The age of admission to university is usually 18 (although most admit exceptional students at a younger age) and courses are usually for three years, although some last for four. This is seen as a big advantage for foreign students from countries where courses often last much longer and helps Australian universities attract a large number of overseas students. Most Australian universities have between 10,000 and 30,000 students, although they’re usually dispersed over a number of campuses.
All Australian universities accept overseas students and many spend millions of dollars on overseas marketing and student recruitment (Australia’s sandstone universities established their own overseas marketing arm in 1997). There are no quotas for foreign students, but all non-resident students must pay full fees (although grants are available). Overseas students require a student visa, which is issued after acceptance on a course and payment of at least half the first year’s fees. Students must have the financial resources to meet day-to-day living expenses for the duration of their course, return fares to Australia and tuition fees.
Melbourne is home to some of the nation’s oldest educational institutions, including the oldest Law (1857), Engineering (1860), Medical (1862), Dental (1897) and Music (1891) schools, all at the University of Melbourne. The University of Melbourne is also the oldest university in Victoria and the second oldest university in Australia.
Melbourne’s two largest and most prestigious tertiary institutions are the University of Melbourne and Monash University. Both are members of the Group of Eight. Melbourne University ranked second among Australian universities in the 2006 THES international rankings, after the Australian National University; it was however placed first in 2005. The Times Higher Education Supplement also includes three other Melbourne-based institutions in its top 100, Monash University, La Trobe University and RMIT University. In recent years, the number of international students at Melbourne’s universities has risen rapidly, a result of an increasing number of places being made available to full fee paying students.
La Trobe University
215 Franklin Street
Melbourne VIC 3000
(03) 9285 5100
www.latrobe.edu.au
Monash University
Parkville Campus
381 Royal Parade
Parkville VIC 3052
(03) 9902 6000
www.vcp.monash.edu.au
RMIT University
GPO Box 2476V
Melbourne, VIC 3001
Australia
(03) 9925 2000
www.rmit.edu.au
The University of Melbourne
Parkville VIC 3010
(03) 8344 4000
www.unimelb.edu.au
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