Location and lifestyle
Australia is truly a wonderful place, featuring lively cities full of rich culture and exciting events, beautiful beaches and abundant nature and wildlife. Australia also offers world-class education to students from all over the world and an opportunity to start a new life working here. It is the perfect destination for students to study, work and live in a new country.
Deakin’s four campuses are located in the Australian state of Victoria, on the south-east of the continent. It is a safe and welcoming home to people who have come from all over the world. They have brought their culture, language and beliefs to make it a vibrant multicultural state full of all the exciting things people have come to expect of Australia. Victoria’s famous capital city, Melbourne, is one of the top cities for students in the world, and #1 in Australia.*
Melbourne
Melbourne is one of the world’s major cities and the #1 city in Australia for students*. It is a vibrant, multicultural city known for its cafés and restaurants, parks, festivals and sporting culture. With so much to see and do, you will never be bored in Melbourne.
Geelong
Geelong is a the second-largest city in Victoria.
With a blend of stunning beaches, relaxing lifestyle and a thriving urban environment, there is something for everyone in Geelong.
Warrnambool
Warrnambool’s relaxed coastal lifestyle surrounded by stunning beaches and breathtaking views makes it an appealing place to call home. The area offers all the arts and culture to keep you entertained, and for those looking for an occasional taste of big city excitement, trains run four times a day to Melbourne.
Accommodation and living costs
In all our campus cities, there are options of living on or off campus depending on the lifestyle you want. Living costs will vary based on the city you are in and whether you choose to live on campus or in the community. Off campus, you might choose to live alone or share a house or apartment with other students.
Whichever experience you are looking for, Deakin is here to support you when it comes to finding accommodation in Australia.
Working in Australia
Australia is full of opportunities to work in a variety of industries. With a wide range of jobs and employment opportunities, Australia is the perfect place for students to gain valuable work experience and support themselves financially while they study.
After you complete your degree, Australia offers generous post-study work rights. Employment in Australia as a new graduate can be a start on a career here or important experience for when you return home.
Meeting friends and mentors
Deakin University’s Student Association (DUSA) has clubs and associations based on what you are studying, what you like to do for fun or even where you are from. Getting involved with DUSA is a great way to make new friends and build a supportive network.
If you are wondering what you can do in Australia, here are some of our favourite things.
Australia is a vibrant, inclusive, and amazing place to learn to stand on your own two feet, and the Deakin journey will help you build the groundwork for it.
Tharuka, Sri Lanka
Bachelor of Mechatronics Engineering (Honours)
About Australia
Things in Australia will be different than they are at home. These are some things that students moving to Australia should think about.
Health and safety
Australia is a very safe place to live and study with a low crime rate. Deakin offers a range of services to help you stay healthy and safe, and to promote personal wellbeing. These include health centres on all campuses that offer medical and counselling services, security officers on duty at all times, fitness and healthy food options and a range of other support services.
Language
English is the language most commonly spoken in Australia, so having strong English language skills will help you not just in your studies but in your day-to-day life. You can choose to complete a course at the Deakin University English Language Institute (DUELI) if you need to improve your English for personal or professional reasons, and your time in Australia will be a great opportunity to improve your conversational English skills. As a multicultural nation, you will hear many different languages being spoken, particularly in cities like Melbourne and Geelong.
Food
Australia is known for its food and coffee culture, with an abundance of restaurants and cafes for you to enjoy. Australia is a multicultural country, so you will be able to find food from all over the world. If you are missing something from your home country, Australia has many international shops and markets that will have all the food (and other items) you know and love from home. If you don’t want to cook, we have great food at all our campuses with vegetarian, vegan and halal options.
Wildlife
You will have plenty of opportunities to see the unique Australian wildlife while you are here. There are many zoos and sanctuaries only a short drive from each of our campuses, where you will find all the iconic Australian animals everyone has been telling you about. There is also plenty of wildlife out in nature reserves and parklands; kangaroos, wallabies, wombats and an assortment of native birdlife. If you do see animals in the wild, it is very important not to touch or approach them. These animals may be defensive if approached, so it is a good idea to maintain a safe distance when looking and taking photos.
Weather
All our Deakin campuses are located in the Australian state of Victoria. Victoria can experience a variety of weather throughout the year. Our summers are hot and dry, meaning you will need some light clothes, sunscreen and a hat for these warmer months.
Winters in Victoria are cool and wet with some mountainous regions of Victoria experiencing snow in the coldest winter months. You will need warm jackets, jumpers and a raincoat for these colder months. Melbourne in particular is famous for its quick change of weather in a single day. It is a good idea to have an umbrella in your bag and wear layers of clothing when you go out.
Religion
Australia is home to many different religions, and we have churches, mosques and spiritual centres in cities and towns all over the country.
We are also proud to have prayer rooms and multifaith chaplains at each of our campuses. You don’t need to be religious to talk to a chaplain – they offer advice and guidance to all our students. The chaplains can also help you connect with a nearby place of worship if you wish to become a member of a local faith community.
Footnotes
* QS Best Student Cities 2023