As part of my studies, I spent one semester as an exchange student at RMIT (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology) University in Melbourne. It was an amazing experience and I loved being a part of this school for 6 months. However, at first, it wasn’t easy. Choosing the university, looking for a place to live, or even choosing your classes was very challenging. So here is all you need to know before applying to RMIT.
Why I chose RMIT University :
RMIT (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology) is located in the center of Melbourne CBD (Central Business District). It is a global, well-known university in the city that welcomes thousands of students every year. But why did I choose RMIT instead of another university ?
Ranking :
In 2023 RMIT is 140 on the QS World University Ranking and has been improving since 2015. As per the Australian Rankings, the university is Level 2 which makes it a good university to study to. I also chose it because of the levels of its masters in engineering. The master in aerospace engineering is the highest ranked at RMIT according to Shanghai rankings. So it definitely convinced me to choose RMIT.
Location :
As an international student, I wanted to be close to the city, to be able to live the Melbournian life fully. Therefore the location of the university was key in my choice. The CBD campus at RMIT is the main one but the university has 2 other locations : Brunswick & Bundoora. I didn’t know beforehand where I would be studying but the fact that most of the buildings were located in the CBD, heart of Melbourne, made me choose RMIT over universities situated outside. In the end, I was able to choose in which campus my classes would be and I only selected the ones in the center.
Facilities
Quickly after researching RMIT, I came across multiple videos showing the campus and its facilities. I was very impressed and surprised by the amount of labs and equipment they had on hand. As I explained I am an engineer and I had never seen a university with this much heavy (and costly) equipment before. They have robots, Metal 3D printers, and even a wind turbine ! I had the opportunity to try out 2 robots with one of my teachers and it really changed the whole course experience.
Drawback
To my eye, the main drawback of RMIT is the lack of a campus. Since it is located right in the center of the city, there is not enough space to have a real campus. All the buildings are scattered around the city which doesn’t create the strong student community you usually have on campus.
How to find a student accommodation :
Choosing the right accommodation for your semester abroad is probably as challenging as applying for the visa. It is even harder with RMIT since it is not an actual campus and the fact that there are no dorms. So, I was pretty confused about where the best location was and how to find a place. So let me break it down to you.
Location
You can take Building 10 located in Swanston Street as a reference. This building is one of the main buildings at RMIT. It gathers multiple activities and you will probably spend a lot of time there. Every other building is usually at a 10 to 15-minute distance from it so you can walk easily to any class. Unfortunately, the CBD is also the most expensive neighborhood. So if you can, go for it ! If not, I would suggest living in Carlton or North Melbourne. The accommodations are cheaper but with the same quality. If you want to live further away, take into account the tram or train fare because they can be non-negligible in your budget.
Where to look
RMIT has a pre-made list of recommended accommodations, so you can start your browsing there. You will quickly see that most of them are brands so they have several locations with different prices. They all offer individual and shared rooms and the rate varies with the number of persons per room. The buildings are usually fully equipped with laundry rooms, study spaces, and a gym. You can easily find drawings of each apartment and even 360° 3D views so you know exactly what to expect. So, take your time to research. If you have a hard time making a decision, right down the criteria that matter most to you to check which one fits you the best.
⚠️ The rent in Australia is not a monthly rate but usually a weekly or bi-weekly rate
What subjects do they teach at RMIT ?
Before applying you might also want to know, which classes are taught at RMIT. RMIT actually, provides a complete list of all the subjects they have per semester. You can browse through the list of all the courses, so you can get an idea of the classes you would like to take. (Click on the List of Classes bottom, scroll down to the bottom of the page, and click on the red Search button). You can get the course code and look at the course guide for more details and pre-requirements.
What is the OSHC (Overseas Student Health Cover) ?
While researching for your studies in Australia, you might have heard about the OSHC. The OSHC is the Overseas Student Health Cover and it is mandatory to study in Australia. It helps you cover the costs of medical treatments if you ever need them during your semester. You will need to apply for it after your application to RMIT. The university provides an insurance company (Medibank) where you can directly buy the OSHC.
Now that you have learned everything you need to know before applying to RMIT, check out my favorite snacks in Melbourne !
