The University of Melbourne emblem

The University of Melbourne

Melbourne, Australia • Founded 1853 • QS 2027 #22 =

Updated May 2026 · Source: unimelb.edu.au

Overview

English Name: University of Melbourne
Acronyms: UNIMELB
Founded: 1853
Institution Type: University
Control Type: Public
Entity Type: Non-profit
Rankings:
QS World University Rankings 2027 #22 = Times Higher Education 2026 #37 ARWU (Shanghai) 2026 #37 CWTS Leiden 2025 #174 SCImago 2026 #30
Motto: Postera Crescam Laude
The University of Melbourne emblem

Established in 1853, The University of Melbourne is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the urban setting of the metropolis of Melbourne (population range of 1,000,000-5,000,000 inhabitants), Victoria.

Officially recognized by the Department of Education and Training of Australia, The University of Melbourne (UNIMELB) is a very large-sized coeducational Australian higher education institution. The University of Melbourne (UNIMELB) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as pre-bachelor's degrees (i.e. certificates, diplomas, associate or foundation), bachelor's degrees, master's degrees and doctorate degrees in several areas of study.

This 171-year-old Australian higher-education institution has a selective admission policy based on students' past academic records and grades. The acceptance rate range is 70-79% making this Australian higher education organization a moderately selective institution.

International applicants are eligible to apply for enrollment.

UNIMELB also provides several academic and non-academic facilities and services to students including a library, housing, sports facilities, financial aids and/or scholarships, study abroad and exchange programs, online courses and distance learning opportunities, as well as administrative services.

Location & Contact

Below are The University of Melbourne's address, location, and primary contact channels.

Address: Swanston Street, Parkville
Postal Code: 3010
Other Sites: Also Burnley, Creswick, Dookie, Parkville, Shepparton, Southbank, and Werribee Campuses
Phone: +61 (0)3 8344 4000
Fax: +61 (0)3 8344 5104

Academic Details

The numbers behind The University of Melbourne: student body, academic staff, and recognising bodies.

Academic Year: March to December (March-June; July-December)
Recognition: Department of Education and Training of Australia
Admission Requirements: Satisfactory completion of an approved final year of high school equivalent to the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) or, in countries without a recognised high school qualification, completion of a foundation programme in Australia or first year standing from a recognised overseas tertiary institution, and satisfactory completion of any special course requirements; admission quotas apply and completion of entrance qualifications does not guarantee right of entry.
Student Enrollment: 45,000-49,999
Academic Staff Range: 2,000-2,499
Campus Setting: Urban
Memberships & Networks
Group of Eight (go8) Universities Australia Universitas 21 (U21) Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU)

Academic Structures

The University of Melbourne's academic units are listed below, by type.

Unit 18 items
  • Conservatorium of Music
  • Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning
  • Faculty of Arts
  • Faculty of Business and Economics
  • Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences
  • Faculty of Science
  • Faculty of Veterinary Science
  • Graduate School of Business and Economics
  • Graduate School of Education
  • Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences
  • Graduate School of Science
  • Law School
  • Melbourne Business School
  • School of Design
  • School of Engineering
  • School of Graduate Research
  • School of Land and Environment
  • Victorian College of the Arts

Faculties & Divisions

All faculties operate under Department of Education and Training of Australia.

Arts (College) 5 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Cinema and Television
  • Dance
  • Fine Arts
  • Performing Arts
  • Theatre
Music (Conservatory) 3 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Music
  • Music Theory and Composition
  • Musicology
Architecture, Building and Planning (Faculty) 6 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Architecture
  • Civil Engineering
  • Environmental Management
  • Landscape Architecture
  • Rural Planning
  • Town Planning
Arts (Faculty) 38 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Ancient Civilizations
  • Anthropology
  • Applied Linguistics
  • Arabic
  • Art History
  • Arts and Humanities
  • Asian Studies
  • Chinese
  • Criminology
  • Development Studies
  • Economics
  • English
  • Environmental Studies
  • European Studies
  • French
  • Gender Studies
  • Geography
  • German
  • Hebrew
  • Indigenous Studies
  • Indonesian
  • International Studies
  • Islamic Studies
  • Italian
  • Japanese
  • Jewish Studies
  • Latin American Studies
  • Law
  • Linguistics
  • Media Studies
  • Philosophy
  • Political Sciences
  • Psychology
  • Russian
  • Sociology
  • Spanish
  • Theatre
  • Writing
Business and Economics (Faculty) 6 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Accountancy
  • Business Administration
  • Economics
  • Finance
  • Management
  • Marketing
Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences (Faculty) 11 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Biomedicine
  • Community Health
  • Dental Hygiene
  • Dental Technology
  • Dentistry
  • Epidemiology
  • Medicine
  • Nursing
  • Physical Therapy
  • Public Health
  • Social Work
Science (Faculty) 8 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Biochemistry
  • Chemistry
  • Earth Sciences
  • Environmental Studies
  • Mathematics
  • Natural Sciences
  • Physics
  • Statistics
Veterinary Science (Faculty) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Veterinary Science
Education (Graduate School) 6 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Education
  • Educational Administration
  • Educational Testing and Evaluation
  • Preschool Education
  • Primary Education
  • Secondary Education
Engineering (School) 6 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Computer Engineering
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering
  • Information Technology
  • Mechanical Engineering
Land and Environment (School) 6 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Agriculture
  • Animal Husbandry
  • Environmental Management
  • Food Science
  • Forestry
  • Horticulture
Law (School) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Law

Programs Offered

Every programme The University of Melbourne currently runs, grouped by degree level and searchable.

392 programmes on record. Each level below shows a sample. Compare these on the programs page All programs in Australia

Bachelor's Degree 21 programmes

Bachelor of Agriculture
Agriculture · 156 weeks
Bachelor of Arts
Humanities & Cultural Studies · 156 weeks
Bachelor of Biomedicine
Biological Sciences · 156 weeks
Bachelor of Commerce
Business & Management · 156 weeks
Bachelor of Design
Architecture · 156 weeks
Bachelor of Engineering
Engineering & Technology · 208 weeks
Bachelor of Environments
Environmental Sciences · 156 weeks
Bachelor of Fine Arts
Visual Arts · 156 weeks
Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting)
Performing Arts · 156 weeks
Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation)
Media Studies & Mass Media · 156 weeks

Showing 10 of 21.

Honours Degree 16 programmes

Bachelor of Agriculture (Degree with Honours)
Agriculture · 52 weeks
Bachelor of Arts (Degree with Honours)
Humanities & Cultural Studies · 52 weeks
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Psychology
Psychology · 52 weeks
Bachelor of Biomedicine (Honours)
Biological Sciences · 52 weeks
Bachelor of Commerce (Degree with Honours)
Business & Management · 52 weeks
Bachelor of Dance (Degree with Honours)
Performing Arts · 52 weeks
Bachelor of Design (Degree with Honours)
Architecture · 52 weeks
Bachelor of Environments (Honours)
Environmental Sciences · 52 weeks
Bachelor of Film and Television (Degree with Honours)
Media Studies & Mass Media · 52 weeks
Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours)
Visual Arts · 52 weeks

Showing 10 of 16.

Master's Degree 234 programmes

Doctor of Clinical Dentistry
Dentistry · 156 weeks
Doctor of Dental Surgery
Dentistry · 208 weeks
Doctor of Medicine
Medicine · 208 weeks
Doctor of Optometry
Optometry · 208 weeks
Doctor of Physiotherapy
Rehabilitation Sciences · 156 weeks
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Veterinary Medicine · 208 weeks
Executive Master of Arts
Business Administration · 104 weeks
Juris Doctor
Legal Studies · 156 weeks
Master of Actuarial Science
Finance, Banking & Insurance · 78 weeks
Master of Actuarial Science (Enhanced)
Finance, Banking & Insurance · 104 weeks

Showing 10 of 234.

Doctorate 22 programmes

Doctor of Education
Education & Teaching · 208 weeks
Doctor of Medical Science
Medicine · 208 weeks
Doctor of Medical Science (Thesis by Compilation)
Medicine · 26 weeks
Doctor of Philosophy - Agricultural Sciences
Agriculture & Environmental Sciences · 208 weeks
Doctor of Philosophy - Architecture, Building and Planning
Architecture · 208 weeks
Doctor of Philosophy - Arts
Humanities & Cultural Studies · 208 weeks
Doctor of Philosophy - Business and Economics
Economics · 208 weeks
Doctor of Philosophy - Education
Education & Teaching · 208 weeks
Doctor of Philosophy - Engineering and IT
Engineering & Technology · 208 weeks
Doctor of Philosophy - Fine Arts and Music
Performing Arts · 208 weeks

Showing 10 of 22.

Postgraduate Certificate 31 programmes

Graduate Certificate in Agricultural Sciences
Agriculture · 52 weeks
Graduate Certificate in Arts
Humanities & Cultural Studies · 26 weeks
Graduate Certificate in Arts (Advanced)
Humanities & Cultural Studies · 26 weeks
Graduate Certificate in Bushfire Planning and Management
Forestry & Natural Resources · 26 weeks
Graduate Certificate in Computer Science
Computer Sciences · 26 weeks
Graduate Certificate in Education
Education & Teaching · 26 weeks
Graduate Certificate in Educational Research
Education & Teaching · 26 weeks
Graduate Certificate in Engineering
Engineering & Technology · 26 weeks
Graduate Certificate in Entrepreneurship
Business Administration · 16 weeks
Graduate Certificate in Environment
Environmental Sciences · 26 weeks

Showing 10 of 31.

Postgraduate Diploma 68 programmes

Graduate Diploma in Actuarial Science
Business Administration · 52 weeks
Graduate Diploma in Agricultural Sciences
Agriculture · 52 weeks
Graduate Diploma in Applied Econometrics
Economics · 52 weeks
Graduate Diploma in Arts
Humanities & Cultural Studies · 52 weeks
Graduate Diploma in Arts (Advanced)
Humanities & Cultural Studies · 52 weeks
Graduate Diploma in Arts and Community Practice
Arts, Design & Architecture · 54 weeks
Graduate Diploma in Arts and Cultural Management (Advanced)
Humanities & Cultural Studies · 52 weeks
Graduate Diploma in Asian Law
Legal Studies · 26 weeks
Graduate Diploma in Banking and Finance Law
Legal Studies · 26 weeks
Graduate Diploma in Biostatistics
Mathematics · 52 weeks

Showing 10 of 68.

How to apply to The University of Melbourne

A five-step guide to applying to The University of Melbourne.

  1. 1
    Find a programme that fits your goals

    Begin by reviewing the programmes section above. The University of Melbourne offers 392 programmes grouped by qualification level. Decide on a target tier (bachelor's, master's, or doctoral) before narrowing by subject.

  2. 2
    Confirm you meet the requirements

    Each programme at The University of Melbourne has its own entry requirements — academic minimums, language proficiency, supporting documents, and sometimes interviews or portfolios. Check the programme-specific page or contact admissions to confirm eligibility.

  3. 3
    Assemble your application package

    Most applications require certified academic records, identification documents, language test certificates (IELTS, TOEFL, or equivalent for English-medium programmes), CV/résumé, and a statement of purpose. Allow extra time for document authentication.

  4. 4
    Submit your application

    Apply directly via The University of Melbourne's online portal at www.unimelb.edu.au. Complete the application form, upload supporting documents, and pay any application fee. Confirmation emails typically arrive within a few business days.

  5. 5
    Contact admissions and follow up

    After submitting, confirm receipt with the admissions office and track your application status through the portal. Reach the institution by phone at +61 (0)3 8344 4000. Set reminders for any interview requests, additional document submissions, or admission decision deadlines.

Frequently Asked Questions about The University of Melbourne

Quick reference for The University of Melbourne: founding, control type, and recognition status.

When was The University of Melbourne founded?

The University of Melbourne was established in 1853 (approximately 173 years ago).

Where is The University of Melbourne located?

The University of Melbourne is located in Melbourne, Australia.

What is The University of Melbourne's control type?

The University of Melbourne operates as a public institution.

What is the student enrolment at The University of Melbourne?

Student enrolment at The University of Melbourne is around 45,000-49,999.

Where does The University of Melbourne stand in university rankings?

It ranks QS 2027 #22 =.

What qualification levels does The University of Melbourne offer?

The University of Melbourne offers bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes.

What is The University of Melbourne's academic structure?

The University of Melbourne has 18 academic units.

Is The University of Melbourne accredited?

The University of Melbourne is accredited by Department of Education and Training of Australia.

Where can I learn more about The University of Melbourne?

The University of Melbourne's official website is www.unimelb.edu.au.

Members of Universities Australia

Below: other Universities Australia member institutions, alongside The University of Melbourne.

Faculties at nearby universities

These universities are located near The University of Melbourne, listed below for students comparing options by location.

Where Else to Study Performing Arts

Other institutions in Australia teaching Performing Arts are listed below for comparison with The University of Melbourne.

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