Live and Study in Melbourne
Australia is progressive, thriving and beautiful. Our cities are urbane and cosmopolitan, and our landscapes range from pristine sandy beaches to perfect snowy mountains.
We're also one of the world's most culturally diverse nations. In the Australian state of Victoria, 45 per cent of people were either born overseas or have a parent who was born overseas. In Melbourne, the capital city of Victoria, you will hear people speak more than 150 different languages.
Why Melbourne?
Our Australian base is a vibrant, multicultural city that offers an abundance of cultural festivities, international sporting events, cafés and restaurants with cuisines from around the world, beautiful parks and beaches, and an eclectic mix of music and arts. You couldn’t pick a better place to live.
Melburnians are friendly, smart and outgoing. We value equality, tolerance, respect, and freedom of speech and religion.
Melbourne student life
Monash University has multiple locations in the greater Melbourne area. Each has its own style and environment, and offers different academic and social opportunities. You can learn more about a specific campus by following the links below:
Hear what Monash international students have to say about living and studying in one of the best cities in the world – Melbourne, Australia.
Attractions
Melbourne is safe, well-designed and easy to get around. The city boasts:
Arts and culture
Melbourne hosts a number of international cultural events and festivals each year. The Melbourne International Arts Festival and the Melbourne International Comedy Festival are favourites. Federation Square, in the heart of Melbourne, often holds free special events that celebrate the multicultural nature of the city.
Sport
Melbourne is home to major sporting events, including the Australian Open (tennis), the Boxing Day Test (cricket) and the Spring Racing Carnival (horse racing). In winter, Melburnians flock to the Australian Football League (the AFL, or just 'the footy') – pick a team and join in. More recently, international football has become very popular.
Cafes and restaurants
Melbourne is famous for its coffee, thanks in large part to the influx of southern European migrants that came here in the 1950s. We also love food, enjoy a variety of ethnic cuisines, and celebrate a food and wine festival each March. The city has a lively and unique laneway culture with many restaurants tucked away.
Shopping
As a bustling capital Melbourne features large department stores, international designer shops and fashion outlets. Our thriving laneway culture has helped foster a unique community of boutique designers and local artists. Surrounded on all sides by farmland and the coast, Melbourne also hosts a large number of outdoor markets, offering fresh food to shoppers daily. The Queen Victoria market, a local landmark, is the largest open-air market in the Southern Hemisphere.
Entertainment
Melbourne is home to amusement parks, recreation precincts, zoos, parks and gardens. Venture out of Melbourne to visit wineries, go bushwalking, or go on a balloon flight.
Night-life
At night, the streets and laneways light up with a variety of theatres, bars, nightclubs, night markets, restaurants and concerts.
Find out more about Melbourne:
International students
Monash University is committed to fostering a welcoming environment that provides all students the opportunity to participate fully in campus life. We understand that visitors from other countries often have specific social, religious and cultural needs. Monash offers resources and programs to help international students settle into campus, make friends and adjust to life in Australia.
Discover Melbourne: Australia's Cultural Capital
There’s something about Melbourne that captures the hearts of everyone. Whether you like fashion, art, sports or nature, Melbourne offers experiences that will fill your Instagram feed with unforgettable memories. Explore the city for its hidden street art, architecture, bustling cafes and vibrant arts scene, or even catch a world class event such as the Australian Open.
Top 10 things to do in Melbourne
- Discover Melbourne’s secret laneways
- Take a tram to explore the city
- Check out the cultural hub of Federation Square
- Explore designer boutiques, craft markets and local labels
- Watch a footy game at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground
- Bike ride along the Yarra River
- Chill out at the Botanical Gardens
- Take in the beach scene and spot some penguins at St. Kilda Esplanade
- Catch an arts or music festival
- Take a day trip to explore Melbourne’s wineries, forests and surf beaches
Experience Melbourne
A good place to start when planning your weekend adventures in Melbourne is Visit Victoria. Here you’ll find info about places to eat, things to do and events you can attend. There are lots of free things going on in the city all the time, so make sure you check back regularly.
What’s On Melbourne (run by the City of Melbourne council) has a festival calendar to help you find out what’s happening, and if you’re into nightlife, fashion and the arts (as well as knowing where to get a good coffee) you should take a look at Broadsheet.
You may like to check out some of Melbourne’s biggest events while you’re here, like:
- Australian Open Tennis Championships for two sweltering weeks in January
- Melbourne Food and Wine Festival in March
- Melbourne International Comedy Festival from March – April
- AFL (Australian Football League) from March – September, and AFLW (Australian Football League Women’s League) from August - November
- Melbourne Fringe Festival in October
Cost of living
Living in Australia can be expensive, so it’s a good idea to do your research and prepare a budget before you arrive. Your tuition and study fees do not include personal costs like accommodation, food, and other things you will need while in Australia.
You can learn more about the cost of living in Melbourne to help you prepare a budget. However, these figures are only estimates; costs will vary depending on your location and your lifestyle. Rent, for example, is more expensive in Melbourne than it is in a regional area. You may need to add other items to your budget, like ongoing mobile phone and internet fees. All costs are subject to inflation.
Accommodation
Find out more about finding a place to live on our accommodation page.
Next steps
Now that you have read about living in Melbourne, your next step is to click the button below and find out whether you are a Study Abroad or an Exchange student.
If you already know if you're a Study Abroad or an Exchange student, click the button below to learn more about what you can study during your time at Monash.