Study Abroad Programs in Melbourne, Australia

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Study Abroad Programs in Melbourne

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Australian Catholic University

Study Abroad at ACU

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Study Abroad Programs in Melbourne, Australia

About

Ready for a crash course on life in Australia's cultural capital? Melbourne's exciting, energetic mix of culture, style, and flavor makes it a great place to study and live. In fact, last year's QS Best Student Cities index ranked Melbourne the #2 city in the world for students, second only to Paris.

Study abroad programs at Melbourne's universities range from summer terms to a full academic year, with plenty of variety across areas of study and program type. In your free time between classes, you can dive into all the incredible activities and sights of Melbourne, including world-class art, amazing restaurants, some of the country's best coffee, lively nightlife, and thrilling sports. And if you ever do get sick of the city, just head out along the breathtaking Great Ocean Road for some of the best coastal views on the continent.

Program Types

With some of Australia's top universities, including the University of Melbourne, Monash University, RMIT University, and La Trobe University, Melbourne offers a wealth of academic choices for international students.

Program Providers

Many of the major study abroad providers have programs in Melbourne. Arcadia University runs exchanges with several major Melbourne universities, including the University of Melbourne. ISA offers programs with both University of Melbourne and La Trobe University, and API just started a >brand new program at La Trobe. These programs offer course options across dozens of fields, from business to indigenous studies.

Direct Enrollment

If you'd rather not go through a program provider and want to have total independence in your study abroad experience, you can look into enrolling directly in a local university. Most of the major universities, including the University of Melbourne, La Trobe, RMIT, and Victoria University, allow international students to enroll directly in courses. Going the direct enrollment route gives you more freedom over your study abroad coursework, but also means you have to take on more responsibility for the enrollment and registration process, since you don't have a provider taking care of all the logistics for you. You also may have to pay a small additional fee as an international student, but it's typically much less than what you'd be paying for a program.

Program Length

Most programs at Melbourne universities are either a semester (fall or spring) or a full academic year. A few providers also offer summer programs, and USAC's program at Deakin University, includes a J-term option.

Planning Your Trip

Costs

Australia is one of the most expensive study abroad destinations, and Melbourne is no exception. It may not be Sydney, but it's still the country's second most expensive city. An average meal costs around US$15, and a weekly student grocery budget is about $60. A monthly local transportation pass costs about $100. If you're planning on getting a local cell phone plan, expect to pay about $45 a month. In total, a semester in Melbourne will probably cost $6,000-$7,000, not including airfare and program fees

It is possible to stick to a budget while studying in Melbourne. If housing is provided through your program, you'll save a hefty chunk of money that would otherwise go to paying the city's expensive rent prices. The city is relatively bike-friendly, so investing in a good bicycle can help cut down on transportation costs -- plus it's a great way to see the city from a different angle!

It's worth considering getting a part-time job to help offset costs, if it works with your schedule. The Australian student visa allows students to work up to 40 hours per 2-week period, so you can at least have some pocket money to help you enjoy your incredible host city.

Housing

Most program providers offer accommodation, either in student housing (dorms or apartments) or with a host family placement. If you're doing direct enrollment, start by contacting your host university to ask about housing options or recommendations for international students. You can also look for housing on your own through sites like EasyRoommate or Gumtree, popular housing sites in Australia.

Visas

Unless you're doing a J-term or short summer course that's less than 90 days, you'll need a student visa. If you're going through a program, your provider will usually help arrange your visa application and include the cost in the program fee. If you're doing direct enrollment, you'll need to go through the visa application process once you have confirmation from your host institution, and before you go to Australia. Student visas cost about US$400, and are usually granted for the length of your course of study. Remember, you are allowed to work part-time with this visa.

For more information, look at your government's travel information for Australia, or get in touch with your local consulate.

Scholarships

Studying in Australia is expensive, but you don't have to pay for it all on your own. There are tons of scholarships out there for students headed abroad -- some are just general study abroad scholarships, while others are specifically for students that meet certain requirements or study in a particular field. Before hitting Google, talk to your university to see if your financial aid can apply to your study abroad program, and visit your study abroad office to find out about other funding that might be available through your home institution.

Other external scholarship opportunities:

  • The Australia Awards Endeavour Scholarships are competitive, merit-based scholarships and fellowships providing opportunities for overseas citizens to study or do research in Australia.
  • IES Abroad offers several scholarships for participants in their programs - including some just for Australia!
  • USAC study abroad scholarships provide more than $1 million each year for students enrolled in USAC programs.

Health & Safety

There aren't really any major health or safety concerns in Melbourne, other than the general fact that Australian wildlife is deadly and/or poisonous. As long as you avoid hugging any creepy crawlies, you should be fine, but as with any travel, it's worth checking with your doctor to make sure all your immunizations and prescriptions are up to date before you go.

Many program providers offer insurance for students abroad -- otherwise, you may want to consider getting health insurance to cover you while you're there, just in case you do run into any of the less friendly fauna.

What People Are Saying

TEAN: Study Abroad in Melbourne, Australia

This trip was the best experience of my entire life so far! The memories that I have gained from going to Australia are unmatched. If you are debating on if you should go, just go!! I grew so much in...
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Lauren

IFSA - Study Abroad Programs in Australia

I can't recommend IFSA-Butler enough. My experience in Australia was amazing, and I give a lot of credit to Michelle, our program coordinator, for helping us get situated and introducing us to Sydney...
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Caleb

TEAN: Study Abroad in Melbourne, Australia

I had the time of my life. I feel like the two months I spent in Australia were a movie. So much happened, and I learned a lot about myself and my future profession. I made friends with people that I...
Default avatar
Jaya

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the student visa fee for Australia?

    The base application fee for a student visa to Australia is 620AUD or approximately $415 in USD.

  • Can I bring my family to Australia on student visa?

    Australia will generally allow people on a student visa to bring their immediate family members with them as dependents. Dependents can include your spouse (or partner) and children under the age of 18.

  • Is it easy to study in Australia?

    The ease of studying in Australia really depends on what you're looking for in a study abroad experience. On the one hand, English is the official language of Australia, so for native English speakers it can certainly be a good option since you know you'll be able to communicate. Here are some other important things to note when considering a semester in Australia: it's relatively expensive, so you may need to budget more than you would for another country; the grading system is different than what is used in American schools; you'll need to get a visa if you'll be there longer than 3 months; and remember it's very far away! So jet lag will certainly be a factor.

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  • How much does it cost to study abroad in Australia?

    The cost of studying abroad in Australia will vary greatly by the institution you hope to attend as well as your home institution. It's very possible to apply through an exchange program at your university in the states and pay exactly what you pay normally. You can also choose to enroll directly in an Australian university which will run you anywhere from $4,500-$9,700 per semester, or you can apply through a third party provider, which will cost between $9,200-$13,500. Keep in mind that you will also want to budget in living expenses for your semester, including meals, accommodation, transportation, cell phone plan, etc. The average cost for a semester in Australia after airfare and program fees is $5,000-$7,000.

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