In the inner suburbs of Melbourne, you can find high-density apartment living or quirky terrace houses. These neighbourhoods are also known for their fantastic coffee culture, cool shops, and restaurants. Other suburbs feature leafy quiet, with wide streets, trees that cast shade, gardens, parks, and houses that are situated on larger blocks.
When it comes to finding a place to live in Australia, Deakin University is here to assist you in any way possible, regardless of whether you are interested in living on campus or are looking into off-campus options. Find out more about the different lodging options you have and what kind of costs you can anticipate for your day-to-day activities.
What To Consider
Research the things that are important to you before making a decision about which part of Melbourne to live in.
Tips For Students What To Do In Melbourne, Australia.
If you conduct a search on the internet using terms such as "best suburb in Melbourne" or "cheapest suburb in Melbourne," the websites that come up in the results include advertisements as well as real estate sites. These might put an emphasis on selling houses. Therefore, it is important to check the source as well as the date to ensure that the information is accurate and up to date.
Location
Many students prefer to reside in close proximity to their places of academic pursuit. You should look at a map of Melbourne to determine which of the city's suburbs are located in close proximity to the educational institution that you intend to attend.
Price
If you want to find a place to stay in Melbourne at a price that is more within your budget, you should try to look further away from the city centre. Don't forget to look into whether or not there is consistent transportation to get you to your university, college, or school. If you do not have access to a car, you should think about the possibility of walking or riding your bike to nearby stores and services in the event that you do not have one.
Transport
In Melbourne, a network of trams, trains, and buses can be found in the areas outside of the central business district (CBD).
Safety
There is a reason that Melbourne is consistently ranked as one of the safest cities in the world. Your legal rights are safeguarded by the laws in Victoria. It is against the law, for instance, for anyone to harass or intimidate you in any way. There are numerous locations where one can seek assistance, such as the Study Melbourne Student Centre and the student services offered by their respective universities, colleges, or schools.
Things To Do
Melbourne's suburbs and Victoria's regional centres have a unique flavour. If you live in the central business district of Melbourne or any of the inner suburbs that surround the city centre, you can reach the central business district of Melbourne via public transportation in a matter of minutes, making it simple for you to take advantage of the city's many festivals, free events, and diverse offerings of live music and theatre. The more distant suburbs of Melbourne each have their own events and exciting things to do, while the central business district of Melbourne is still very easy to reach by public transportation (train, tram, or bus).
Ask Your University, College Or School.
Find out if the university, college, or school you want to attend has any recommendations for how you should live if you are applying to study there. Student organisations such as associations and unions are excellent places to begin.
Talk To Friends And Family.
We have polled a large number of students to determine which areas are the most desirable to live in. Students frequently inform us that they questioned family members or friends who already resided in the area. If you have friends or family living in Melbourne, or if you know someone who does, they may be able to give you some tips about choosing the best suburb to live in while you study.
Regional Centres
The greater Victoria region is home to a number of the state's most prestigious educational institutions, including universities and colleges. These various regional centres each have their own unique set of attractions to offer. When you attend classes at a campus located outside of Melbourne, it is typically much simpler to integrate into the local community. You should learn more about the different places in regional Victoria where you can study and live.
FAQs About Melbourne
Sometimes location does mean everything. For example, the Geelong Waterfront, Waurn Ponds and Warrnambool campuses are located in regional centres away from Melbourne – which means housing and transport costs are more affordable.
Many students want to immediately move into permanent accommodation when they arrive in Australia and attempt to organise this before getting here. However, this can be very dangerous – false advertisements and scams mean students end up losing their money and have nowhere to stay.
The safest choice is to book short-term accommodation to allow time to personally inspect and secure long-term accommodation.
The inner city is great for students, including the Melbourne CBD, Southbank, Docklands, Carlton, Richmond, and outer suburbs near some institutions include Boxhill, Footscray, Hawthorn and Northcote. In addition, there are tons of options in and around the city.
A range of student accommodation (you may know this as housing) is available to you. Choices include University-owned and partnered accommodation, university accommodation, and traditional residential colleges.
Australia has been ranked 39 out of 41 high and middle-income countries in achieving quality education, according to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).
Temporary Accommodation
The Burwood, Waurn Ponds, and Warrnambool campuses all have short-term housing options available for students. The Deakin HouseMe service is another option for finding accommodation for a shorter period of time.
Living On Campus
The best way to fully experience what Deakin has to offer is to make your home right here on campus. On each of our campuses, we have housing available for rent, and we have a range of lease terms available. Living on campus is not only inexpensive but also safe; it is an excellent place to make new friends and to be located in close proximity to your place of study. You will also save money if you choose to live on campus. The cost of the room includes the cost of internet and utility bills, and there is no accommodation bond required.
Finding A Home Off-Campus
It is highly recommended that international students choose to find housing off campus. It doesn't matter if you go by yourself or with a group of friends; doing so is an excellent way to get to know the people in your neighbourhood. It is in your best interest to make arrangements for your long-term housing as soon as you arrive in Australia. You can get set up with the assistance of our off-campus housing service.
Living Costs At A Glance
A year of living and attending school as an international student in Australia can set you back an additional AU$21,041, on top of the cost of tuition. You will spend the majority of this sum on things like housing, food, and transportation; however, you will also want to make room in your budget for things like entertainment, working out, and shopping. On the website that the Australian government maintains for international students, which is titled "Study in Australia," there is additional information that can provide you with a better understanding of the costs associated with your daily life.
Opening A Bank Account
Banking in Australia is a breeze, and we have a diverse selection of financial institutions that provide international students with a variety of benefits, including discounts, internet banking, and even free financial advice. After you have arrived in the country, one of your first priorities should be to open a bank account. In order to open a bank account, you are going to require a photo identification along with your passport, your letter of offer, and your confirmation of enrolment (CoE). The majority of Australia's most significant financial institutions are open during the following times Monday through Friday: 9.30 am to 4 pm.
Access To Money
Although the majority of stores, restaurants, and cafes in Australia accept payments via card – in Australia, this method of payment is referred to as EFTPOS – it is still a good idea to carry some cash with you, particularly if you plan to shop at a local market. You will have access to your money through the use of Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), which can be found on and around each campus.
Student-Friendly Melbourne Suburbs You May Not Know
Because the city is composed of a number of villages that have been strung together, each suburb has its own distinct atmosphere. We have compiled a list of some of the most student-friendly suburbs in Melbourne, and it includes both emerging neighbourhoods in the inner west as well as well-established student hubs.
The Best Spots For City Campuses
There are a number of excellent choices available to you in the inner west of Melbourne if you are searching for reasonably priced housing close to the University of Melbourne, RMIT, or Victoria University.
Footscray
In Melbourne's inner west, you'll find the suburb of Footscray, which is known for its reasonable housing costs. In this location, the weekly median rent for a two-bedroom apartment is approximately $380, whereas the weekly median rent for a private room in a rooming house can be as much as $220. The entire west side of Melbourne is ripe for development, as evidenced by the consistent appearance of new cafes and bars in the area.
The neighbourhood of Footscray itself is packed with eateries and grocery stores serving Asian and African cuisine, in addition to a variety of other delicious foods from around the world. In Footscray, you can get a taste of just about anything you want. The city centre can be reached in just a few stops via the suburb, and Victoria University is split between the two locations.
Seddon
Seddon can be found to the south of Footscray and is sandwiched in between the trendy neighbourhood of Yarraville and Footscray. Seddon is brimming with personality, as evidenced by the abundance of restaurants and cafes in its primary shopping district, in addition to the presence of a number of unique independent stores and quiet streets.
The weekly rent for a room in a shared house can be as much as $245 more than the median rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Seddon, which is approximately $350. Seddon is only a short train ride away from the central business district of Melbourne, and the Victoria University campuses in Footscray are easily accessible on foot.
Coburg
Coburg is located a short distance to the north of the hip neighbourhood of Brunswick. It has a similar vibe to that of an eclectic mix, with great restaurants, cafes, and bars opening up all over the area. In addition to that, the cost of renting is significantly reduced in comparison to that of Brunswick. A room in a shared house can go for as much as $225 per week, while the weekly rent for a two-bedroom apartment is approximately $400. Coburg is located only a short distance away from the hip neighbourhood of Brunswick.
Very comparable to Brunswick, with the exception that one does not pay top dollar for an old house that does not have functioning doorknobs. Because it is possible to reach the Central Business District from Coburg in a reasonable amount of time and with little effort, this neighbourhood is an excellent alternative in the event that your college or university is located within the city limits.
Thornbury
To Northcote, Thornbury is to trendy as what Coburg is to Brunswick; vice versa. Even though it is only one suburb up, it is still very convenient to get to Northcote's bar, restaurant, and cafe scene; all it takes is a short tram ride south. For a rental unit with two bedrooms and approximately 400 square feet of space, the going rate in Thornbury is approximately $400 per week.
If you would rather have a room in a shared house, you should expect to pay up to $210 per week for the privilege. You can get just about anywhere in the city from Thornbury by taking any combination of the trains, trams, and buses. In addition, the Thornbury and La Trobe University neighbourhoods are served by the 86 tram line.
Top Suburbs For Universities In The North
If you are attending La Trobe University, RMIT Bundoora, or one of the TAFE institutes located in Melbourne's north, you have a number of excellent choices available to you in terms of suburbs to call home.
Bundoora
La Trobe University and RMIT University are located at opposite ends of the expansive suburb of Bundoora. The 86 tram travels through the middle of the area, which also features a sufficient number of supermarkets and shopping centres to eliminate the requirement of leaving the suburb. The weekly rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Bundoora is typically around $375, while the weekly rent for a room in a share house can go up to $140.
A large number of options for professionally managed student housing can also be found in the neighbourhood. In addition to that, the public transportation system is pretty solid here. As an illustration, you can take the 86 tram from Bundoora all the way to Preston, Northcote, Smith Street in Collingwood, and even into the city itself.
Preston
It can be said that Preston has become something of a centre for creative people. Along High Street, you'll now find cafes, bars, and restaurants interspersed among traditional and unique retail establishments. Because it is also the location of one of the campuses of Melbourne Polytechnic, it is an excellent choice for those who wish to live in the same area in which they attend classes.
The weekly rent for a room in a share house can be as much as $130 more expensive than the median rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Preston, which is around $400. In addition to providing access to the city via train, the Preston train station is also served by the 86 tram, which travels in the opposite direction, from the city to Bundoora.
Where To Live Near South-East Campuses
If you attend Deakin University, either of the Monash campuses (Caulfield or Clayton), or Box Hill Institute, you will have access to a wide variety of options in the surrounding area.
Box Hill
Asian restaurants, grocery stores, hairdressers, and banks can all be found in close proximity to one another in Box Hill. It also plays host throughout the year to a number of cultural events, the most notable of which is a massive celebration of the Chinese New Year. Since the suburb is where Box Hill Institute is located, it is a great place to live if you want to be within a short walking distance of the school.
A room in a shared house can cost as little as $180 per week in Box Hill, while the median rent for a two-bedroom apartment in the area is approximately $420 per week. Box Hill is served by an extensive network of public transportation options, including the 109 tram that travels into the city as well as two train lines that stop at Box Hill Station.
Ferntree Gully
Ferntree Gully can be found in the eastern part of Melbourne, at the base of the Dandenong Ranges. Therefore, the likelihood of having a sizable amount of living space here while still being in close proximity to a variety of educational institutions in the south-east is high. In addition, the Dandenong Ranges is widely regarded as one of the top destinations to visit on the weekend.
The likely rent for a unit in Ferntree Gully with two bedrooms is approximately $400 per week. It's likely that a room in a shared house will cost you up to $130 per week. That's the maximum amount. You can get into the city in a little under an hour if you take the train from Ferntree Gully, which has its own train station. Additionally, you can reach the campuses of Monash University, Deakin University, and Box Hill in under an hour. If nothing else, it is highly recommended that you have access to a car if you plan on living here.
Clayton
There are a lot of fantastic Asian restaurants and grocery stores in the Clayton area, making it feel very much like a miniature version of Box Hill. Additionally, it is home to its very own Monash University campus and is located in close proximity to the Caulfield campus of Monash University. In addition, there is a Springvale location of IKEA conveniently located just around the corner.
You can expect to pay up to $150 per week for a room in a shared house, which is significantly less than the median rent of $375 for a two-bedroom apartment in Clayton, which is around the city. From Clayton Station, Monash University's Caulfield campus can be reached by train in just 15 minutes, and Monash University's Clayton campus can be reached by bus in just the same amount of time. In slightly more than half an hour, you can reach the city by taking the train.
Conclusion
You might be about to begin your educational journey in Melbourne, or you might already be residing in the city and be looking to relocate to a new neighbourhood. The fact that there are so many unique neighbourhoods to choose from is one of the best things about living in Melbourne.