Why study in Melbourne? 6 things you’ll learn from studying
Coming from a small town, it’s normal to feel terrified of the big city. But once you’re there, it’s much easier than you imagined.
Melbourne is one of the best cities in the world to be a student. It pairs globally recognised educational institutions with a city that’s walkable and liveable on a student budget. But knowing that on paper is very different from packing up your life and moving there.
If you’ve grown up in a small regional town and never lived in a city, moving to study can feel huge. It’s even bigger if you’re the oldest sibling and the first in your family to leave home. Moving to Melbourne to study can take you well out of your comfort zone, but it can also teach you a lot about living in one of Australia’s most creative cities.
Is Melbourne on your list, but the thought of living in a city daunts you? If you’re weighing up the move, here are 6 things to know before you decide.
What makes Melbourne a great city to study in?
Melbourne consistently ranks among the world's leading student cities, and for good reason, particularly for those interested in the creative space:
- A creative and cultural sector on your doorstep, from the NGV and ACMI to design studios, agencies and independent galleries
- Multicultural, welcoming suburbs and strong student communities
- Excellent public transport with deep student discounts, so you don't need a car
6 things you'll learn from studying in Melbourne
1. Studying on campus makes networking easier
Studying online is a good option if you can't relocate, and you'll still collaborate with classmates and lecturers. But one thing about studying, especially in the creative industries, is that networking matters as much as your portfolio.
You might think networking is a bit of a scam. Your lecturers will probably bring it up a lot, and it can feel like a really old-school way of thinking. You're already connected to everyone through your phone and social media, so why bother networking in real life? But the connections you make in person, while you're studying and once you start working, are often the ones that open doors.
2. Your days off campus are part of your education
Even when you're studying on campus, you won't be there every day. Depending on your course, there may be stretches where you're only on campus two days a week, and not always for full days. And what better place to have a few free days than Melbourne?
Use those days to explore! See an exhibition at the NGV or ACMI. Wander Melbourne Central and State Library Victoria. Catch a film. Organise a study date with your classmates in a park when the weather behaves.
Melbourne is a great place to feel creatively inspired and energised. There's always something new to see, so you'll often finish the day with a fresh idea or reference to take into your next project.
If you’re studying design, add ACMI to the top of your list. Its exhibitions tell stories through digital mediums, which make it extremely useful from a design perspective.
🔥 Hot tip: Always check whether a venue has student pricing. Never pay full price if you don't have to.
3. Public transport is far less scary than it looks
Public transport can feel intimidating when you first move to Melbourne, especially if you're coming from a smaller town. The thing that makes it click is the free PTV app. Pop in your start and end points and it plans the journey for you.
If you’re living in a suburb like Essendon and catching the train in, check the times in the app the night before class and work out exactly when you need to leave. It takes the guesswork out of your morning.
Get a student myki before you do anything else
Don't pay full fare while you're studying. Apply for a tertiary student ID through the Public Transport Victoria website and you'll get 50% off your travel.
4. Budget early, and claim every student discount going
Moving away from home to study is expensive! There's no point pretending otherwise. Your main costs will be accommodation, transport, food and study materials, and they add up faster than you expect.
The easiest way to stay on top of it is to stack up every saving you can find:
- A student myki for half-price public transport
- Student pricing at galleries, cinemas and events
- Campus facilities, libraries and software access instead of paying for your own
- Second-hand materials and equipment where quality allows
Transport is one of the big ones, especially if you're studying in the city. The more you save on getting around, the more you can spend on the ACMI and NGV visits that feed your work.
5. Homesickness happens, and no one warns you
Homesickness can hit you hard in the first month. Upending your life and your routines while meeting new people is a lot to take on at once.
Lean on your classmates and put real effort into those friendships early. You're going to spend a lot of time with these people anyway, so you might as well make friends. Organise dinners after class, or plan a trip to an exhibition. Those small plans are how close friendships form, and they’ll help you build new routines.
The first month or two can be tricky while you find your feet, but it gets easier once you lean in.
6. There's more support around you than you realise
You don't have to cope alone. At Torrens University, you've got academic support, libraries and digital learning tools, plus small-class teaching where your lecturers know your name and your work.
There's also wellbeing support for students, from counselling and health services to peer networks, plus structured ways to meet people early through orientation, student clubs and networking events. Use them in week one, not week ten.
Is moving to Melbourne to study worth it?
Moving to Melbourne to study could be one of the best decisions you make. It can bring new friendships and opportunities you couldn’t create from home, from industry connections to speaking on an Open Day panel.
If you're on the fence right now, it's worth asking yourself what's holding you back. If it’s the city itself, that fear could turn out to be the least accurate prediction you’ve ever made.
Explore the degrees at the Melbourne campus, book into an upcoming Open Day or have a chat with a Future Student Advisor about what your first year could look like.
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