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                    International students

                    Three smiling people wearing t-shirts that read Student Welcome Team.
                    The City of Melbourne welcomes students from all over the world to Melbourne to study. We provide a range of programs, events and support for international students.

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                    For regular updates about international student support services and programs please follow us on Facebook and subscribe to our newsletter.

                    City of Melbourne looks forward to collaborating with the Victorian Government to deliver Victoria’s International Education Recovery Plan 2025, to promote Melbourne as Australia’s best student city, and to reinforce Melbourne’s strong position as a world class study destination, supporting international education recovery and attracting the best global talent.

                    Melbourne crowned Australia’s best student city

                    Melbourne is proud to be a student city. Our students help to shape our future and add to Melbourne’s energy and excitement.  In ​July 2023, Melbourne was recognised as Australia’s best student city in the latest QS World University Rankings, the ninth consecutive time we’ve achieved this ranking. That places us as the fourth-best student city in the world, compared with 115 cities across the world. We’re also second-best in the world for student experience.​

                    Check out our article, Five reasons why Melbourne is a great student city.

                    My Melbourne program

                    Want to join us out in the city, explore the best Melbourne has to offer, and meet other international students? My Melbourne is a program of outings to attractions, events, behind-the-scenes tours, ticket giveaways and more.

                    Check out our upcoming events, follow us on Facebook and subscribe to our newsletter for updates. We can’t wait to see you at an upcoming My Melbourne event. 

                    The Student Welcome Desk is located at Travellers Information Service, International Arrivals Hall, Ground Floor, Terminal 2, Melbourne Airport.

                    It’s open 7am to midnight, seven days a week and is a one-stop-shop for international students when they first arrive in Melbourne. Staff are available to support students and provide them with a free Student Welcome Pack with essential information for living and studying in Melbourne.

                    The Couch - International Student Centre

                    The Couch - International Student Centre is dedicated to providing international students with a safe place to make friends, learn new skills, have fun, access free cooked meals, give back through volunteering, and connect with the local community through events and activities. The Couch is an initiative of the City of Melbourne and the Salvation Army Melbourne Project 614.

                    Address: 
                    The Salvation Army Melbourne Project 614
                    69 Bourke Street, Melbourne 3000

                    Opening hours: 
                    The Couch is open 6pm to 8.30pm, Monday to Thursday.​​

                    Cost:
                    Free for international students. A free meal is provided.

                    Follow The Couch - International Student Centre on Facebook and Instagram for updates and check out our what’s on for international students events calendar for upcoming events at The Couch.

                    The Couch reopening week competition terms and conditions

                    1. This competition is being run by the City of Melbourne (ABN: 55 370 219 287).
                    2. Information on how to enter and prizes form part of these Terms and Conditions.
                    3. Attendees of the Couch International Student Centre (Couch) during opening week from Monday 15 to Thursday 18 November 2021 are automatically eligible to participate in the ticket giveaway (promotional period).
                    4. By entering you accept these Terms and Conditions and the terms and conditions of the supplier of the prizes.  This will include any expiry dates.
                    5. Each entrant is permitted to enter the competition during the reopening week from Monday 15 to Thursday 18 November 2021. An attendee will receive a ticket into the daily draw upon entry to the Couch 
                    6. To enter the competition, you must attend the Couch during the promotional period and be present if your name is drawn as a prize winner.
                    7. Employees of the City of Melbourne and their immediate families are not eligible to enter.
                    8. An entrant may not submit an entry on behalf of someone else.
                    9. There will be ticket giveaways for the Queen Victoria Market foodie tours, Melbourne Museum entry tickets, movie tickets for IMAX and Palace cinema.
                    10. The winner’s names will be drawn by members of The Couch, international student centre team by drawing names out of a hat during the promotional period at the venue.
                    11. The winners must be present to collect the prize or another winner will be drawn. The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
                    12. A total of 80 individual tickets will be distributed throughout the 4 days (Monday-Thursday, 20 tickets per day) the total prizes pool is valued $2,733 the prizes are not exchangeable or transferable and cannot be taken as cash. The City of Melbourne will not be responsible if the prize becomes unavailable for reasons beyond its control.
                    13. To the full extent permitted by the law, the City of Melbourne excludes liability for any loss, damage or injury whatsoever suffered or sustained (including but not limited to direct, indirect, special or consequential loss or damage, loss of opportunity, revenue or profit) arising directly or indirectly out of or in connection with this promotion.
                    14. The City of Melbourne reserves the right in its absolute discretion to disqualify any individual who the City of Melbourne has reason to believe has breached any of these conditions, or engaged in any unlawful or other improper misconduct.
                    15. The City of Melbourne reserves the right to alter or amend these Terms and Conditions at any time and to cancel the competition without further recourse to the entrants.
                    16. The City of Melbourne is not responsible for any problems or technical malfunction of any computer, online systems, servers, or providers, computer equipment, software, including any injury or damage to participants resulting from participation or sending or receiving of any communication or of any materials in this competition.
                    17. The City of Melbourne needs the winners’ contact details in order to contact them. Read the City of Melbourne’s privacy policy.

                    Online and in-person events and programs

                    We offer a range of events and programs for international students. Check out our calendar of what's on for international students.

                    Melbourne Victory x Student FC

                    Student FC (Melbourne Victory, City of Melbourne and Melbourne Chinese Soccer Association) is recruiting international students to play football within two new women’s and men’s teams. ​

                    Don’t play football? We still have a place for you and your friends! This program is entirely student-run. Additional opportunities include administrative and volunteer roles. Register now. ​

                    ​Conversation Club with City of Melbourne Libraries​

                    Meet and connect with new people, practise your English language conversation skills and stay in touch via the City of Melbourne Libraries' online Conversation Club. All sessions are facilitated by a native-speaker and are free. Book now.

                    Melbourne International Student Guides

                    Collect your free Melbourne International Student Guide by Insider Guides from the City of Melbourne Visitor Centres, or the City of Melbourne Libraries. You can also download the guide online. The guides are filled with useful and fun information so you can make the most of your experience as an international student in Melbourne.

                    ​​Legal information for international students

                    If you need legal advice, we recommend first speaking with the legal advisers at your university, college or school.

                    The support staff at the Study Melbourne Hub may be able to connect you with employment or accommodation lawyers through their free clinics.

                    You can also check out Inner Melbourne Community Legal's free, multi-lingual International Student Legal Information Resource. It is translated in English, Spanish (Español), Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) and Chinese (中文). This resource is supported through City of Melbourne’s Connected Communities grants program, as well as the International Student Welfare Program, a Victorian Government initiative.

                    If you are experiencing any problems with your accommodation, you can contact Consumer Affairs Victoria for assistance.

                    ​​Commonwealth Ombudsman - international student complaints​

                    The Commonwealth Ombudsman investigates complaints that overseas students have with private education and training in Australia. The Ombudsman’s services are free, independent and impartial. Complaints about public education, which includes most universities, should be directed to state and territory ombudsmen.

                    COVID-19 information​

                    The easiest way to stay up-to-date on the latest COVID-19 information is the Victorian Government Department of Health. If you have loved ones or co​mmunity members who don't speak English as a first language, you can find information and printable posters in a range of languages from the Victorian Government Coronavirus website.

                    Past programs 

                    Past programs delivered by the City of Melbourne include:

                    Lord Mayor's Student Welcome

                    ​The Lord Mayor's Student Welcome (LMSW) is a free event that welcomes new students to the city, and celebrates international students' contributions to Melbourne's cultural life and diversity.

                    The next Lord Mayor's Student Welcome will take place in March 2024. 

                    Melbourne International Student Conference

                    ​The Melbourne International Student Conference (MISC) is an annual event which brings together local and international students, as well as industry, to learn, exchange ideas, innovate and collaborate to support young people in their personal and professional development. 

                    The conference, delivered jointly through a partnership between City of Melbourne and Meld Community, first began in 2014.

                    The 2023 conference took place on Thursday 29 June, with the theme "Career success in an age of digital disruption".

                    ‘Our Shout’ food voucher program

                    The ‘Our Shout’ food voucher program is now closed.

                    The City of Melbourne and Queen Victoria Market are delighted to have provided food vouchers to approximately 10,000 international students. The Our Shout food vouchers, valued at $200 for each student, can be used to buy fresh food and produce from the market.

                    We would like to thank Study Melbourne and the Victorian Government for its $1 million contribution to vouchers which supported 5000 international students. Thank you also to the University of Melbourne, RMIT University, Federation University, Deakin University and La Trobe University.

                    Connect and Learn series

                    ​The Connect and Learn series was an initiative to promote the wellbeing of our international student community with the goal of keeping international students informed and entertained. The series included a range of online and in-person wellbeing programs on subjects such as health and fitness, interview skills, cooking, creativity and AFL.

                    Friday Nights at Home

                    Friday Nights at Home was a collaboration between City of Melbourne and Settled Services which ran from 29 April to 5 June 2020. It was live-streamed at 8.30pm on Friday nights with the goal of keeping international students informed and entertained while joining other international students, experts and friends to discuss the challenges of COVID-19 and support available.

                    On Friday 22 June #ISOVision2020, a singing competition for all international students in Australia was launched.

                    View past episodes:

                    Resume and cover letter checking program

                    Through 2020, the City of Melbourne, in partnership with the Rotary Club of Melbourne, offered a free resume and cover letter reviews program for international students. This program is currently closed, however we are planning a job search webinar soon. Follow our Facebook page or subscribe to our newsletter for updates.

                    'Act of Translation': The Documentary

                    'Which story do you want to hear? The one I tell my parents…or the one I tell my friends?' 

                    In this moving and funny documentary, 20 international students are propelled out of their comfort zones through theatre workshops and performances. By learning to tell their real stories they challenge and transform the narrative about Melbourne’s international student community.

                    See the full documentary by film-maker Irene Metter.

                    Act of Translation was a collaborative theatre project between the City of Melbourne, Study Melbourne, RMIT University, AFIS, the Immigration Museum, and independent artistic director, Catherine Simmonds.

                    Stay connected

                    If you would like the City of Melbourne to send you more information on events, programs and activities for international students, please join our mailing list and follow our Facebook page


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