and personal routines.
Independent Living
Flexible Participation
Multicultural Community
Community and activities
Get involved at your own pace. Colombo House offers a range of cultural, social, sporting and recreational activities throughout the year.
Activities may include: Colombo International Food Festival, shared cooking and group meals, cultural celebrations and events, morning coffee gatherings, barbecues and social events, movies, trivia and talent nights, cooking classes and food-based activities, social and competitive sport, pickleball, badminton, volleyball, basketball and futsal, outings to explore Sydney, fundraising and volunteering, student leadership opportunities.
Participation at Colombo House
Participation is encouraged, but residents are not expected to attend every event. You can contribute by attending activities, joining a committee, sharing your culture, helping organise events, volunteering or inviting others to take part.
The events calendar is generally busiest during the first half of term and becomes lighter around assessment periods, allowing residents to focus on their studies.
Academic and lifestyle balance
Colombo is generally an easy-going community, with more activity available for residents who seek it out. Events are more frequent during the first half of the term, while the calendar becomes lighter towards assessment periods so residents can focus on their studies.
Tuesday evenings are dedicated study nights. Student Fellows organise a group study environment with snacks and treats, and no other events are scheduled that evening.
Community expectations
Residents are expected to:
Cook and clean for themselves
Respect shared kitchens and common spaces
Be considerate of different routines and lifestyles
Follow UNSW policies and accommodation requirements
Contribute positively to the multicultural community
Respect residents who choose not to drink
Make responsible choices around alcohol
Help maintain a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment
Support for independent residents
Colombo House is designed for residents who are developing independence and managing many aspects of their own day-to-day life.
The Dean, Deputy Dean and on-site staff provide approachable support when residents need advice or assistance. Student leaders also play an important role in helping residents connect with one another and access relevant support.
Academic support
Residents are encouraged to take responsibility for their academic progress while making use of the support available through the College and UNSW.
Tuesday Study Nights provide a regular opportunity to study alongside other residents. Where possible, residents who need help with a particular subject may be connected with another student who has performed well in that area and can provide informal peer support.
Your support network
Dean and Deputy Dean: Provide pastoral care, practical guidance and support with more complex concerns.
Resident Advisors: Offer peer support, foster connections within floor communities through weekly suppers, and provide information about available resident services and support.
Student Fellows: Support resident wellbeing, inclusion and academic connection by organising engaging, proactive and inclusive wellbeing activities throughout the term.
ColomBuddy (mentoring program): Pairs new and returning residents to help students settle into Colombo, UNSW and the local area.
House Committee and student leaders: Develop and deliver a diverse weekly calendar of activities each term, encourage community participation, and provide opportunities for residents to share ideas and feedback.
Accommodation staff: Assist with residential matters, practical concerns and connections to relevant UNSW services.
Michael Patoka | Dean of Colombo House
Michael is passionate about helping students make the most of university life. He enjoys sharing his knowledge of Sydney and Australia with residents and encouraging them to explore the city and wider community.
Colombo House is a home for Michael, his wife and their three children, who have grown up as part of the College community.
Having completed my degree at UNSW in Masters of Commerce, helping to open and establish Colombo House from our inaugural year in 2014 has always felt like being at home! As the dean, it gives me great privilege to welcome new residents to the college and watch them on their journey through their studies. Looking after Colombo we have created many warm traditions and the college continues to create new and exciting initiatives through our leadership and volunteer opportunities.
I grew up in Sydney. I love sharing my intimate knowledge of Australia's culture and landscape with our residents and making sure they know the best places to visit in their term breaks! I work closely with our College House Committee to make sure we are delivering the best community-building, inclusive and fun activities to our residents. Colombo House pastoral care team are always there for students needing support, we all live on site and this makes it easier to discuss matters, regardless how simple or complicated they may be.
Delicia Toro | Deputy Dean of Colombo House
Hi everyone! As deputy dean at Colombo and I am very excited to meet you all! A little bit about myself… I was born in France, lived in Spain for a couple of years, then moved to Mexico for around eight years, and then decided to do an undergraduate degree in Psychology and Neuroscience in Canada. And finally… decided to move to Sydney to pursue a career in medicine.
While studying in Canada, I worked for several years in different colleges. It has always been my passion to help other students and be part of their academic and personal growth. When coming to Sydney, I was very lucky to become the deputy dean and work with Dean Mike to build an inclusive and diverse community. It has been absolutely amazing getting to know so many different people and seeing how every student brings their own qualities to the college.
The beautiful thing about college is that you're naturally thrown into situations where making friends feels easy. Living together creates a sense of comfort. It feels like a little family away from home.
Lilly Spring
B. Exercise Science/M. Physiotherapy
I love it here. Moving from Luxembourg was daunting, but the change has been incredibly freeing and eye-opening. UNSW is so well located, and there’s always something happening—on campus, in college, or around the city. It’s hard not to stay busy, in the best way possible.
Marcus Dackner
B. Materials Science and Engineering
As an international student, it’s easy to feel homesick—but the community at Colombo is so warm and welcoming. Even during exams, just coming down to the kitchen and seeing friendly faces makes it feel like home. That’s the best part of college for me.
Preethi Thilagar
B. Medical Studies/Dr Medicine
Living at Colombo House made my transition to uni so easy—it felt welcoming from the start, and friendships formed instantly. Colombo has such a close-knit community where everyone supports and looks out for each other.
Anise Wong
B. Exercise Science/M. Physiotherapy
Independence with a community around you
Colombo House may suit students who value independence, flexibility and a multicultural community, while still wanting opportunities to make friends, access support and participate in an active College life.
Students who value Colombo may appreciate:
Cooking and managing their own meals
Developing budgeting, shopping and meal-preparation skills
Having a flexible routine
Living in a mature multicultural community
Sharing food and learning about different cultures
Choosing how much they participate in College activities
Access to private ensuite rooms
A quieter environment with optional social opportunities
A 52-week college experience
Opportunities for leadership, volunteering and student initiatives
What applicants should know
Colombo House operates on a 52-week contract, so residents must be prepared to commit to living at Colombo for the full contract period.
Residents are responsible for cooking and cleaning for themselves. You do not need to be an experienced cook when you arrive, but you should be open to learning how to budget, shop, prepare meals, cook and clean independently.
Colombo is designed for students who want to manage their own routine while being part of a diverse college community. It may be a good fit if you value independence but still want access to friendships, activities and support.
Features
- 242 rooms
average room size 10-12 square metres
fully furnished
private bathrooms (ensuite)
- Wi-Fi, electricity, gas and water included
- regular support from college staff
- leadership and networking opportunities
- cleaning of common areas only
self-catered with large kitchens and cooking facilities
24-hour campus security
social and group study rooms on each floor
large common room adjacent to a private outdoor courtyard
rooftop terrace with outdoor barbecue facilities
- QR-operated and cashless laundry facilities.
- 24-hour parcel locker access
- Gallery
- Virtual Tour
Take a 360-degree tour of the on-campus accommodation options at Colombo House with our VR interactive tours*. Depending on your device, use your mouse or swipe actions to explore the rooms and facilities.
*Please note: Our virtual tours show example rooms only. Room sizes, layouts, and features may vary. Any measurements shown are estimates and may not reflect exact dimensions.
Room types & fees
Room type | Meals | Bathroom | Cleaning |
Single | Self-catered | Single | Yes |
- The contract period is 52 weeks.
- Weekly rates are for 2027 and are expected to change yearly. Rates shown are for full-year contracts only.
The contract period is from 28 January 2027 to 28 January 2028.
