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In fifth place in this year’s Best Student Cities ranking is Melbourne. Melbourne is a highly attractive destination for international students and is home to one of the world’s most diverse student communities. Therefore, it’s no surprise it achieves one of the ranking’s highest scores for student view and for student mix.
Melbourne ranks second in the student view indicator, and it receives a whole host of compliments in our student survey. One student said: “Melbourne is very internationally diverse and student-friendly. It is very easy to move around the city and there is always something interesting happening at any given time” while another loved the “friendliness of locals and the vibrant culture” on offer.
Melbourne is one of the most diverse cities in Australia, with around 94,000 international students from across the globe. Along with this, around 40 percent of Melbourne’s population were born overseas.
Amazing transport links
You definitely won’t need to invest in a car as a student in Melbourne – the city has a comprehensive network of trains, trams and buses which make the city easy to navigate.
Food, glorious food
Melbourne has gained something of a reputation as the food capital of Australia, with a thriving café and brunch culture (and an obsession with coffee), as well as some of the best Asian food outside of Asia.
What is the cost of studying in Melbourne?
Like other Australian cities, it stumbles only when it comes to affordability, with both fees and living costs on the high side in global terms. But, for high standards of living and incredible natural surroundings, Melbourne remains a tough city to beat.
The cost of living in Melbourne as a student can vary considerably, particularly between those who chose to live on campus or live in private rented accommodation. As a general rule, you can expect to pay between US$1,400 to US$3,920 a month inclusive of accommodation, utilities, socialising, groceries, transport and more.
Life and culture in Melbourne
Known as Australia’s cultural capital, Melbourne regularly tops lists of the world’s most liveable cities, and is full of all the attractions that make the Australian lifestyle so appealing – including beautiful beaches, nightlife and a fair proportion of sunny days. The city’s cultural calendar is packed year-round – spanning arts, comedy, music, film, fashion, and a host of multicultural celebrations.
As well as boasting the highest score for student mix, Melbourne also scores particularly well for desirability – reflecting both the overall quality of life in the city, and its status as an in-demand student destination.
Melbourne ranks 16th in the employer activity indicator this year, demonstrating the amount of opportunities for graduates. Many international companies have headquarters in Melbourne, and the city is home to the country’s second-biggest seaport. The city also benefits from geographic links to large Asian economies such as Japan and Indonesia.
International students can work up to 40 hours per week while studying on a student visa, and can work full-time during semester breaks, meaning you can get a head start on gaining work experience in Melbourne before you graduate.
As Head of Content, Craig is responsible for all articles and guides published across TopUniversities and TopMBA. He has nearly 10 years of experience writing for a student audience and extensive knowledge of universities and study programs around the world.
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Study in Melbourne
Craig OCallaghan
Updated Aug 02, 2024Save
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In fifth place in this year’s Best Student Cities ranking is Melbourne. Melbourne is a highly attractive destination for international students and is home to one of the world’s most diverse student communities. Therefore, it’s no surprise it achieves one of the ranking’s highest scores for student view and for student mix.
Seven universities in Melbourne are featured in the QS World University Rankings® 2025, the highest-ranked of which is the University of Melbourne at 13th in the world, also the highest-ranked university in Australia.
Melbourne ranks second in the student view indicator, and it receives a whole host of compliments in our student survey. One student said: “Melbourne is very internationally diverse and student-friendly. It is very easy to move around the city and there is always something interesting happening at any given time” while another loved the “friendliness of locals and the vibrant culture” on offer.
Have you studied in Melbourne? Share your experience.
Best universities in Melbourne – QS Best Student Cities Ranking: 5th
La Trobe University
More about Melbourne
To find out how each of the below categories is calculated, view the methodology.
Number of institutions ranked by QS
7
Highest-ranked institution
University of Melbourne (13th in the world)
Population
5,316,000
Average international fees (at ranked unis)
US$28,00
Desirability rank
5th
Employer Activity rank
20th
Affordability rank
=131st
Student View rank
=2nd
Why study in Melbourne?
A multicultural experience
Melbourne is one of the most diverse cities in Australia, with around 94,000 international students from across the globe. Along with this, around 40 percent of Melbourne’s population were born overseas.
Amazing transport links
You definitely won’t need to invest in a car as a student in Melbourne – the city has a comprehensive network of trains, trams and buses which make the city easy to navigate.
Food, glorious food
Melbourne has gained something of a reputation as the food capital of Australia, with a thriving café and brunch culture (and an obsession with coffee), as well as some of the best Asian food outside of Asia.
What is the cost of studying in Melbourne?
Like other Australian cities, it stumbles only when it comes to affordability, with both fees and living costs on the high side in global terms. But, for high standards of living and incredible natural surroundings, Melbourne remains a tough city to beat.
The cost of living in Melbourne as a student can vary considerably, particularly between those who chose to live on campus or live in private rented accommodation. As a general rule, you can expect to pay between US$1,400 to US$3,920 a month inclusive of accommodation, utilities, socialising, groceries, transport and more.
Life and culture in Melbourne
Known as Australia’s cultural capital, Melbourne regularly tops lists of the world’s most liveable cities, and is full of all the attractions that make the Australian lifestyle so appealing – including beautiful beaches, nightlife and a fair proportion of sunny days. The city’s cultural calendar is packed year-round – spanning arts, comedy, music, film, fashion, and a host of multicultural celebrations.
As well as boasting the highest score for student mix, Melbourne also scores particularly well for desirability – reflecting both the overall quality of life in the city, and its status as an in-demand student destination.
Testimonials
Careers in Melbourne
Melbourne ranks 16th in the employer activity indicator this year, demonstrating the amount of opportunities for graduates. Many international companies have headquarters in Melbourne, and the city is home to the country’s second-biggest seaport. The city also benefits from geographic links to large Asian economies such as Japan and Indonesia.
International students can work up to 40 hours per week while studying on a student visa, and can work full-time during semester breaks, meaning you can get a head start on gaining work experience in Melbourne before you graduate.
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As Head of Content, Craig is responsible for all articles and guides published across TopUniversities and TopMBA. He has nearly 10 years of experience writing for a student audience and extensive knowledge of universities and study programs around the world.
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