• Universities in Melbourne include top-tier research-intensive group of eight (go8) universities such as University of Melbourne and Monash University
• Students are allowed to work part-time of about 4 to 5 hours a day to supplement their allowance and gain work skills
• Although it is a vibrant and well-facilitated city, living in Melbourne is not considered low cost
• Students aged at least 16 years with an accredited course provided by Australian school may apply for your student visa via the Australian immigration website

The first thing comes to mind when thinking about studies is the quality of education that you are going to get. This is obviously important as international students have to spend a lot on housing, food, clothing and other domestic needs. Without a quality education and lifestyle in a reputable university, all of this seems futile. According to QS Higher Education System, Australia stands impressively at 4th position after USA, UK, and Germany. Australia is also known for welcoming international students with open arms. Australia has the highest number of institutions appeared in the 'QS Top 50 under 50'. The diverse courses offered at these universities are another feather in their cap along with vast number of extracurricular activities. Universities in Melbourne includes 2 top-tier research-intensive group of eight (go8) universities, i.e. University of Melbourne and Monash University.

Playing a host to numerous students from different parts of the world and diverse cultures ensures that there is a chance to network and interact. This offers a great atmosphere of diversity and harmonious living. Melbourne is known for its comedy and live music scene. The underground culture is especially ideal for a student’s budget, who may not be able to afford expensive international shows. Although Melbourne has a higher cost of living, but students can usually enjoy discounts at multiple businesses. Generally, Melbourne ranks highly in education, entertainment, healthcare, research and development, tourism and sport. It was awarded as the world's most livable city consecutively for the sixth year in 2016.

‘’Melbourne has a higher cost of living, but students can usually enjoy discounts at multiple businesses’’

Part-time jobs are a lifeline to international students living in a foreign country. It is important not merely to cover living costs but also in the development of your skills. However, it is essential to check the terms and conditions on your visa. According to the rules of student visa, he or she is allowed to work maximum up to 40 hours per 15 days during a semester that is, 4-5 hours per day and work full time during holidays. Opening an account in any of the banks in Perth is also beneficial as the employer can pay a student easily. Before applying for a job, a tax file number (TFN) is required which can be easily obtained from the Australian Taxation Office. Some of the popular job search websites are Seek, Adzuna, and CareerOne. In order to be informed about your rights as an employee, visit Fair Work Ombudsman. Retail, hospitality and service are some of the sectors suitable for a part-time job.

The multicultural identity of Australia is established due to its enchanting diversity. There is not a country in a world from where you will not find its people here. The diversity ensures that there is no lack of familiar people in a foreign land. This is consoling for the students who find it difficult to immerse themselves in local culture. The culture can be intimidating to many people despite its diversity. In such circumstances, it is important to learn about the place beforehand. Culture shock can lead to social isolation which is the worst thing happening to an international student. Overall, the culture of Australia is said to be friendly and welcoming.

Food often becomes an issue for an international student especially if the culture is completely different to his or her own culture. However, thanks to Melbourne's multiculturalism, the city boasts every kind of cuisine that the world has to offer. One of the best places to get your taste buds stimulated is Minh Phat Asian Supermarket, between the CBD and East Melbourne, that offer international cuisine ingredients. Elizabeth Street is another gem where you can find a diversity of food, from Thai food to Bubble Tea. If you prefer to cook your food then the various supermarkets like Footscray Market, in the west of the city, offers fresh, good quality fruits, vegetables, seafood as well as meat at low prices. Also, going shopping 20 minutes before closing time will get you everything for rock-bottom prices.

The most dreaded word for international students is visa. Most of the students spend sleepless nights over it. In order to get over such fears, it is necessary to have proper knowledge about the whole procedure and guidelines of getting a student visa. Ensure that you have all your documents ready including medical records and IELTS result. Australian student visa is quite accommodating as it let students study and work for the duration of the course and holidays. You can package multiple courses with the same visa. Unless sponsored/ part of secondary exchange, visa fee starts from AUD 550 and can be paid directly on Australian immigration website. In order to get your visa approved, student visa needs to be combined with an accredited course provided by some Australia’s schools. Confirmation of enrolment (COE) identifies the beginning and ending of the date of the course, this will be sent to you electronically. A student must be above 16 years of age to apply for student visa. You should send your application for a visa at least 12 weeks before your start date. Your application will be allocated a unique Transaction Reference Number (TRN) by the Australian Government, which you may find out about the application status online.