Wondering where to study in Melbourne?
Did you know that just an hour's drive or train ride away from Melbourne is the sunny seaside town of Geelong?
While Melbourne ranks as Australia’s best student city, Geelong is an alternative place to study with quality education providers. Deakin University ranks in the world's top 5 for education and education research according to U.S. News Best Global Universities list 2022 and The Gordon was awarded the International Provider of the Year at the Victorian International Education Awards 2022.
We caught up with Sunny, an international student from India who is studying a Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Honours) at Deakin University, to hear about his experience studying in Melbourne and Geelong.
Read on to learn more about this part of Australia and whether you’d like to study in Geelong.
What University do you attend and what course are you doing?
I am Studying Bachelors of Civil Engineering (Honours) at Deakin University.
Why did you choose to study in Melbourne?
Melbourne is home to some of the best universities in the world, offering quality education.
Before coming to Australia, I researched a lot about different Australian cities.
I came to the conclusion that Melbourne has plenty of career growth and work opportunities for students while they study.
What do you love about Melbourne?
I love the people of Melbourne, they are so friendly.
Melbourne is vibrant and diverse, with people from all different backgrounds.
I’ve met many people in Melbourne who share the same cultural background as myself.
This has never made me feel homesick, as there is always someone around who can understand my feelings.
I also like the weather in Melbourne; it is just so similar to the weather back home.
What made you feel warm and welcomed when you first arrived in Melbourne?
When I landed in Melbourne, my uncle was the one to pick me up from the airport and I stayed with him for a couple of months.
My uncle is located in a suburb called Wollert and that suburb has a lot of people from my community.
The love, hospitality and support that I received from the people of Wollert was just amazing.
People who were friends with my uncle would invite me for coffee or lunch and dinner at their places. This made me feel welcomed.
What advice would you give to someone considering coming to Melbourne to study?
Melbourne is absolutely amazing, and well done on choosing it as your study destination.
I would just like to ask that person to choose your university carefully.
It may be challenging to decide the best university for your course as Melbourne has a lot of universities.
One thing that helped me was reaching out to the existing university students on their LinkedIn and asking them about their courses and university experience.
There may be some alternate ways of getting in touch with the existing students but definitely take your time choosing the university.
Is there anything you wish you knew before moving to Melbourne?
I wish I knew the importance of volunteering and doing all other things except studying that a successful student or a graduate does.
Being an international student, I wasn't aware of the importance of volunteering and working on roles that improve your transferable skills.
Australian employers value transferable skills a lot and it is definitely an investment to volunteer.
I would recommend studying in Melbourne because…
Melbourne is home to some of the best universities in the world and has a range of support services available for international students.
So no matter what problem you might be facing as a student, there is always someone available for you to help; all it is going to take is some research and reaching out.
Melbourne is also culturally diverse and will give you plenty of opportunities to interact with people from your culture and other cultures.
Once you have completed your course, what are your plans? Are you going to stay in Australia?
Absolutely! I would love to stay in Australia after the completion of my course.
I have been working and studying in Australia for the past three years and I feel like I’ve got a good understanding of Australian work culture.
Also, Australia has many growth opportunities for my field of work.
Student life in Geelong
While Melbourne is a vibrant and bustling city, study in regional Victoria offers a more laid-back and quieter way of life with smaller friendly communities.
It's easy to visit Melbourne from regional Victoria, with the option to drive or catch a train within an hour. So, whether you prefer the excitement of a big city or the charm of a smaller town, you can find a great study destination in Victoria.
Geelong is a lively city, with a range of cultural and recreational activities available for students to enjoy. There are numerous sporting clubs, music festivals, and art galleries to explore, as well as beautiful beaches and parks to relax in between classes.
Geelong is also more affordable than living in Melbourne, which can make student life in Geelong a bit easier for some.
Things to do in Geelong
Studying in regional Victoria can be full of incredible opportunities for adventure and fun.
Both Melbourne and Geelong are known for their world-class sporting events. Recently Sunny was one of the hundreds of international students to win tickets to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Giveaway and was one of a few students who were also invited to be flag bearers at a game in Kardinia Park Stadium in Geelong.
Geelong is also known for cultural events like festivals, music and arts, and is the gateway to one of the world's most scenic coastal drives - the Great Ocean Road.
Connect with Study Melbourne to discover more sports and cultural events and giveaways in both Melbourne and Geelong.
Study Geelong
Study Melbourne and Study Geelong provide support and information to this community of international students, helping you to have the best possible time while studying and living in Victoria.
If you are based in Geelong or planning on moving to Geelong to study you can contact Study Geelong via email at info@studygeelong.com.au, or visit Study Geelong at Level 1 - 48 Brougham Street, Geelong VIC 3220.