Milk Bar Mag’s Guide For Melbourne’s International Students

Melbourne has proven to be the heartland for incoming international students after being ranked second in the prestigious QS Best Student Cities 2015 list.

In addition to claiming the title of World’s Most Liveable City and World’s Most Friendliest City, Melbourne is fast becoming a hot destination for tourism, but also playing a special role in the young lives of these fortunate international students. As the month of February touches down in Melbourne, so will the airplanes carrying the next generation of international students. With more than 30,000 of these students arriving from all corners of the globe annually, they choose Melbourne for a reason.

Melbourne endeavours to embrace any student from any country. Although you may not think it, you will have a great influence on this city, contributing to the economy, adding value to the multicultural profile of the city and broadening the boundaries of Melbourne’s education system.

Melbourne’s reputation as one of the world’s leading cities for international students stands because of the excellent programs and events helping to make this transition easier. If you are an international student, a perfect way to start can be at the Student Welcome Desk located at the International Arrivals Hall, Terminal 2, Melbourne Airport. With friendly staff able to speak a diverse range of languages, you will be equipped with transport and accommodation knowledge before you have even exited the airport. For those confused and nervous, the Student Welcome Desk is a great place to start and settle any anxiety.

Located at 506 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, international students out there, you can make the Multicultural Hub your haven during your stay in Melbourne. The Melbourne City Council’s website says, “The Multicultural Hub is a friendly place, where people from Melbourne’s many different cultures can get together to work, share and learn in a safe and supportive environment.” Managed by Victoria’s largest local provider of multicultural support services, the Adult Multicultural Education Services (AMES), you will be in safe hands as you make your plans for an enthralling stay in the city of Melbourne. The Multicultural Hub is also a fantastic opportunity to build friendships with students who are in a similar position to you. You may find some fantastic travel buddies or some diligent study partners, but ultimately you are perfectly set up to make lifelong friends from around the world.

As crucial as it is for an international student to make efforts to assimilate into the culture of their host city, there are times when you will feel isolated and lonely. A common feeling among international students and a completely normal feeling to experience being situated on the most remote corner of Earth. However, The Couch has vowed to help lessen these emotions by providing a tranquil environment in which international students can socialise and interact amongst one another. Located at 69 Bourke Street, Melbourne, The Couch has a 4.9 star rating out of 5 on its Facebook page with many international students expressing their appreciation and admiration.

“No matter how long you are staying in Melbourne, The Couch is an amazing place to create long lasting friendships! A great, relaxed, friendly sense of community. I just loved it,” said Yaz Gallegos of Monterrey, Mexico. International student, Behrooz Ghabraie said The Couch is, “the best place for internationals/locals to meet new people and socialise in a friendly environment!” Zoe Law, an international student from Hong Kong studying a Bachelor of Journalism at RMIT University, says, “Being a foreign student in Melbourne is much easier than in other places.”

These are just some of the many programs and events readily available to make your international experience in Melbourne special. The vibrancy international students bring to the city of Melbourne is truly unique and adds another cultural dimension to this already diverse city. And as the growth in international student numbers is set to rise, Melbourne will continue to respond positively with such outstanding programs, Melbourne will continue to be a second home for many and will continue to play a role in the personal and professional development of many more international students’ lives to come.