The University of Melbourne

I saw the GP twice at the university health service and never received a bill. They automatically billed my insurance (BUPA), and I could see the claim on my account. That's just my experience though—not sure if it's always like that. But it was convenient and saved me money.

Public transport in Melbourne is fine if you're prepared. Keep your myki topped up and always carry your concession card or ID. Inspectors can't fine you if your touch-on was accepted, even if you go negative. Being 18, you need the card – student ID doesn't cut it. I've never had an issue following these simple rules. It's not hard to avoid fines if you're not careless.

Most of my classes didn't have attendance requirements, which was great. I'm not saying you should skip them, but if you maintain a high H1 average, your parents will never know you missed a few lectures.

If you're healthy and only need a check-up once a year, AHM and NIB work fine. But if you need frequent medical care or have chronic conditions, go with BUPA or Allianz. They have better connections with clinics that bulk bill, which saves time and hassle.

I agree that the uni's recommended OSHC (BUPA) isn't that much more expensive than others—maybe $300 over two years. I went with NIB and saved about $200. I've been able to find a GP that bulk bills, so it's worked out well for me overall.

I'd really look into International House. A lot of colleges claim to have 25% international students, but it's often mostly white Kiwis. That's fine, but not what I was after. College was the best part of uni for me, so if you can afford it, I highly recommend it.

I studied mathematics and statistics at the University of Melbourne. The math courses were well taught overall, but the assessment is brutal—80% of your grade comes from a single three-hour final exam. On the other hand, the computer science department was absolutely stellar, and finance was pretty chill. I can't speak for physics, but for math, cs, and finance, I had a good experience. Just wish the exams weren't so high-stakes.

I've found UniMelb's admin okay. Stop 1 phone support is fine—max 60-min wait—but written submissions can take over a week. Class timetabling via preferences is fair. Most accommodation complaints come from a minority; I don't have personal experience. Overall, the system works if you call directly.

The exemption policies are clearly explained in the student guide, with non-ACTL subjects requiring 73 and ACTL subjects varying by cohort (usually 70-75 post-scaled). Internship opportunities are definitely available, especially in actuarial consulting at big firms like the big 4 or specialized ones like Finity. I've done two such internships myself, so the career support here is solid.

The University of Melbourne lists OSHC options on their website. I initially chose Allianz, but my visa expires in six months, so I'll switch to a cheaper option later. My advice: check OSHC prices yourself instead of relying on counselors or student advisors. I made that mistake and ended up paying more. Use OSHC Australia's website to get quotes based on your duration. Choose wisely.

I studied at the University of Melbourne and found that many lecturers and tutors are more invested in research than teaching. They're hired for their research credentials, not teaching ability, so some come across as uninterested. That said, most tutors go above and beyond what they're paid for. It doesn't excuse poor behavior, but it adds context.

The student union here isn't what it used to be. Union Mart and similar programs are good, but they pale compared to the old Union House days. The Welcome Payment of $4,000 was nice, but it came from broader COVID funding, not just union advocacy. Overall, the union feels less active in standing up for students now.

Getting a stipend here is harder than people think, especially if you're coming from professional experience instead of honours. I was told the stipend is 38k, but in my field everyone says it's actually 23k. That's not terrible, but given the workload and the fact we're contributing new science, I feel like I should be earning more than I would mixing drinks or cutting veggies.

I live in university accommodation at Melbourne. If someone tests positive for COVID, they isolate in their own room, but their roommates also have to isolate even if they're negative. As for paying for treatment, I don't think it's free, but you might claim some under the overseas health insurance we international students have. Could be wrong though.

As an international student, I'm worried about the extra costs of changing my bachelor's degree. The added fees for health insurance and COE are a real concern. It's something to consider before enrolling.

Studying at the University of Melbourne has been financially challenging. The cost of living is very high. Rent is at least $200 a week, eating up most of a $1000 monthly budget. After phone, transport, and other basics, you're left with about $30 a week for food. Social life becomes impossible. Adding health insurance for international students makes it even tougher. I don't think the value is there given these expenses.

The content feels super dry and outdated, like something from the 80s. Most lecturers are career academics with zero industry experience, so they have no clue what the real world is like. Tuition is ridiculously expensive and keeps going up faster than inflation, but you're stuck because you need the degree. There are some clubs, but nobody is friendly. People just show up to lectures and leave. The only good thing is the campus location. The reputation doesn't matter much in industry.

In my experience, team projects in technical or creative subjects are fine. But in writing-heavy subjects, the differences in ability become obvious. I've often had to edit my teammates' work to protect our grade. The university just calls it 'teamwork experience' and takes no responsibility for the imbalance, while continuing to collect our fees.

A few months ago, I got a quotation from a BUPA representative at Stop1 for health insurance, and it was $23k. I asked if I could pay in instalments, but they said no because of government policies for student visa holders. It was frustrating not having any flexibility.

There was this BUPA event where you had to fish a ball out of a ball pit for a chance at a prize. I waited in line for an hour, and it turned out not to be worth the effort at all. The whole thing felt pretty lame and underwhelming.

I used Allianz Global for my first three years at UniMelb and had no issues. After a leave of absence, I switched to Bupa because it was cheaper, but I've had lots of problems. Their customer service is terrible; it takes over a week to reply to emails, and the online chat is just a bot that closes without letting me leave a message. They also intentionally delayed changing my policy start date, even though my CoE said it should start on January 1st. Very frustrating.

The communications training felt like it was making us produce watered-down, meaningless statements. It taught us to avoid taking a strong position, which I think is why media and journalism can be so weak. If you have evidence and experience, you should be able to speak up, not hide behind safe language.

My advice is to look elsewhere for research opportunities. I had a high success rate applying for science positions elsewhere—three interviews and one offer—but got zero response from WEHI. That's pretty unprofessional and suggests a poor supervisor anyway. WEHI is extremely gatekept, even for second and third years with experience. Instead, get a scientific sampling cert and aim for sample reception roles in first year. Vacation research becomes more accessible in second year, but I'd spend your time on other research institutes.

I really regret taking the CIS major at UniMelb. The assignments are not real projects; they're just coursework. If you don't have prior internships, your WAM matters a lot for getting interviews, but even with a decent WAM, it's tough without any experience. I just want to warn others before they make the same mistake.

As an international student at the University of Melbourne, I've had a horrible experience with mental health care. Allianz insurance is useless. When I tried to get a mental health plan, the telehealth assessor sexually harassed me. One GP even admitted that therapy options for international students are terrible. This place has seriously damaged my mental health.