Melbourne University: Are Australian Students Friendly?

The University of Melbourne is a public research university located in Melbourne, Australia. It was founded in 1853 and is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria. The university has a total of 53,000 students, including 30,000 international students from over 130 countries. The University of Melbourne is considered Australia's most prestigious university and is ranked as the number one university in the country.

The university has a diverse range of students and offers over 200 undergraduate and postgraduate courses. The main Parkville campus is close to transport, cafes, shopping, arts, and sports venues, and accommodation. The university has 10 residential colleges, which provide a quick way to build an academic and social network.

The University of Melbourne has received mixed reviews from students. Some students have praised the university's diverse range of cultural activities and societies, while others have criticised the university for its unfriendly atmosphere, unhelpful staff, and disorganised lectures. Overall, the University of Melbourne is a highly ranked university with a diverse range of programs and a vibrant student body. However, some students have reported negative experiences with the university's staff and culture.

Student satisfaction

The university has received reviews that highlight issues with the quality of teaching, lack of support, and difficult course content. Some students have also reported feeling isolated and struggling to connect with others due to the large number of students. On the other hand, some students have praised the quality of education and the diversity of the student body.

The University of Melbourne has an acceptance rate of around 70%, making it less selective for international student admissions. The university offers a range of support services, including academic advising, career services, and mental health resources. It also has a strong focus on research and has over 100 research centres and institutes.

The university's main campus is located in Parkville, with other campuses in Southbank, Burnley, Dookie, Creswick, Werribee, and Shepparton. The Parkville campus offers easy access to transportation, cafes, shopping, arts and sports venues, and accommodation. The university has 10 residential colleges, providing a quick way for students to build an academic and social network.

Course prerequisites

To be eligible to apply for an undergraduate degree at the University of Melbourne, you must meet certain course prerequisites. These prerequisites ensure that you have the right skills, knowledge, and experience required for the course.

In most cases, you will have already satisfied these prerequisites by completing the relevant Year 12 studies in the last two years. If not, there are alternative ways to satisfy them, including:

• Submitting past VCE Unit 3/4 or equivalent studies done in the last 10 years.
• Undertaking an adult VCE program, such as Adult Community Education (ACE), Technical and Further Education (TAFE), or Centre for Adult Education (CAE).
• Studying single subjects through the University of Melbourne, such as Biology, Chemistry, English, Maths Methods, Physics, and Specialist Maths.
• Enrolling in Melbourne's Diploma in General Studies, which can help you satisfy subject prerequisites and may guarantee entry into a Melbourne agriculture, biomedicine, commerce, design, or science degree.
• Studying and successfully completing subjects through other universities or TAFE courses.

Additionally, there are specific tests you can take to satisfy published prerequisites for VCE Biology, Chemistry, English, Maths Methods, Specialist Maths, and Physics.

For international students, there are specific English language requirements that must be met, and guaranteed or indicative entry scores are set for undergraduate degrees.

English language requirements

The University of Melbourne is a research-intensive university with a strong commitment to teaching and a vibrant student body. The university has strict English language requirements for both undergraduate and postgraduate students.

For undergraduate students, the University of Melbourne requires a minimum overall score of 6.5 in the Academic version of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), with no individual band scores below 6.0. This means that you need to achieve a minimum score of 6.0 in each of the four components of the IELTS test: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking.

For postgraduate students, the University of Melbourne has slightly higher English language requirements. The minimum accepted scores are as follows:

• IELTS: 7.0 overall, with no band less than 6.5
• TOEFL iBT: minimum score of 102, with a written score minimum of 24 and no individual score lower than 21
• PTE Academic: minimum score of 65, with no communicative skill below 65

These English language requirements ensure that all students at the University of Melbourne have the necessary language skills to succeed in their academic pursuits. It is important to note that documentary evidence of meeting these minimum scores within the previous 24 months may be required for non-native English speakers.

University rankings

The University of Melbourne is ranked #13 in the world by QS World University Rankings. It is also ranked #37 by the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU). The university is ranked #1 in Australia by independent world rankings.

QS World University Rankings places the University of Melbourne in the top 20 internationally across 14 subject areas. These include:

• Accounting and Finance
• Agriculture & Forestry
• Anatomy & Physiology
• Architecture / Built Environment
• Business & Management Studies
• Communication & Media Studies
• Computer Science & Information Systems
• Data Science & Artificial Intelligence
• Earth & Marine Sciences
• Economics and Econometrics
• Engineering - Chemical
• Engineering - Civil & Structural
• Engineering - Electrical & Electronic
• Engineering - Mechanical
• Engineering - Petroleum
• Engineering & Technology
• English Language & Literature
• Environmental Sciences
• Library & Information Management
• Life Sciences & Medicine
• Mineral & Mining Engineering
• Pharmacy & Pharmacology
• Politics & International Studies
• Social policy and administration
• Social Sciences & Management
• Sports related subjects
• Statistics & Operational Research
• Theology, Divinity & Religious Studies

The University of Melbourne is ranked #8 in the world for graduate employability by QS Graduate Employability Rankings.

Student demographics

The University of Melbourne is a public research university located in Melbourne, Australia. It is the oldest university in Victoria and the second oldest in Australia, having been founded in 1853. The university has a student body of around 65,000, including 30,000 international students from over 130 countries. The university is consistently ranked among the leading universities in the world and is number one in Australia.

The university is spread across several campuses in Victoria, with the main campus located in Parkville, an inner suburb north of Melbourne's central business district. The university has nine faculties: Architecture, Building and Planning; Arts; Business and Economics; Education; Engineering and Information Technology; Fine Arts and Music; Melbourne Law School; Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences; and Science.

The university has a diverse range of students, with international students making up 44% of the student body. The university also has a large number of clubs and societies, with over 200 affiliated clubs and more than 100 groups affiliated with the Graduate Student Association. The university offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs across its various faculties.

Frequently asked questions