As an exchange student, there are a few things you need to know about going to the University of Melbourne. Learn more about the location, the courses and student life!
Visit their website for more information about studying abroad at the University of Melbourne!
The University of Melbourne (UniMelb) is the second oldest university in Australia with over 160 years’ experience in teaching and research. UniMelb is consistently ranked in the top 50 universities globally and is the highest ranked in the continent of Oceania. It is a public-spirited institution that makes considerable contributions to society through research, learning and teaching and engagement.
With over 50,000 students, 5,000 active externally funded research projects, 9 Nobel Laureates, and 98% of their graduates in work, UniMelb boasts a prestigious reputation and standard for their students.
Consult UniMelb on QS World Rankings to learn more about their current world ranking and academic reputation in different subject areas.
Melbourne is Australia’s second-largest city and is located in Victoria, Australia’s smallest yet most densely populated state, with over 5 million inhabitants. Melbourne is often referred to as the sporting and cultural capital of Australia, boasting many music, art, fashion and sporting festivals. With 5 universities, Melbourne is a student-focused city.
With around 140 different cultures represented in Melbourne, it is an extremely multi-culturing and welcoming city for people from all backgrounds. Almost all food cuisines are catered for in Melbourne’s world-class food scene, with around 38% of the population being born overseas. It is a young and vibrant city with regular events, festivals, and markets. There are a great number of green spaces and gardens, from the popular Royal Botanical Gardens to Princes Park. A southbound tram ride of 45 minutes will take you to the gorgeous beaches of Sandringham and Half Moon Bay, where there is an old shipwreck which you can swim up to. Melbourne houses a brilliant arts scene and has great nightlife, with plenty of spaces to meet new people and try new things. There is truly something for everyone in Melbourne.
UniMelb’s main campus, Parkville, is located in the centre of Melbourne. The university is similar to a small village, with its own impressive sports facilities including a pool and 850 square meter gym, multiple studio rooms, sports courts, and 2 stadiums. There are uni shops, cafés, restaurants, a post office, Commonwealth Bank branch, theatres, museums and galleries. You can access maps for the different campuses here. The inner-city suburb of Carlton is right next door to the main campus, with shops, cafes, and Lygon Street – birthplace of Melbourne’s world-famous café culture and renowned for its abundance of fine Italian cuisine. A five-minute tram ride will take you to the heart of downtown Melbourne and the CBD (central business district).
Competitive **
The level of competitiveness (Less competitive * / Competitive ** / Very competitive ***) refers to one's chances of being allocated an exchange space at this partner. This is an approximation determined by the number of applications received for this destination during the last academic year versus the total number of exchange spaces available to Queen Mary students.
Visit their website for more information on how to apply, including how to choose your program, meet eligibility, prepare your application, apply online, accept your offer and get ready for study and life in Melbourne.
Australian universities' academic calendars generally run across the calendar year, where their "semester one" takes place during the first half of the calendar year, and their "semester two" takes place during the second half of the calendar year. Queen Mary students going on exchange to Australia complete "semester two" (our autumn) of one calendar year if they are going for an optional semester exchange, and full year students then also complete their "semester one" of the following calendar year. In other words, full-year exchange students always complete a year exchange across two halves of two calendar years.
For more information, visit UniMelb's Important dates page.
While at the University of Melbourne you may wish to explore new areas of learning, such as Australian-based subjects, disciplines unavailable in your own home institution, or simply an elective that you have always wanted to study. Dependent on the requirements of your Queen Mary degree, while at UniMelb you can try your hand at different areas of learning such as Australian-based subjects, courses unavailable at Queen Mary or simply a fun elective that you’ve always wanted to try, with subjects ranging from exploring street art and wildlife to taking a dance class.
Once you know what study area you're interested in, select your subjects. You can filter the Handbook on the right-hand side to find subjects available to exchange/study abroad students.
Check you meet Melbourne's eligibility requirements: this includes meeting minimum academic entry requirements, subject prerequisites and English language requirements. There are also faculty-specific requirements and restrictions you need to be aware of before applying. Some subjects may have limited quotas so be prepared to have a list of back-up subjects you would be happy to study.
Students must enrol on a full courseload equivalent to 60 Queen Mary credits for the semester/120 for a full academic year. At UniMelb, this is: 4 modules per semester totalling 50 credits per semester.
Learn more on UniMelb’s grading scheme and results.
Find out more about Queen Mary's credit transfer and grade conversions process.
Blog posts on Queen Mary Global Bloggers:
Instagram takeovers:
There is no accommodation automatically allocated for international students, however there are plenty of options to research and choose from. There are university halls, much like our own on campus at Queen Mary, private accommodations akin to Scape, and university residential colleges. Students are expected to independently organise their accommodation, and it is advised you apply early as it can be competitive due to the city’s size and popularity.
Learn more about UniMelb owned accommodation to browse all of the options, and watch their YouTube video about accommodation for a first-hand insight from a student. These options are self-catered and offer dormitory style living. The rooms are all similar and can share kitchens and utilities. Yugo and Scape and the student village offer dormitory style living, with a kitchen per flat or sometimes a master kitchen on one floor of the building. Residential colleges have different meal-plans to choose from and have a broader range of room options. Some Queen Mary students have previously enjoyed living in the International House. Colleges also have their own sports clubs, cultural societies and other activities specifically for their residents. There are intercollegiate sport events and tournaments throughout the year.
Another option can be a private rental/share house for students who do not secure university-managed or affiliated accommodation, or who prefer to choose a private alternative independently - learn more about these under the "Other accommodation options" section near the bottom of UniMelb's accommodation page. Finding a private room can be done via social media websites or word of mouth. There are also websites like the off campus housing network and Facebook groups for finding rooms for rent.
UniMelb's Student Housing service can provide information and support to assist you with finding alternate housing options, such as private rentals. They can provide advice on your rights and responsibilities as a tenant, refer you to financial support if needed and provide transportation information.
UniMelb provides information on the cost of living, and the city of Melbourne also provides a helpful cost of living calculator for students here. UniMelb's page with resources for international students also provides useful information.
Lots of the clothing stores in Melbourne will offer a student discount, however your UK Unidays account may not work for some of them. UniMelb has a student deals page, as well as these helpful pages from WhatsOnMelbourne and OverseasStudentsAustralia. You can apply for a student Myki card for discounted transport in Victoria here. The Pass app offers discounts in pubs, bars, and restaurants across Australia.
You can find more general, up-to-date information about the cost of living in Melbourne here in comparison with London.
Bear in mind that living expenses can vary depending on individual lifestyle. Please consult the estimated minimum and maximum cost of living figures for this destination country available in our “Estimated Costs of Living” document available on our Finance page.
At UniMelb, there are a wide range of support services offered to all students, covering many subjects including health and well-being, finances, student equity and disability services, food relief, and important information about student visas and Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC).
While studying at UniMelb, Stop1 will be your destination for all queries and concerns regarding student admin, course planning, your timetable and enrolment.
For information on accessibility, please visit the Student Equity and Disability Support page.
Current Queen Mary students will be able to find a summary sheet for this partner university on our QMplus page, with an overview of the local student support services available on the following topics: specific learning differences, physical impairments, sensory impairments, long term medical conditions, autism spectrum conditions, mental health and wellbeing difficulties, special accommodation provision, non-emergency health care, emergency services, harassment and trauma and suicide prevention.
Orientation week happens during the week before the teaching semester starts, and Welcome Day is compulsory.
Learn more about student life at UniMelb. UniMelb's Student Union (UMSU) organises plenty of events throughout the academic calendar, especially during the first weeks of each semester. Learn more about all of the clubs and societies offered by UMSU.
It’s recommended to join the Melbourne University Student Exchange Society (MUSEX) as they have plenty of socials and events throughout the year that offer international students the opportunity to explore Melbourne and help newly arrived students meet people easily, especially "mid-year" in Australia (July/August when Queen Mary students join for what is UniMelb's semester two).
The University of Melbourne:
Landing page for Exchange or Study Abroad students
You will need to download the app Canvas for your classes and Okta Verify to access Canvas and your UniMelb accounts:
Download Canvas from the Apple Store, or download Canvas from Google Play
Download Okta Verify from the Apple Store, or download Okta Verify from Google Play