The lively metropolis, Melbourne, is not only known for its tasty coffee and remarkable street art. Sure, the cultural diversity, parks, and mountains play a great role in attracting tourists from all around the world to this dynamic city – but the curious and ambitious students see Melbourne as an academic destination that allows them to grow in every aspect of life. To top it, some of the best universities in Melbourne have also been ranked among the top 100 universities in the Academic Ranking of World Universities for the year 2019.
Australian universities can be found on top of all global ranking systems. These universities rank for their quality of education as well as student satisfaction, among others. The famous and colorful Botanic Gardens are simply a walking distance from the city center of Melbourne – and with that peace of mind and the academic professionalism in Melbourne universities, no wonder students in Melbourne excel academically.
Walks, art, picnics, and river cruises, and especially the cultural diversity, make Melbourne an attraction to international students. But, looking beyond that and into the academic institutions, let’s go through the best universities in Melbourne, and see exactly what they have to offer for international students aiming for an Australian degree and an authentic Australian experience.
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1. University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is Australia’s second oldest university, established in 1853. It is also ranked as Melbourne and Australia’s top university. It is an internationally recognized research intensive university with a strong tradition in teaching and research. Many famous and historical figures have attended this university, including four Australian prime ministers and the country’s first female prime minister, Julia Gillard.
This university offers nine undergraduate degrees and about 400 graduate programs under “The Melbourne Model”, including research degrees, professional development programs, entry programs in Law, Architecture, Teaching, Nursing, Social Work, Medicine, and more.
The Melbourne Model allows you to combine over 100 areas of study. This will give you the freedom to “shape the degree that’ll ultimately shape your world”. Meaning, you can combine psychology with artificial intelligence, wine making with international communications, and you will end up making a difference in the world.
Some of the study areas this university offers:
- Architecture, Building, Planning and Design
- Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
- Business and Economics
- Education
- Engineering
- Environment
- Health
- Information Technology and Computer Science
- Law
- Music, Visual and Performing arts
- Science
- Veterinary, Agricultural and Food Sciences
You can also earn an extra qualification alongside your degree with some of the diplomas the university offers, such as a diploma in computing, mathematical sciences, languages, and music. To top it off, the university also offers the possibility of pursuing an honours degree in either Agriculture, Arts, Biomedicine, Commerce, Fine Arts, Music, and Science.
2. Monash University
Monash University is also on the top 100 best ranked universities in the world. It is known for its academic excellence and optimism for a better future. Monash University has four local campuses all around Victoria, an international campus in Malaysia, and centres in the People’s Republic of China, Italy, and India. Providing a supportive environment is essential to this university, in order to help its students “meet the challenges they face.”
Aiming to make a positive impact on the world, this university has invested academically, to give its students the best learning experience possible. “Ancora Imparo” is their motto, which is translated to “I am still learning” – proving the restless ambition of the university towards knowledge.
The faculties available in this university are:
- Art, Design, and Architecture
- Arts
- Business and Economics
- Education
- Engineering
- Information Technology
- Law
- Medicine, Nursing, and Health Sciences
- Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Science
3. Deakin University
Deakin University offers its students word-class programs and a variety of opportunities. It’s one of Australia’s leading tertiary education institutions and teaches around 60,000 students each year. It has 5 campus locations, with Melbourne Burwood Campus being the largest campus by number of students. This campus is just 30 minutes from Melbourne’s city centre.
Striving for excellence and inclusivity, Deakin University makes sure to apply the highest standards of professionalism and integrity to the institution. The aim of the university is to empower the digital age by bringing its benefits to the real world, and they want to do this through Learning, Ideas, Value and Experience (LIVE).
The four main faculties of Deakin University, are:
- Faculty of Arts and Education
- Faculty of Business and Law
- Faculty of Health
- Faculty of Science, Engineering and Build Environment
4. La Trobe University
La Trobe University is ranked in the top 1.1% of the world’s universities. Back in 1967, a total of 552 students enrolled at this university. It’s the third university to open in Victoria and it now ecompasses more than 36,000 students with over 7,000 international students from 110 countries.
The Melbourne Campus gathers the largest number of students, over 28,000, followed by campuses in Albury-Wodonga, Bendigo, Mildura, Melbourne City (Collins Street), Shepparton and Sydney.
The courses of this university range as follows:
- Arts, Social Sciences and Communications
- Business and Commerce
- Education and Teaching
- Health
- IT and Engineering
- Law and Criminology
- Science
La Trobe University aims to transform people and societies for the better. It manages to do this by putting the students at the centre of everything they do. Through its academic excellence, it has managed to be on the top 400 of all three major worldwide university rankings.
5. RMIT University (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology)
RMIT is a globally known university, best recognized for leadership and technology, design, and enterprise innovation. Its curriculum is inspired and influenced by the latest industry trends. The study experience at RMIT is “tailor-made” for the individual.
This university was founded in the year 1887 and its largest campus is in the heart of Melbourne’s central business district. Approximately 12,000 international students from more than 100 countries study at RMIT, being part of not only the academic excellence of RMIT, but also its social, cultural, sporting, and recreation activities.
RMIT University offers students these fields of study:
- Architecture
- Building
- Design
- Fashion
- Information Technology
- Property
- Art
- Business
- Education
- Game Design
- Law
- Science
- Biomedical Sciences
- Communication
- Engineering
- Health Science
- Media
- Social Science
6. Swinburne University of Technology
Swinburne University of Technology is a world-ranked university, paying special attention to innovation, industry engagement, and social inclusion. Sustainability, cross-cultural partnerships, and equal opportunity are some of its initiatives. This university is ranked in the world’s top 400 universities and it is known for the quality research connecting science and technology with business and the community.
Swinburne has three campuses based in Melbourne, located in Hawthorn, Croydon, and Wantirna, as well as one in Sarawak, Malaysia. As large a university as it it, it still places students at the centre of everything it does, ensuring these students will meet their study and academic goals through the university’s variety of courses and excellence.
The courses Swinburne University of Technology offers are:
- Arts and Humanities
- Business
- Engineering
- Health
- Media and Communication
- Science
- Aviation
- Design
- Film and Television
- Information Technology
- Nursing
- Research Degrees
- Built Environment and Architecture
- Education
- Games and Animation
- Law
- Psychology
- Apprenticeships
Its Master, PhD, and graduate study courses are taught by qualified academics with experience. Aiming to prepare the student for life after study, they offer a variety of opportunities to connect with the industry and get the skills you need.
