Top Universities in Melbourne for International Students

Welcome to Melbourne—the vibrant capital of Victoria and Australia’s second-largest city.

Melbourne is often called one of the most liveable cities in the world. More than 40% of the people here come from overseas. That makes it one of the most welcoming places for international students.

Life in Melbourne is never boring. You can visit art galleries, museums, and live music shows. You can spend time at the beach or try food from around the world. The cafés are famous, and the city is easy to explore with its great public transport.

It’s also home to some of the world’s best universities, offering a wide range of courses designed for students from all over the globe.

Download a complimentary copy of IDP Melbourne City Guide here.

If you’re wondering which universities stand out, you’re in the right place. Let’s take a closer look at the top universities in Melbourne for international students.

If you are ready to begin your study journey in Melbourne, contact us today.

University of Melbourne

The University of Melbourne is ranked 33rd in the world by QS World Rankings and is the top university in Australia.

• Over 65,000 students study here.

• Around 40% are international students.

Study Options

• Almost 200 majors for undergraduates.

• More than 400 postgraduate programs.

• Degrees are modelled on leading global universities.

• First-year students can try a range of courses before choosing a major.

Scholarships and Research

• One of the most generous scholarship programs in Australia.

• It spends more on research than almost any other place in Australia, second only to CSIRO, the country’s top science organisation.

Entry Requirements

• Undergraduate: ATAR 55+, SAT 1250+, IELTS 6+

• Postgraduate (general): GMAT 680+, IELTS 6+

Specialist Programs

• Executive MBA and full-time MBA.

• PhD programs in arts, humanities, life sciences, medicine, and social sciences.

The top ten courses at the University of Melbourne are:

• Arts and Humanities, ranked first in Australia and 16th worldwide

• Business and Management ranked first in Australia and 34th worldwide

• Development studies ranked first in Australia and 13th worldwide

• Education ranked second in Australia and 14th worldwide

• Geography ranked first in Australia and 16th worldwide

• Law ranked first in Australia and 12th worldwide

• Life sciences and medicine ranked first in Australia and 17th worldwide

• Psychology ranked first in Australia and 17th worldwide

• Social policy and administration ranked first in Australia and 12th worldwide

• Social sciences and management ranked first in Australia and 15th worldwide

Monash University

Established in 1958, Monash University is the largest and of the top five universities in Melbourne, Australia. It ranks as the 57th best university in the world according to the QS World University Ranking. Named after Sir John Monash, the university now has four campuses across Australia and has become a research hub with a presence in four continents.

All the courses at the university have an international focus. Having over 100 partners across, the university offers access to vast research collaborations, overseas opportunities, and global partnerships. The best part of the university is that it prepares students for the global workforce. You can start your degree in Australia and continue it in other partner institutions in countries like Malaysia, China, India, or Italy. Monash University offers 127 undergraduate and 214 postgraduate programs.

The cut-off to get admission to Monash University for a general course is 5+GPA, 6+IELTS, and 79+TOEFL, while that for the bachelor courses is 60+ATAR, 6+IELTS, and 79+TOEFL. The university offers 200 different types of scholarships for its students.

Monash University offers industry experience through opportunities for internships and volunteering and also builds in various important skills within the curriculum so that the students of any faculty graduate with important skills like analytical, research, and communication, a must for any employment. For more information, visit the university website.

Monash University ranks top in:

• Pharmacy and Pharmacology, ranked 1st in Australia and the world

• Materials Science, ranked 1st in Australia and 12th equal in the world

• Chemical engineering, ranked 1st in Australia and 34th in the world

• Chemistry, ranked 1st in Australia and 37th equal world-wide

• Statistics and Operational Research, ranked 1st equal in Australia

RMIT University (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology)

RMIT was founded in 1887, originally as the Working Men’s College of Melbourne, and was given the status of a university in 1992. The university is ranked as the 190th best university in the world according to QS World University Ranking. RMIT has three campuses in Melbourne, one in Spain, two in Vietnam, an office in Indonesia, and it also offers some programs through its partners in Europe and Asia. The university has more than 97,000 students on its campuses in Australia and abroad. RMIT is popular for its focus on technology and design.

The university offers the students to have a chance to learn directly from industry mentors and work on collaborative projects with industry leaders which prepares them for employment. RMIT’s start-up accelerator teaches students to shape their business ideas and prepare pitches for investors.

The students get a chance to work with the world’s leading organisations through RMIT’s internship, work experience, and placement opportunities. The university also offers multiple scholarships for domestic and international students to help them achieve their dreams.

RMIT offers 108 undergraduate programs and 141 postgraduate programs. The minimum requirement to get admission in a general course in RMIT is 550+ GMAT, 1+ GPA, 6+ IELTS and 92+ TOEFL score. The cut-off for bachelor program is 1060+ SAT, 2+ GPA, 60+ ATAR, 6+ IELTS and 92+ TOEFL. For more information, visit the university website.

Their top courses include:

• Aerospace Engineering, ranked 2nd in Australia and 46th globally

• Architecture / Built Environment is ranked 3rd in Australia and 31st in the world

• Art and Design, ranked first in Australia and in the top 20 globally

• Communication and Media Studies, ranked 4th in Australia and 40th in the world

• Food Science and Technology, ranked third in Australia and in the top 100 world-wide

• Library Management, ranked 3rd in Australia and 49th in the world

Deakin University

Established in 1974, Deakin University is a public university situated just outside Melbourne in the city of Geelong. The Burwood campus is the main campus of Deakin University in addition to centre at the Geelong Warun Ponds, Geelong Waterfront and Warrnambool, and the online cloud campus. Deakin University was the first university to introduce distance learning in Australia.

The university has more than 61,000 students across all campuses and is number 266 in the QS World University Ranking. Also, it holds a position among the top 50 young universities across the globe. The university is known for its research, teaching and innovation. The university offers state-of-art learning facilities and the latest technology to ensure that the students are prepared for employment of the future.

The curriculum of Deakin University offers real-world expertise for students with practical skills so as to prepare them for the competitive world. The university also has over 150 student societies and clubs across all campuses to encourage students to learn new extra-curricular skills.

For general courses, you need to have 550+ GMAT, 300+ GRE, 3+ GPA, 6+ IELTS and 65+ TOEFL score. For admission in bachelor programs the cut-off is 72+ ATAR, 6+ IELT and 65+ TOEFL. Deakin University offers 110 undergraduate and 109 postgraduate programs. For more information, visit the university website.

Their top courses (ranking in top 1% of the world) include:

• Arts and Humanities

• Communication and Media Studies

• Architecture and Built Environment

• Engineering and Technology

• Life Sciences and Medicine

Swinburne University of Technology

Swinburne University of Technology is in the top three per cent of universities across the world and stands at 296th position in the world according to QS World University Rankings. It offers over 160 undergraduate and 212 post graduate programs (including MBAs and PhDs) for both domestic and international students.

The university has three campuses in Melbourne, viz. Hawthorn, Croydon and Wantirna along with having campuses internationally in Malaysia, Sydney, and Vietnam. Also, it has an office in Nanjing, China. Swinburne also offers classes through online and open Universities in Australia.

Swinburne courses are focused on science, technology and innovation. They allow students to not just gain academic and technical knowledge but also professional skills. This is done by providing students with industry exposure. For more than 50 years, Swinburne University has been partnering with various leading global and Australian companies and organisations in order to provide workplace experience to students.

The university’s research in various fields like engineering, astronomy, physics, computer science, materials science, information technology, design and innovation are recognised internationally. It offers research options in various other subjects including mental health, neuroscience, social sciences and humanities.

For getting admission in general courses of Swinburne, students need to score 2+ GPA and 6+ IELTS. For Bachelor programs the cutoff is 1090+ SAT, 2+ GPA, 6+ IELTS and 76+ TOEFL. For more information, visit the university website.

Their top subject areas include:

• Top 100 for Art and Design

• Top 200 for Physics and Astronomy and Engineering – Civil Engineering and Structural

• Top 240 for Communications and Media Studies

• Top 250 for Materials Science

• Top 300 for Psychology and Engineering – Electrical and Electronic

La Trobe University

La Trobe University was established in 1964 and has as many as 6 campuses across Victoria. The main campus of the university is situated in Bundoora city suburb which is around 16km from the Melbourne City Centre. With over 38,000 students, the university is famous for its humanities and arts subjects. It ranks 316th in the QS World University Rankings and offers 93 undergraduate and 77 postgraduate programs.

The university is a leader in research on issues like protecting the world’s biodiversity, global food insecurity, understanding and preventing diseases, etc., and offers the students an opportunity to research on various topics of science, technology, and health. The university focuses on social impact and inclusivity and has been ranked among the top 20 universities across the world by the Times Higher Education (THE), 2022 for their contribution to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.

At La Trobe, the students do not just achieve academic excellence but also get a chance to hone skills like leadership, critical thinking, adaptability, creativity, and collaboration. To get admission in general programs in La Trobe you must score 4+ GPA, 6+ IELTS and 79+ TOEFL. The cut-off for Bachelor programs is 50+ ATAR, 6+ IELTS and 64+ TOEFL. For more information, visit the university website.

Top courses include:

• Archaeology is in the top 100 in the world

• Linguistics ranked in the top 150 worldwide

• Their MBA Program ranks 41st in the world

• Nursing programs are ranked top 100 globally

• Sport programs are ranked in the top 50 in the world

Victoria University

Victoria University does not just offer higher education but also vocational education and skill training. It offers courses right from certificate level to PhD level. It has more than 40,000 students in its nine Melbourne campuses, with their tenth campus in Sydney. The alumni network is of 240,000 graduates of which 30,000 are working overseas. It is among the top 750 universities in the world.

The core disciplines are sport and exercise science, computer science, engineering and technology and education. The university also offers English language courses through its English Language Centre. Victoria University also offers research opportunities for students and staff in various topics including its flagship areas of sustainable industries and liveable cities and health and sport.

The university has over 4,000 industry partnership which provides exposure to students and prepares them for employment. Many courses at Victoria University are developed in consultation with and accredited by industry bodies that are globally recognised like Engineers Australia, The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport Australia, and The Australian Computer Society.

Victoria University offers 126 undergraduate and 78 postgraduate programs, along with various MBA programs. The cut-off for admission in general courses is 550+ in GMAT, 2+ GPA, 6+ IELTS, and 79+ TOEFL while that for bachelor programs is 1270+ SAT, 70+ ATAR, 6+ IELTS and 79+ TOEFL. For more information, visit the university website.

Australian Catholic University

Established in 1991, Australian Catholic University (ACU) is the youngest on the list. However, in the last few decades, the university has grown exceptionally and managed to get on the list of the best universities in Melbourne. It has seven campuses in Australia and one in Italy. The university is among the top 1000 universities in the world.

The university has a welcoming environment and houses more than 33,000 students from over 100 countries. It also has 2,300 qualified staff to support the students. ACU has a network of scholars from across the world and a partnership with more than 200 institutions globally.

The university offers 163 undergraduate and 63 postgraduate courses along with MBA courses. The cut-off for admission in general courses is 155+ STAT, 6+ IELTS and 90+ TOEFL while that for bachelor programmes is 58+ ATAR, 6+ IELTS and 78+ TOEFL. For more information, visit the university website.

Top subjects include:

• Nursing, ranked sixth in Australia and 14th in the world for nursing

• Education is ranked fourth in Australia and in the top 50 in the world

• Psychology, one of the top 150 universities in the world

• Law, one of the top 300 universities globally

• Theology, Divinity and Religious Studies ranked first in Australia and 26th globally

Maybe you want to know what the international student life is like here.

Maybe you have questions about what it's like to study your course.

Or maybe you just want to know the best hangout spots in your university.

You can always ask your fellow international students in IDP's official online community! Take a look at this post below.

See the University of Melbourne Through a Student’s Eyes

One of IDP's student ambassadors shares their favourite spots at UniMelb below.

Join our IDP Thrive Community, so you can see more international student experiences like this!

Join IDP Thrive Community

If you already have a specific university in mind, but are still hesitating due to some concerns: whether it's the tuition fees, cost of living, or your entry requirements, let us put all your worries at ease.

Just talk to our friendly IDP counsellors for free.

We have helped thousands of international students like you secure their spots in the best universities in Melbourne.

Whether it's finding scholarships, accommodations, knowing which entry requirements apply to you, or submitting your application---we'll be here every step of the way.

We can clarify your concerns and assist you with your university applications.

Talk to our IDP counsellors today

And when you have finally secured your enrollment...

The next thing to do? Prepare to arrive in Melbourne!

And whenever you feel like you'll need a friend, or a community to guide you in living and studying in Australia, just join our online community of international students: Thrive Community.

It's a place to make friends online and in person, and make living in Australia warmer. We'll wait for you there!

I want to meet fellow international students

If you need help choosing the perfect degree or university, we are here for you. With years of experience advising thousands of international students, IDP is here to help your study abroad journey. Contact us to chat about finding your dream course, university, and career path.