🏅 QS World Rank #22
University of Melbourne — Full Profile & Ranking 2026
Australia’s #1 university across every major ranking — QS World Rankings 2027 (joint #22)
The University of Melbourne is a public research university in Victoria, Australia, founded in 1853. In the QS World University Rankings 2027 (published June 2026) it is joint 22nd in the world. This guide covers its programmes, how international students apply, fees, scholarships, advice for applicants from Pakistan, and the questions prospective students ask most. Every figure is labeled with its year or ranking edition.
University of Melbourne Overview
The University of Melbourne was founded in 1853 and is Australia’s second-oldest university, after the University of Sydney (1850). It is a public research university and a member of the Group of Eight, Australia’s leading research-intensive universities.
Its main campus is in Parkville, close to the centre of Melbourne, a city regularly noted for its large student community.
University of Melbourne Rankings — QS World University Rankings 2027
The University of Melbourne is joint 22nd in the QS World University Rankings 2027, published by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) in June 2026. In that edition UNSW Sydney is ranked 19th, the highest of any Australian university, with Melbourne behind it in 22nd, followed by Sydney (28th), ANU (29th), Monash (31st) and Queensland (40th).
This is a QS-specific result, not one universal ranking. Times Higher Education, U.S. News and ARWU use different methods, and Melbourne’s position relative to other Australian universities can differ between them. Read the edition and the ranking body before quoting a position.
Source: QS TopUniversities (QS World University Rankings 2027, 18 June 2026).
Key Strengths & Programs
Melbourne is known for:
- Law — Melbourne Law School, which teaches its law degrees at graduate level
- Medicine, dentistry and health sciences
- Education, arts and humanities
- Business and economics — Melbourne Business School and the Faculty of Business and Economics
- Science and engineering
- The Melbourne Model — broad undergraduate degrees followed by professional graduate study in fields such as law and medicine
For the full list, see Melbourne’s official study website.
Explore Related Guides & Rankings
Admission Requirements
Entry rules depend on the course and your qualification. Confirm all details on the official website before applying.
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| How to apply | Applicants with qualifications from outside Australia apply directly to the university. |
| Deadlines (international) | Start-year 2027: 30 November 2026. Mid-year 2027: 31 May 2027 (as published by the university; confirm on the official page). |
| Documents | Academic transcripts, predicted or final results, and English test results if applicable |
| English | Proof of English is required unless an exemption applies. The minimum score depends on the course, so check your course page. |
| Course requirements | Prerequisites, and for some courses an interview or portfolio, are set course by course |
Official source: Melbourne — How to apply.
University of Melbourne Acceptance Rate
The University of Melbourne does not publish an overall acceptance rate for international applicants. Offers depend on your qualification, your marks, and the course. Law, medicine and other professional pathways are more competitive.
Practical Application Checklist
- Choose your course and read its entry and English requirements
- Check the deadline for your start year (30 November 2026 for a 2027 start, 31 May 2027 for mid-year)
- Book an English test if required
- Prepare transcripts, results and identification
- Apply directly to the university and accept your offer
- Meet the conditions for the Australian student visa
- Plan funding for tuition and Melbourne living costs
- Verify every date, fee and requirement on the official website before submitting
Tuition & Costs
Melbourne sets international tuition by course, so there is no single fee for the whole university. Each course page lists the fee, and fees usually rise each year.
Melbourne is a large and expensive city, so budget for rent, food and transport as well as tuition. Check the exact fee for your course and start year before you plan.
Sources: University of Melbourne study website. Fees change each year.
Scholarships & Financial Aid
Funding for international undergraduates is mainly merit- or need-based:
- Melbourne International Undergraduate Scholarship: 20% fee remission for eligible students starting in 2027 onwards (earlier awards gave 25% fee sponsorship). It is for citizens of countries with a GDP per capita of US$10,000 or less who hold an Overseas Fee offer for a bachelor’s degree and have not studied at tertiary level before. There is no separate application and no deadline: eligible students are considered automatically. The university says at least 110 awards are made currently, rising to 225 from 2027.
- Other university awards: Melbourne lists further scholarships on its scholarships site. Check which apply to your course.
- Australian government awards: programmes such as Australia Awards support students from selected countries, mainly at postgraduate level
- Other aid: compare options in our fully funded scholarships for 2027 guide
- No guarantee: scholarships are competitive and rules change
Confirm current terms on Melbourne’s scholarship page.
University of Melbourne for Pakistani Students
Pakistani applicants follow the standard international process. Practical points:
- Entry: apply directly with your qualifications and check the entry requirements for your course and country
- English: prepare IELTS or another accepted test. Our IELTS preparation guides can help.
- Scholarship: check whether Pakistan is on the current eligible-country list for the Melbourne International Undergraduate Scholarship
- Visa: international students need an Australian student visa, decided by the Department of Home Affairs, and its rules change often
- Budget: plan for tuition plus Melbourne rent, food and transport
Campus & Student Life
- The main Parkville campus sits next to Melbourne’s city centre, with trams running past
- The university also has other campuses and sites around Victoria
- Residential colleges and student housing are available, and many students rent privately
- Student clubs and societies cover culture, sport and academic interests
Research & Career Opportunities
- Melbourne is a research-intensive university, with a large medical research precinct around Parkville
- Melbourne is a major Australian hub for finance, health, education and technology employers
- Its graduate-level professional degrees lead to law, medicine and other regulated careers
- The university does not guarantee employment, salary or visa outcomes
Notable Alumni
- Julia Gillard, who served as Australia’s Prime Minister from 2010 to 2013, studied at the University of Melbourne
- Peter Doherty, joint winner of the 1996 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, worked at the university
- Sir Zelman Cowen, former Governor-General of Australia, was a Melbourne graduate
Contact & Location
The University of Melbourne
Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
Official website: unimelb.edu.au
Frequently Asked Questions
The University of Melbourne is joint 22nd in the QS World University Rankings 2027, published in June 2026. In that edition UNSW Sydney (19th) is the highest-ranked Australian university.
It depends on the ranking. In QS 2027, UNSW (19th) is ranked above Melbourne (joint 22nd). Other rankings order Australian universities differently, so check the edition you are reading.
It was founded in 1853, making it Australia’s second-oldest university after the University of Sydney (1850).
Melbourne is known for law, medicine and health, education, business and the sciences, and it is a member of Australia’s Group of Eight.
Applicants with qualifications from outside Australia apply directly to the university. For a 2027 start the published deadline is 30 November 2026, and the mid-year 2027 deadline is 31 May 2027. Confirm on the official page.
Fees depend on the course and are published on each course page. Check the figure for your course and start year before budgeting.
Yes. The Melbourne International Undergraduate Scholarship gives 20% fee remission for eligible students starting in 2027 onwards, and there is no separate application: eligible students are considered automatically. Eligibility rules apply.
Yes. Pakistani applicants apply directly with their qualifications and must check the course entry requirements and English requirement. Pakistan may qualify for the scholarship, so check the current eligibility list.
The university does not publish an overall acceptance rate for international applicants. Offers depend on your qualification and the course.
Check the University of Melbourne’s official study website and the course page. Deadlines, fees and rules are set by the university and can change.
Compare Melbourne With Other Top Universities
Disclaimer: This page is based on the QS World University Rankings 2027, the University of Melbourne’s official pages, and other publicly available sources, last checked in October 2026. Fees, rankings, deadlines and admission rules change, and no admission, funding, visa or employment outcome is guaranteed. Always verify current details directly with the University of Melbourne before applying.