Planning your arrival

Once you've been accepted into one of our programs, you'll want to start planning your move. This includes things like confirming your visa, finding a place to live, preparing your finances, organising an airport pickup, and packing all the essentials.

To help you plan, here are some of the things you’ll want to do before you leave home:

Organise your health care cover and visa

Overseas Student Health Cover

You need to arrange your Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) in order to receive your student visa, as this is a condition of the Department of Home Affairs.

It could be the University of Melbourne preferred provider (Bupa) or your own choice of provider.

If you arrange your own OSHC through a different provider you must include evidence of your insurance when you accept your offer. It is important that your OSHC matches your visa length; where it is shorter, the Department of Home Affairs may reduce your visa duration to match your period of OSHC cover.

It is your responsibility to check and comply with all student visa requirements.

Find out more about getting OSHC

Student visa

Once you've been accepted into our Exchange or Study Abroad program, organised your OSHC and received your CoE, you can apply for your student visa.

To find out about student visa requirements in Australia, visit Department of Home Affairs – Studying in Australia

Are you Under 18?

If you're under 18 you'll also need to make appropriate accommodation and welfare arrangements for when you arrive. More information is available here.

Under 18 international students

Find accommodation

There are many options available to Exchange or Study Abroad students, including living in a Residential College, student apartment, share-house, homestay or temporary accommodation.

University Accommodation

From Semester 1, 2020, the University of Melbourne will provide an accommodation guarantee to all undergraduate students. Postgraduate students can also apply.

With one simple application, you can rest easy knowing your new home is waiting for you to arrive.

Access a range of trusted, University-operated and partnered accommodation, available exclusively to students. Life in University Accommodation offers a complete residential experience, connected to the University. Dedicated staff are also available to support you while you study.

Learn more about University accommodation options

Residential Colleges

There are 10 Residential Colleges.

The colleges provide academic and pastoral support as well as 24-hour access to study-related facilities including libraries, music practice rooms and common areas. College students live in fully furnished single rooms which all have phone and internet connection. All meals are provided.

Apply for a Residential College.

Other Accommodation

Located on the edge of the CBD the University of Melbourne is well placed to take advantage of the many opportunities that the City of Melbourne has to offer with different options to suit your needs. The private rental options around the University have evolved into a network of private accommodation providers, hostels and share houses.

Budget for living in Australia

This is vital to ensure you can afford to live as a student in Melbourne, as well as be able to travel and have fun outside of class.

To find out what you need to budget for, see Cost of living.

Pack for every season!

In Victoria we have four seasons, so make sure you bring clothing for every kind of weather. Refer to the Bureau of Meteorology to see what kind of weather to expect when you arrive.

Some student accommodation will already be furnished, so you won't need to bring much. Some may require you to bring linen, so ensure you check this before you book.

If you need to furnish your room in a sharehouse or private rental, you can organise this when you arrive. You can find helpful resources on what you may need to do in our accommodation section.

Support and advice

If you need help transitioning to life at Melbourne, get in touch with our student support team at Stop 1. They can offer advice on course planning, tuition fees, student loans, finding student accommodation and more.

Contact Stop 1