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Australia’s largest city, Melbourne, is home to some of the best universities in Australia. The list of best universities in Melbourne include some heavy hitters like the University of Melbourne, Monash University and RMIT University (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology). However, thousands of international students do not move to Melbourne solely because of the best unis in Melbourne. Melbourne is in fact, one of the most livable cities in the entire world. This city boasts a clean environment, an excellent quality of the living, and a moderate cost of living. Moreover, Melbourne is one of the most immigrant-friendly cities in the world as more than 40% of its population is from abroad. The rich and vibrant culture of Melbourne also makes it highly appealing to students from all over the world, especially India. In this article, we will talk extensively about the top universities in Melbourne, complete with details regarding tuition fees, domestic and international rankings, best courses, student population and much more.
A list of the best universities in Melbourne –
1. University of Melbourne
Number one on our list is the University of Melbourne. This university is Australia’s second oldest and one of the best universities in Melbourne. The University of Melbourne is home to more than 50,000 students and has sprawling campuses across all of its 11 residential colleges. This university is also a part of an alliance of Australia’s top research universities called the Group of Eight, thus making it one of the best universities in Melbourne.
Academic excellence aside, this university is located in Parkville, which is known for its leafy streets, heritage buildings and tourist attractions such as the Melbourne Zoo. Being located in the business district of Melbourne, students can find many cafés, shops, sports venues, student accommodation along with excellent transport links.
| Type | Public research university |
| Established | 1853 |
| No. of Students | 52,475 |
| Australian Ranking | THE-WUR National – 1 QS National – 3 |
| World Ranking | THE-WUR World – 31, QS World – 41 |
| Best Bachelors Courses | Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Science Psychology Major, Bachelor of Science (Computing & Software Systems Major) |
| Best Masters Courses | Full-Time MBA, Master of Science (Computer Science), Master of Business Analytics |
2. Monash University
Despite being a relatively new university, Monash University features number 2 on our list of best universities in Melbourne. Monash University is a young research university that oversees over 85,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students, thus making it the largest university in Australia. This university has six campuses throughout the state of Victoria and another two internationally. The university’s motto ‘Ancora imparo’, means ‘I am still learning’, reflects its dedication to innovation and ongoing development. Just like the University of Melbourne, Monash University has its main campus in Parkville and is a member of the prestigious Group of Eight. Monash University is renowned for its courses in the fields of pharmacy and pharmacology.
| Type | Public research university |
| Established | 1958 |
| No. of Students | 86,753 |
| Australian Ranking | THE-WUR National – 5, QS National – 6 |
| World Ranking | THE-WUR World – 64, QS World – 55 |
| Best Bachelors Courses | Bachelor of Computer Science, Bachelor of Business, Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours) |
| Best Masters Courses | Master of Biomedical and Health Science, Master of Data Science, Master of Information Technology |
3. RMIT University (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology)
The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology is one of the best universities in Melbourne that specialises in design and technology. Founded in 1887, this university has its main campus in the northern section of the Melbourne city centre. RMIT University is one of few universities in Melbourne which is so central that international students can enjoy the fast-paced life of a buzzing city like Melbourne. The location also allows students to be close to a number of cafes, restaurants, public transport stations, tourist attractions and last but not the least, student accommodation. UniAcco has a wide selection of fully-furnished student accommodation located just a few minutes away from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology.
In order to be one of the top universities in Melbourne, Australia, universities need to have quality courses administered by world-class faculties. RMIT University does just that. Students can choose from a variety of courses in the fields of Engineering & Technology and Arts & Humanities that are taught by industry experts.
Some of the well-known alumni of the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology include James Wan (movie director and writer), Jim Stynes (famous charity worker), Lydia Lassila, (Australian winter Olympic gold medalist), Felix Colgrave (Australian animator) and Charles Billich (famous Australian artist).
| Type | Public university |
| Established | 1887 |
| No. of Students | 87,465 |
| Australian Ranking | THE-WUR National – 23, QS National – 15 |
| World Ranking | THE-WUR World – 301–350, QS World – 223 |
| Best Bachelors Courses | Bachelor of Computer Science, Bachelor of Business (International Business), Bachelor of Nursing |
| Best Masters Courses | Master of Food Science and Technology, Master of Data Science, Master of Computer Science |
4. La Trobe University
Though officially established in 1964, the origins of La Trobe University can be traced back to the post-World War II era where the country pushed towards increasing higher education facilities. La Trobe University has its main campus in the suburb of Bundoora and includes a sprawling 267 hectares of parkland with a wildlife sanctuary and waterways. This university also boasts two art museums as well as a sculpture park in Melbourne city. La Trobe University has nearly 35,000 students and teaches postgraduate business students in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD. The university has specialised courses in the fields of cell biology, microbiology, biochemistry, archaeology, historical studies and veterinary sciences, which makes it one of the good universities in Melbourne.
| Type | Public research university |
| Established | 1964 |
| No. of Students | 38,639 |
| Australian Ranking | THE-WUR National – 13, QS NationaL – 21 |
| World Ranking | THE-WUR World – 201-250, QS World – 400 |
| Best Bachelors Courses | Bachelor of Business, Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Honours), Bachelor of Accounting |
| Best Masters Courses | Master of Data Science, Master of Engineering Management, Master of Business Analytics |
5. Victoria University
Victoria University features fifth in our list of best universities in Melbourne and it’s easy to see why. This university offers a lot in terms of its wide spectrum of teaching levels, ranging from short courses and apprenticeships to postgraduate degrees. Moreover, with a student population of over 50,000 students enrolled at the Victoria and the Footscray Park campuses, Victoria University is one of the best biggest universities in Melbourne. This university is renowned for its sports programmes as it has a US$60 million state of the art sports facility in Melbourne.
| Type | Public university |
| Established | 1916 |
| No. of Students | 50,000 |
| Australian Ranking | QS National – 30 |
| World Ranking | THE-WUR World – 301–350, QS World – 651–700 |
| Best Bachelors Courses | Bachelor of Information Technology (Network and Systems Computing), Bachelor of Business (Banking and Finance), Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Civil Engineering) |
| Best Masters Courses | Master of Business (Enterprise Resource Planning Systems), Master of Business (Supply Chain Management), Master of Project Management |
6. Deakin University
Deakin University started off from humble beginnings. Established in 1974 as a small regional institution, Deakin has since merged with two other schools in the state of Victoria to become a key player in the western side of Victoria, excelling in a large range of subjects, and becoming one of the top universities in Melbourne. Today, Deakin University is considered as one of the best universities in Melbourne for information technology, sports management, law, humanities, social science, medicine, psychology and environmental sciences. Students can expect to be active members on campus as there are more than 150 clubs and societies present at Deakin University. Most of the campuses of Deakin University are located close to restaurants, general stores, medical stores, cafes, gyms, and tourist attractions, so students do not need to travel much to get necessary goods and services.
| Type | Public university |
| Established | 1974 |
| No. of Students | 64,036 |
| Australian Ranking | THE-WUR National – 11, QS National – 16 |
| World Ranking | THE-WUR World – 301–350, QS World – 271 |
| Best Bachelors Courses | Bachelor of Information Technology, Bachelor of Software Engineering (Honours), Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Honours) |
| Best Masters Courses | Master of Business Administration (International), Master of Information Technology (Professional), Master of Construction Management (Professional) |
