Study in Melbourne: International Student Guide
A practical guide to universities, costs, visa requirements, and life as an international student in Victoria's capital.
Why Study in Melbourne?
Melbourne is the capital of Victoria and Australia's second-largest city, with a metropolitan population of approximately 5.2 million (ABS). Regularly ranked among the world's most liveable cities, Melbourne has long been one of the two most popular Australian destinations for international students, alongside Sydney, and is widely regarded as the country's cultural and creative capital.
Victoria's higher education sector includes two Group of Eight research universities, three large multi-campus public universities, and the state's public TAFE network. The University of Melbourne at Parkville is consistently Australia's top-ranked or near-top-ranked university globally. Monash University, Australia's largest university by enrolment, operates a major campus at Clayton along with several others. RMIT, in the CBD, is known for design, technology, and industry-connected education.
Melbourne's economy spans finance, technology, biomedical research, healthcare, education, manufacturing, and the arts. The city is a national centre for medical and biomedical research concentrated around the Parkville precinct, and its status as Australia's cultural capital supports substantial employment in design, media, and creative industries alongside more conventional professional services roles.
Students also explore studying in Sydney, Adelaide, or Canberra — each with a different cost profile and study environment.
Universities and TAFE in Melbourne
Melbourne's higher education sector includes seven major universities with campuses in or near the city, plus Victoria's public TAFE network. All registered CRICOS providers are authorised to enrol international students holding a valid Subclass 500 student visa.
University of Melbourne
CRICOS 00116K — Group of Eight research university
The University of Melbourne's main campus is at Parkville, adjacent to the city's biomedical research precinct. A Group of Eight member, it is consistently ranked as Australia's top or near-top university globally, with particular strength in medicine, law, arts, and science under its distinctive “Melbourne Model” curriculum structure.
Monash University
CRICOS 00008C — Group of Eight research university
Monash is Australia's largest university by enrolment, with its main campus at Clayton in Melbourne's south-east alongside campuses at Caulfield, Peninsula, and Parkville. A Group of Eight member, Monash has particular strength in pharmacy, engineering, business, and medicine.
RMIT University
CRICOS 00122A — Public research university
RMIT's main campus sits in the heart of Melbourne's CBD. The university is known internationally for design, architecture, technology, and industry-connected education, and hosts a large international student population studying alongside Melbourne's creative and tech industries.
Deakin University
CRICOS 00113B — Public multi-campus university
Deakin operates a Melbourne Burwood campus in the eastern suburbs, alongside Geelong campuses. The university is recognised for its strong online and blended learning offering (Deakin Digital), as well as programs in business, health, IT, and education.
La Trobe University
CRICOS 00115M — Public multi-campus university
La Trobe's main campus is at Bundoora in Melbourne's north, one of the largest single university campuses in Australia. The university has particular strengths in health sciences, agriculture, biological sciences, and social work.
Swinburne University of Technology
CRICOS 00111D — Public research university
Swinburne's main campus is at Hawthorn in Melbourne's inner east. Known for its focus on technology, innovation, and applied research, Swinburne has strong industry links in engineering, IT, design, and business.
Victoria University
CRICOS 00124J — Public multi-campus university
Victoria University operates campuses across Melbourne's west and the CBD. The university is known for its block model of teaching (one subject at a time), and offers programs across business, health, sport science, and vocational pathways alongside its degree programs.
William Angliss Institute (TAFE)
CRICOS 01505M — Public specialist TAFE provider
William Angliss Institute, based in Melbourne's CBD, specialises in hospitality, tourism, culinary arts, and events — sectors central to Melbourne's hospitality and cultural economy — across Certificate, Diploma, and Advanced Diploma levels.
Verify current CRICOS registration and course availability directly with providers before applying. CRICOS details are publicly searchable at Study Australia.
Cost of Living in Melbourne
The Australian Government's legislated minimum living cost figure for a student visa is AUD 29,710 for 12 months (LIN 19/198, as amended by LIN 24/042, compilation F2024C00445, effective 10 May 2024). This is a visa evidentiary threshold — the amount you must show you can access to be granted a Subclass 500 visa — not a real-world Melbourne budget.
Sydney and Melbourne sit at the higher end of real-world living costs among Australian cities. Melbourne is typically Australia's second most expensive city after Sydney, and many students spend above the legislated threshold once accommodation, transport, and everyday costs are accounted for. The figures below are indicative — actual costs depend heavily on accommodation type and suburb.
| Expense | Estimated monthly cost |
|---|---|
| Shared accommodation | $1,300 – $2,200 |
| Myki card (train/tram/bus) | $100 – $170 |
| Groceries and meals | $240 – $380 |
For a detailed cost comparison across Australian cities, Study Australia provides indicative living cost guidance, and StudyVisaHub's own Financial Capacity Calculator works through the legislated visa figures for your specific circumstances.
Victoria State Nomination — Current Status
As at 20 August 2026, Victoria's skilled nomination program is not yet open for the 2026-27 program year — it has been closed to new Registrations of Interest (ROIs) since 28 April 2026.
State nomination adds 5 points to a Subclass 190 application, or 15 points for Subclass 491, and is entirely separate from student visa requirements — this only matters if you are planning a skilled migration pathway after your studies. Programs open, pause, and close without notice; the current status of every state and territory is tracked on StudyVisaHub's state nomination allocations page.
Student Visa for Melbourne
International students studying in Melbourne — like all international students in Australia — must hold a valid Subclass 500 Student Visa issued by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA). There is no Melbourne-specific or Victoria-specific student visa — the Subclass 500 applies regardless of study location.
To apply for a Subclass 500 visa, you will generally need a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) from a registered CRICOS provider, evidence of sufficient financial capacity, English language proficiency, Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), and to meet genuine temporary entrant requirements.
Visa requirements, processing times, and evidence expectations change periodically. Always verify current requirements directly with the Department of Home Affairs before applying.
For course and provider guidance, the StudyVisaHub platform covers visa grant rates, evidence levels, and course pathways via the Course Finder.
Lifestyle and Transport in Melbourne
Melbourne has a temperate climate known for being changeable — the city can experience several seasons in a single day, particularly in spring. Summer (December–February) is typically 14–28°C with occasional hot spells above 35°C, while winter (June–August) is cool and often overcast, generally 6–14°C. Melbourne's variability means layering is a genuinely practical wardrobe strategy, not just a cliché.
Public Transport Victoria operates the myki network across trains, trams, and buses. Melbourne has the largest tram network of any city in the world, and free City Circle tram travel within the CBD makes moving around the city centre straightforward. Most university campuses — Parkville, Clayton, the CBD, Hawthorn, and Bundoora — are well served by tram or train.
Melbourne is widely regarded as Australia's cultural and creative capital, with a dense concentration of laneway cafes, live music venues, galleries, and major sporting events (including the Australian Open and the AFL Grand Final) drawing large student engagement. The Yarra Valley and Mornington Peninsula wine regions, and the Great Ocean Road, are accessible day-trip or weekend destinations.
International students on a Subclass 500 visa may work up to 48 hours per fortnight while enrolled (standard condition 8105). Unlimited hours apply during scheduled course breaks. Melbourne's hospitality, retail, technology, and creative industries provide a large part-time job market alongside its biomedical and healthcare sectors.
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