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Melbourne city sky view

Living in Melbourne, Australia

Melbourne is the second largest city in Australia and the capital of Victoria. It has all the marks of a great world city – vibrant, beautiful and with great cultural life.

It is also a fantastic place to study. Melbourne has many world class education providers offering courses that are recognised around the world by employers and other institutions.

There are lots of opportunities here to take the first steps on your career pathway – or to further develop your professional skillset. With so many students from around the world, you’ll also make friends and connections for your future.

In a snapshot, Melbourne is:

Find out more about why Melbourne is a great place to study by visiting Study Melbourne

Sports, food and culture

Melbourne has huge variety of restaurants, cafes, bistros and bars that reflect its multicultural population.

You can try cuisines from around the globe – from Italian to Vietnamese, Mexican to Ethiopian, and everything in between. There’ll always be somewhere to get an authentic taste of home. And in the city’s famous laneways you’ll find some of the best coffee in the world.

Melbourne has an exciting sports calendar, including the Australian Open Tennis Championships, Formula 1 Grand Prix and the AFL.

Its vibrant art and cultural life thrives all year round, with plenty of live music, theatre, dance and comedy shows. You can spend a weekend exploring the museums and galleries throughout the city.

And it’s also the fashion capital of Australia, with lots of small local designers and the best international brands.

Local tourism

There are plenty of attractions near Melbourne that you can visit on day trips or over a weekend. These include:

  • the Great Ocean Road
  • the Twelve Apostles
  • the Grampians National Park
  • thermal spas of Hepburn Springs
  • the parade of little penguins on Phillip Island
  • wineries in the Yarra Valley
  • snowfields for skiing, snowboarding and tobogganing
  • Healesville Sanctuary, home to native Australian wildlife.

See Visit Victoria for more information on things to do around Melbourne.

Safety

Living and studying in Melbourne is very safe. In fact, Melbourne is one of the safest cities in the world. Whether you’re heading out for dinner or a night out, exploring the parks or catching public transport to class, you can always feel secure.

Melburnians are friendly people who will help you out if you’re feeling lost or unsure. The city is home to a diverse mix of cultures, which helps international students like you feel instantly at home here.

Estimated weekly living expenses

Use the cost of living calculater to estimate your living expences while studying in Melbourne – Cost of Living Calculator (studyaustralia.gov.au)

Below is a guide.

Page Section

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Homestay

$345

Food icon

Food

$50

Transport icon

Transport

$43

Leisure icon

Leisure

$50

Utilities icon

Utilities

$10

Health icon

Health

$11

Total icon

Total: $509

Getting around

Melbourne has a reliable public transport system that is easy to navigate. You can get to most places you need to go on the tram, bus or train.

If you prefer two wheels, you can rent a bike from the city’s public hire bike service. There are plenty of bike paths and bike lanes that make cycling simple and safe.

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