University of Melbourne (Australia)
The Program
Melbourne’s rank as the 10th best city in the world for ‘employer activity’ makes it an even more attractive destination to study abroad.
The University of Melbourne was established in 1853, making it Australia’s second-oldest. The university has more than 35,000 students and is rated one of the top universities in Australia. Melbourne is rated one of the most student-friendly cities in the world by the QS Best Student Cities in the World 2012. There are more than 150 clubs and societies available from cultural, religious and political to musical and leisure. There’s bound to be something for you.
Program Location
Australia
Melbourne
Melbourne was settled in 1835 as a trading post with 50 settlers. Today, the city is the capital of the state of Victoria, and vies with Sydney for cultural, political, economic, and sporting pre-eminence. Melbourne is a city of parks and fine Victorian buildings; visitor highlights include the National Gallery of Victoria, the Chinese Museum, and Scienceworks. The open-air Queen Victoria Market is a wonderful place to browse and, when you get hungry, the restaurant options reflect all the different peoples who have made Australia their home: Italian, Greek, Chinese, Polish, Lebanese, Vietnamese, and Indonesian. And moving a little further afield, Melbourne is also a great base from which to explore the Great Ocean Road, or catch an overnight ferry to Tasmania.
Academics
In order to have an idea of what classes are available, you should visit the University of Melbourne website.
When looking for courses, be sure you are only looking at the offerings for undergraduate students. Also, please be sure you choose courses that are offered during your semester of study. If you are studying abroad during the semester running from July - November/December (Rutgers fall semester), then you should choose courses that are available during Semester 2 at Melbourne. If you are studying abroad during the semester running from February/March – July (Rutgers fall semester), be sure to choose courses available during Semester I.
Students in the past have recommended taking courses at the 100 or 200 levels. Unlike the U.S. university system, universities in Australia offer upper-level courses at the 100 to 200 level. Courses at the 300 level tend to be rather advanced, much closer to a US graduate course. However, you may request 300-level courses if you have the relevant background.
You should plan to take four classes per term, each worth 12.5 credits at Melbourne. One 12.5 credit course at the University of Melbourne is worth 4 Rutgers University credits. Thus, four 12.5 credit Melbourne classes will give you 16 Rutgers credits per term. It is not possible to take classes as not-for-credit or pass/fail.
For information about Study Abroad credit transfer, registration, and transcripts please visit the Academics section of our website.
Housing and Meals
The two types of accommodations available at the University of Melbourne are Residential Colleges and Student Apartments. You may choose to apply for either type of accommodation.
Residential Colleges
Residential Colleges are student residence buildings located on or near campus. Residential Colleges are privately owned and operated buildings that function more like fraternities/sororities or special interest housing in which admission is selective and group activities, such as formal dinners, community service, and general caretaking duties are performed regularly. Each person is expected to actively participate. Some of the Colleges have held on to their traditional religious affiliations. You need not follow any religious practices if you do not wish, but you should be aware of this tradition.
There are 12 different Residential Colleges at the University of Melbourne. Most of the Colleges are comprised of single rooms with shared bathrooms (note: sometimes the bathrooms are unisex) and kitchen facilities. Each Residential College has a cafeteria in the building where you will take your meals (you are usually allowed up to 21 per week, but this depends on the specific Residential College). Applications for the Residential Colleges can be competitive, and usually only 1 in 4 applicants is admitted.
* During university breaks, it is possible to stay in your Residential College, as long as you inform the manager ahead of time. If you are granted permission to stay in your housing during breaks, or before or after official housing opening and closing dates, you may be responsible to pay a specific amount per additional day.
Student Apartments
Student apartments are multiple-story apartment buildings occupied entirely by students. Most residents in the student apartments are upper-level students from the U.S., Japan, Singapore, Canada, Europe, Scandinavia, and many other countries. If you are housed in student apartments, you will prepare your own meals, as no meal plan is available. You are responsible for the cost of your food on the program. Your apartment will have its own kitchen, so you can prepare meals whenever you like. Your apartment will also have a refrigerator, stove-top, microwave, and food storage areas.
For more information on housing options, please visit the University of Melbourne web page.
Financial Information
Program Costs
| NJ Resident | non-NJ Resident | |
|---|---|---|
| Program Cost | $10,000 | $13,900 |
Program Cost includes:
• Tuition
• Administrative Fees
• Emergency Medical Access Abroad
Out-of-Pocket Costs
| Airfare | $2,000 |
| Housing | $3,400 |
| Meals | $4,000 |
| Visa (Estimate is for US Citizens) | $535 |
| OSHC Insurance | $270 |
| Books and Classroom Materials | $850 |
| Local Transportation | $600 |
| Personal Expenses | $1,500 |
| Total | $13,155.00 |
Out-of-Pocket Cost includes:
The above costs are estimations and represent the known out-of-pocket costs students encounter during their time abroad.
Some of these expenses will be paid for prior to going abroad, such as an airline ticket and visa costs, while some of these expenses, such as meals and local transportation, will be paid in-country as part of your daily expenses. As you plan, you will need to budget these costs and spend wisely throughout your time abroad.
Program Costs
| NJ Resident | non-NJ Resident | |
|---|---|---|
| Program cost | $10,000 | $13,900 |
Program Cost includes:
• Tuition
• Administrative Fees
• Emergency Medical Access Abroad
Out-of-Pocket Costs
| Airfare | $2,000 |
| Housing | $3,400 |
| Meals | $4,000 |
| Visa (Estimate is for US Citizens) | $535 |
| OSHC Insurance | $270 |
| Books and Classroom Materials | $850 |
| Local Transportation | $600 |
| Personal Expenses | $1,500 |
| Total | $13,155.00 |
Out-of-Pocket Cost includes:
The above costs are estimations and represent the known out-of-pocket costs students encounter during their time abroad.
Some of these expenses will be paid for prior to going abroad, such as an airline ticket and visa costs, while some of these expenses, such as meals and local transportation, will be paid in-country as part of your daily expenses. As you plan, you will need to budget these costs and spend wisely throughout your time abroad.
Scholarships
Student Spotlight
"I studied abroad last semester in Melbourne, Australia, and I can honestly say that it was one of the greatest experiences of my life. Starting from the very first day at my apartment complex, I told myself that I would make some changes and put myself out there more than I do back home. As such, I found myself making friends with almost everyone around me, and within a week I had a solid group of friends that I found myself spending the majority of my time around. So if nothing else, studying abroad has made me more open and willing to approach people. In short, it has made me more confident and self-assured than I was."