How to get into University of Melbourne
For Undergraduate (UG) and Masters (MS) degrees
The University of Melbourne, or, often, “Melbourne,” is an Australian public research university founded in 1853. Besides 11 colleges, it provides affiliation to various institutes and research centers.
The university’s main campus at Parkville, Melbourne, is close to student accommodations, transport, cafes, shopping centers, and sports venues.
Melbourne, which began as an institution with four professors and 16 students, now has 48,000 students, including 13,000 international students from 130 countries, and over 8,000 academic and professional staff. The university is also a sports and cultural center.
Ranking
University of Melbourne was ranked 38th in the QS Global World Ranking 2020, 32nd in THE World University Rankings 2020, and 26th in US News and World Report Best Global Universities.
The university has many libraries and museums, and at least seven Nobel laureates have been affiliated with it. Notable alumni include academics, historians, authors, artists, political leaders, and corporate leaders.
Undergraduate programs
Under the “Melbourne Model,” you start with an undergraduate (bachelor’s) degree program or an undergraduate-plus-postgraduate-degree program.
You specialize in a particular area of study, or “major,” choosing from 270 degrees in 100 different fields, and also study subjects other than your major, which gives you “breadth.”
After achieving a bachelor’s degree, you can enter the workforce, join a postgraduate program to learn more about your main area of specialization, or go into a PhD program for research.
Melbourne offers degrees in agriculture, arts, biomedicine, commerce, design, fine arts, music, oral health, and science.
The areas for undergraduate study are architecture, building, and planning and design; arts, humanities, and social sciences; business and economics; education; engineering; environment; health; information technology and computer science; law; music, visual arts, and performing arts; science; and veterinary, agriculture, and food sciences.
Under these interest areas, you can focus on particular topics, such as, for example, architecture, construction, language and linguistics, social and political science, finance, international business, clinical teaching, learning intervention, software engineering, environmental law, policy, sustainability, geography, medicine, social work, data and analytics, special information, research in law, specialist legal study, composition, performing arts, chemistry, physics, psychological sciences, food science, and mechanical, aerospace, and mechatronics engineering.
The complete information on subjects under each area of interest is given in the webpage for each area. The focus subjects, degrees, majors, and career pathways are also provided.
Besides a major, you can choose “breadth” subjects, which add value to your major: for example, you can choose to major in a science subject while also taking up a breadth subject, such as Chinese Mandarin.
You can earn a concurrent diploma, too, choosing from among diplomas in computing, languages, mathematical science, and music (practical).
Honors degree programs, in which a fourth year of study gives you gain deep knowledge about your subject, develops research skills, and sets you up for a graduate research degree, are available with bachelor’s degrees in agriculture, arts, biomedicine, commerce, fine arts, music, and science.
You apply for honors in the final year of your UG program.
Admission requirements
You are considered to be an international student based on your citizenship, even if you are studying in Australia. All programs have minimum entry scores, subject prerequisites, and English language requirements.
International applicants from India with all-India senior school certificate (CBSE), ISC, or state board certificate are eligible to apply for undergraduate degree programs.
The indicative entry score required for CBSE and ISC students/applicants scales up from 65 marks (agriculture) to 91 marks (biomedicine) depending on the chosen area of study. State board marks required range from 75 (agriculture) to 93 (biomedicine).
You also need to achieve the required grades in prerequisite subjects, fulfil test, interview, and audition requirements, and satisfy English language requirements (IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, CAE). The Tamil Nadu Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC), Maharashtra State Board HSC, and Karnataka Pre-university Certificate holders have direct entry pathways.
You need to accept an offer of admission and enroll for a program to receive your confirmation of enrolment and apply for a student visa. If you meet the academic and English language prerequisites for your chosen program, you may be guaranteed entry into the program.
Foundation programs and English language programs are available to help undergraduate program applicants develop essential knowledge in their chosen programs to provide them a foundation to meet the academic and English language requirements.
How to apply
The first step is to select a program and check your eligibility and program fee. International students apply online directly to the university.
You have to apply through the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre if you are applying as an Australian Year 12 (Worldwide) student or as an IB student in Australia or New Zealand. The application fee is AU$100.
The application closing date for Semester 1 is late December.
Admission Results & Decision
You will receive an admission decision in two to four weeks. You can know the outcome by logging in to your student account. You will also receive an email from the university.
Fee and other expenses
International applicants enroll as full-fee-paying students. Fee does not depend on the program but on the subjects you have chosen.
The typical total program fee for international undergraduate students in the university is A$95,008 for most Bachelor of Fine Arts programs; A$96,928-A$106,340 for Bachelor of Music; A$106,656- A$121,608 for Bachelor of Arts; A$131,952- A$141,152 for Bachelor of Commerce; A$132,772- A$170,600 for Bachelor of Science; A$148,224- A$156,552 for Bachelor of Biomedicine; and A$206,128 for Bachelor of Oral Health, to provide a few examples.
Other costs include accommodation, travel, phone, Internet, and entertainment. University-owned and partnered accommodation, residential colleges, private accommodation, and homestays are also available.
As per government guidelines, you must prove that you have A$20,290 for living costs per year.
Of courses, your expenses depend on your lifestyle, and you may need to budget for A$85-A$440 per week for accommodation; A$80-$280 per week for groceries and eating out; A$35-A$140 for gas, electricity; A$20-A$50 for phone/Internet; A$15-A$55 for public transport; and A$80-A$150 for entertainment.
Scholarships
The Melbourne International Undergraduate Scholarship awards about 30 scholarships with a tuition fee remission of AU$10,000 and ten scholarships with a 100 percent fee remission for full-time programs.
Other scholarships and bursaries are also granted for academic merit; some help the student with tuition and cost of living. You can search for scholarships applicable to you on the university website.
Graduate programs
The University of Melbourne offers more than 400 graduate programs at 18 graduate schools. Students can join a graduate program in the traditional way after completing their undergraduate degree or choose a different subject area for graduate study.
Or, you might have secured already guaranteed entry under one of the university’s Graduate Degree Packages and you can continue studies in a graduate school.
Admission requirements
The requirements for different graduate coursework degrees (master’s and doctoral degrees) vary. For master’s degrees, an applicant requires a bachelor’s degree from an institution in Australia or overseas, be eligible for international graduate place, and fulfil the English language requirements.
For a doctoral degree (graduate coursework degree), you need an honors and a master’s degree in the relevant subject. Additional qualifications and experience are also considered. Each program has specific requirements, such as interviews, supplementary tests, and portfolios.
The requirements for graduate research degrees (Doctor of Philosophy, Doctor by Research, MPhil, Masters by Research, etc.) also differ by program. You need to determine the research topic and find a supervisor.
Some schools announce the project available. Some schools also require for you to find a program supervisor beforehand and to write a research proposal.
How to apply
For graduate coursework degrees, first choose your program from among master’s by coursework, professional doctorates, graduate diploma, and graduate certificate.
Second, understand the entry requirements and the fees. Search for scholarships, bursaries, and special entry schemes.
Third, check visa eligibility.
Four, prepare the documentation (some programs such as music and fine arts may require special application forms).
Five, apply online, providing a copy of your academic results (if you are a new student), and through your student account if you are already a University of Melbourne student. The fee is AU$100.
For graduate research degrees applications, the steps are similar to coursework degrees. First, choose your program from among Doctor of Philosophy, Doctor by Research, MPhil, Masters by Research, etc.
Understand the requirements, fees, and scholarships. Prepare your documentation (you will need your academic transcripts, CV, and the names of two academic/professional referees).
Apply online as per the same guidelines for coursework degrees.
Application deadlines may be different according to programs and should be checked on the program website.
Decisions
You will receive an outcome in four to eight weeks for graduate coursework programs and eight to 12 weeks for graduate research programs.
Fee
The tuition fees for graduate school and faculty fees all vary according to the subject/program (master’s coursework, master’s research, doctorate by research, certificate, and diploma) and are available on the university website. Both annual fees and the indicative program fees are given on the website.
Scholarships
Various scholarships are available for international students. For graduate coursework students, coursework scholarships, Australian Award scholarships, Endeavour Scholarships, and other grants and bursaries are available.
If you are a graduate research student and are eligible for a Graduate Research Scholarship, you will automatically be considered.
The best way to ensure that you are considered is to apply well in time for your program. Melbourne offers various scholarships and bursaries, including some which are fee remissions and some are one-off grants to help with your living expenses. Student Support (Financial Aid) provides student loans and advice.
Graduate degree packages
If you are an international student currently studying an Australian Year 12 or the IB in Australia, you can apply for a Graduate Degree Package, by which you can join an undergraduate program and be guaranteed a place in a graduate program if you are eligible.
For example, a student joining Melbourne after secondary school could enroll for a Bachelor of Science program and reserve a place in a Master of Engineering program at the same time.
Other engineering graduate degree packages include, for example, Bachelor of Biomedicine, Commerce, or Design, bundled with a Master of Engineering program.
Other than engineering packages, packages in architecture, building, planning and design; health; information technology and computer science; law; teaching; and veterinary science are available.
Requirements include different levels of ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank), WAM (Weighted Average Marks), and prerequisite subjects.
Applicants have to apply through the VTAC (Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre); apply for a Graduate Degree Package to in the year after completing Australian Year 12 or IB via VTAC; enroll immediately or be granted deferral in the year following Year 12; and commence graduate study within 18 months of completing UG degree, subject to a few exceptions.
Students have the option of withdrawing from their chosen Graduate Degree Package at any time and concluding their studies or taking up a different graduate degree program.
Guaranteed entry
International students seeking admission based on overseas secondary school qualifications have been set indicative score levels. If you meet the required scores, satisfy minimum entry requirements, subject prerequisites, and English language requirements, you may be guaranteed entry into an undergraduate program.
The graduate degrees available under guaranteed entry are architecture, building, planning and design; arts; business and economics; engineering; health sciences; information technology; law; science; teaching; and veterinary medicine. Under each area, various degrees are offered.
For example, under architecture, building, and planning, the degrees Master of Architecture, Master of Construction Management, Master of Landscape Architecture, Master of Property, and Master of Urban Planning are available. Year 12 ATAR levels and requisite WAM in the undergraduate program are among the qualifications.
Helpful links
- Plan your program, choose your major and breadth subjects: link
- Find out about scholarships, financial aid, and loan programs: link
- Visit the international student support page for information about visas and other support services: link
- Search for your accommodation options: link
- Start a chat with a university representative or submit a query while email: link
Also read:
– How to get into the top universities in the world
– Best business schools in Australia
– International student life in Australia: What to expect
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