Melbourne Living Guide

Question: Which university has the highest number of international students?

Answer: The University of Melbourne!

To welcome all our new friends from abroad to Australia's Culture State, NexPay presents the Melbourne Living Guide -

Climate

This just about sums up the predictability of Melbourne's weather - none whatsoever. Always check weather forecasts and bring a jacket with you. In summer it can hit 40 degrees Celsius during the day and drop to 12 degrees come nighttime.

Humidity in Melbourne is not very high, so use a good moisturiser.

Currency

The national currency is the Australian Dollar (AUD). The listed price is the amount payable, unlike countries such as the United States, where tax needs to be added to the listed price.

For everyday retail, cash and debit cards are the most common payment methods international students use. (PIN is mandatory for debit/credit cards. If you can't remember your PIN and your purchase is under $100, you may opt to use PayPass or PayWave.)

For bigger bills such as university fees, international students may pay through services such as NexPay to enjoy savings on foreign exchange.

Cost of Living

An international student would require around $14,000 - $18,000 per year to live in Melbourne (iStudent), and this amount varies widely. You may want to live it up like the new wave of Chinese students, or you may be on a thriftier budget.

Bear in mind that the first few weeks in Australia will be more expensive, as you spend money on one-off expenses such as rental bonds, temporary accommodation, books and furnishings. (A rental bond is a deposit which you pay when you rent accommodation. It will be returned in full when you move out,  as long as you didn't thrash your room and/or apartment.)

Public Transport

Yes, the above picture is a truthful depiction of a Melbourne tram - it really does look this fabulous. The City Circle loops around Melbourne CBD for free, and will be useful to familiarise yourself with the city layout - or just to score free rides! Yay!

Melbourne has an integrated transport system which runs on one card - Myki. Myki can be used on trains, trams and buses, and can be easily bought and reloaded at retailers like 7-Eleven.

Driving

If you prefer being in the driver's seat, international student visa holders may drive in Melbourne, provided you have a
1. current driver's license either in English or accompanied with an English translation, OR
2. International Driver's License

To apply for a Victorian Driver's License, visit VicRoads for more details.

Happy studying in Melbourne, and remember to follow us for more international student news!

Source: The Australian, iStudent