Moving to a new country to study can be scary. It’s natural to fear the unknown and miss the familiar, but studying abroad is also one of the most exciting and unforgettable experiences in life. You’ll be exposed to a new environment where you can grow, find yourself and make life-long friendships.
There are few better places to study than Melbourne. Constantly ranked as one of the best student cities in the world, the city is culturally diverse and filled with some of the friendliest and most pleasant people anywhere. It’s as if Melbourne was built for students.
If you have no idea what to do first or feel overwhelmed, we’re here to help. Below is a little guide to help you navigate life as an international student in Melbourne and help you experience the city to the fullest.
Know Your Class Schedule
Your first priority should be attending classes, since that’s why you’re here. Having a 2025 diary or a planner is going to make your life significantly easier because losing track of your university commitments often leads to cramming and stress.
Most of the time, you’ll have around four subjects. While this doesn’t seem like much, each subject has its own set of lectures, tutorials, assignments and quizzes. Keep in mind that you will also need to plan and attend group meetings.
It’s all a bit overwhelming, and it’s easy to forget when and where your classes are. Before you know it, you might be weeks behind and will be forced to spend all your time in the library the week before exams. This situation is anxiety-inducing and can lead to poor results. Having a diary will remind you of your responsibilities and help you get on top of schoolwork, which is why you’re in university in the first place.
Find Study Spots
Putting a little bit of time each day into reviewing your lessons to help retain what you learned is easier said than done. This is because we are surrounded by distractions, which can make it hard to get in the right headspace.
Going to the library and seeing fellow students being productive will help motivate you to do the same. If you live in or near the CBD, the State Library of Victoria on Swanston St and the Naarm Ngarrgu Library and Family Services on Therry St are both classic study spots. You can also opt for a change of scenery and head a little farther. The Library at the Dock in Docklands, for instance, provides beautiful views of the water with seagulls occasionally flying around.
If you want a more relaxed study session with a cup of matcha or coffee next to you, you should check out cafes like Hikari, Overlay Coffee and Ichigo. These spots provide ample table space, charging outlets and, most importantly, delicious beverages. Perhaps all you needed to finish your assignments was a bit of caffeine!
Public Transportation
Now that you know where to study, the next step is figuring out how to get there. Thankfully, it’s incredibly easy to get around Melbourne. You can use the city’s extensive network of trams, trains and buses to get anywhere you need to go. There are stops on almost every street, and you can plan your route easily using the PTV app.
The first thing you need to get around is a Myki card. This is how you’ll be paying for your travels. If your balance is low, you can easily top up using various machines found at tram stops and in train stations or through the PTV app. Don’t forget to tap on, because authorised inspectors can come onboard at any time and check if you’ve paid or not. If you’re caught riding without paying, you might be faced with a fine.
One of the best things about Melbourne is that there is a free tram zone in the CBD, which covers stops like Queen Victoria Market, Federation Square, Spring Street, Flinders Street Station and Docklands.
Sunday Markets
Instead of living off of takeout or replenishing your food stores at grocery stores, try shopping in a Sunday market for a brand-new experience.
When you shop at a Sunday market, you can expect everything you buy to be fresh and organic. This means you won’t have to worry about preservatives or chemicals. You’ll also leave with a lighter conscience because you are supporting local farmers by paying them directly. The lack of a middleman also means that prices are lower, which is great for your wallet.
For something a bit different, you can visit the Camberwell Sunday market. Accessible by a quick train ride, this flea market features all sorts of different goods, including vinyl records and fossils.
Some Sunday markets you can visit include Queen Victoria Market, Prahran Market and South Melbourne Market. Whether you need to buy fresh fruits, delicious Australian beef or something a bit more exotic like an old vinyl record, shopping at a Sunday market is a truly unique experience.
Explore The Suburbs
In your free time, you shouldn’t miss out on exploring Melbourne’s suburbs. Not only will this allow you to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, but it also shows you a completely new side of Melbourne.
Are you craving a dip in the water, or do you simply want to sit at an oyster bar with a view of the sea? Visit St Kilda, an inner seaside suburb easily accessible by trams 3, 6, 16, 67, and 67 on Swanston St. Here, you can see families playing in the sand and walking dogs. Being by the sea can help you forget your stresses, as the colour blue has been shown to relax you.
Another suburban attraction is the Montsalvat Artist Community in Eltham, which looks like it comes straight out of a quaint little village in the French countryside. With its stunning buildings and greenery, Montsalvat is the perfect place to snap a few pictures. Furthermore, you’ll find plenty of local art here. If you fall in love with one, you can even purchase it for yourself.
Whether it’s raining or shining, there’s always something to do in Melbourne’s suburbs.
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For students, or anyone else for that matter, achieving a healthy work-life balance is extremely important, as it’s the key to avoiding burnout. Your physical and mental health shouldn’t be put at risk by sleepless nights and inordinate amounts of stress.
In Melbourne, it’s easy to live a balanced student life. Take some time to get out and explore, then come home ready to tackle your schoolwork.
