Melbourne is Australia’s #1 Student City – and one of the best in the world!

Published: 22 July 2026
A group of students sitting together outside

Big news for our current and future students! Melbourne has been ranked #4 in the world in the latest QS Best Student Cities 2027 rankings, making it Australia’s highest-ranked student city. Melbourne is also ranked #1 globally for student diversity, with students from around 170 countries choosing to call our city home.

So, what makes Melbourne such a great place to study?

  • World-class universities and courses.
  • A welcoming, multicultural community.
  • Strong career and employment opportunities.
  • A vibrant lifestyle filled with arts, culture, sport and food.
  • One of the world's top cities for student experience and satisfaction.

Whether you're looking to gain a globally recognised qualification, build your career, make lifelong friends or explore a city full of opportunities, Melbourne offers an experience that's hard to match.

Every year, students from around the world choose Melbourne for its unique combination of academic excellence, cultural diversity and outstanding quality of life. Being named Australia's top student city is another reminder of what international students already know: Melbourne is a place where you can learn, grow and thrive.

Ready to start your Melbourne journey?

Visit our Course Finder to search and compare your options to study with Victoria in Melbourne, regional Victoria, online, or from outside Australia.

View transcript

Video title: Melbourne is officially Australia’s #1 Student City

Length: 00:48

[Start transcript]

Narrator: What if there was a student city where your future begins the moment you arrive?

Narrator: What if your study abroad experience was more than just an education, but a launch pad for your career?

Narrator: A place where big dreams meet real opportunities.

Narrator: What if every day presented an opportunity to make new connections and make new friends?

Narrator: What if you could learn in world-class institutions in one of the world's most liveable cities?

[On-screen logo: Study Melbourne, Victoria Australia]

[End transcript]

News recommendation
Photograph of diverse adults standing and smiling in front of a blue banner.

StartSpace Business Fundamentals Program Sponsorship

Study Melbourne is delighted to sponsor five teams of international student founders to participate in this program in 2026, as part of our leadership and employability programs supporting international students and alumni across Victoria. Delivered by Startspace, State Library of Victoria, the StartSpace Business Fundamentals Program is an 8-week, in-person program designed for early-stage startup and SME founders who want to strengthen the core foundations of their business.
View article
A group photo on a bridge

Melbourne named Australia’s most liveable city in 2026 rankings

Melbourne has once again been recognised as Australia’s most liveable city, ranking #3 in the world in the 2026 Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) Global Liveability Index. The result reinforces Melbourne’s reputation as one of the world’s best places to study, live, and work.
View article
A group photo in front of the Study Melbourne Hub

Strengthening ties with the China Education Association for International Exchange and Chinese universities

Study Melbourne was pleased to host a delegation led by the China Education Association for International Exchange (CEAIE), China's not-for-profit organisation facilitating international educational exchanges and cooperation.
View article
a group of people seated and watching a speaker

Study Melbourne Industry Connection Session in Shanghai

Study Melbourne hosted an Industry Connection event at Vic House on 17 June, targeting 30–35 prospective students and young Victorian graduates
View article