Making the most of Melbourne
Studying at Melbourne isn’t just about your degree – it’s a whole new way of life! There are countless ways to get involved and create your own experience, so be sure to take advantage of every opportunity available.
Volunteering
Take your skills into the community, contribute to a cause you are passionate about and make a difference! You can volunteer in Australia or overseas. In many cases your experience can count towards your degree. There are also plenty of opportunities to volunteer on campus: take on a club or society leadership role, become a tour guide at one of the University’s museums, edit or write for a student-led publication or even become a ‘book detective’ at the Baillieu Library’s Rare Books Collection!
Mentoring programs
Would you like to learn first-hand what it’s really like to work in your industry? You could be mentored by one of our successful Melbourne alumni and get a glimpse of some of the opportunities that await. It's a great way to ask questions of someone who has walked in your shoes, and seek advice on how you can best prepare for your future career. Mentoring programs are available in most degree areas, as well as specific programs for students entering via the Access Melbourne and Australia Awards programs.
Student Engagement Grants
The University of Melbourne has fantastic opportunities for you to harness your talent and entrepreneurial energy. Student Engagement Grants provide funding of up to $250,000 for students to develop and execute ideas to address an important social, economic, environmental or cultural issue locally or internationally. Turning an idea into reality is not only a fantastic experience but also a notable achievement to put on your resume. Workshops are available to help you build skills in writing grant applications, project planning, management and budgeting.
Recent grant winners have improved disaster preparedness in Bali, designed a three-day engineering challenge for students from low socio-economic schools, trained audiologists at the Children’s Surgical Centre in Cambodia, created a forum and discussion space for students of colour, and designed an online science magazine.
Put your passion into action
2 out of 5
students volunteer
20%
of undergraduates study overseas
385 000+
alumni in 150 countries
Leadership and engagement programs
At Melbourne there are so many ways to get involved, develop professional skills and make a difference in your community.
The Leaders in Communities Award (LiCA) provides evidence of your volunteering and extracurricular experiences on your academic transcript. It’s a great way to demonstrate your engagement and skills to your future employers. As a participant, you’ll also be able to reflect on your professional skills and build connections with other students who are actively engaged in uni life.
The Student Impact Program is your chance to get involved in philanthropy and fundraising while making a real difference to the University community. Become a volunteer or committee member and learn about event management, project management, marketing and communications, philanthropy, fundraising, public relations and more from industry professionals.
Live Projects is a three-week business consulting project for international students designed and supported by industry partners, including Victorian Government agencies, business and community organisations.
The Student Peer Leader Network is your chance to contribute to the University community by co-creating activities that promote connection and belonging among students. Peer Leaders work alongside staff to deliver events and activities for the student community.
Events and more events!
Uni wouldn’t be uni without a whole lot of events! Enjoy free weekly breakfasts and BBQs, music gigs, film screenings, trivia nights, picnics, comedy sessions and creative workshops. Attend your faculty’s annual ball, industry nights and alumni Q&A sessions. Mingle with new mates at SummerFest, Diversity Week, Stress Less Week, Mudfest creative arts festival and Winterfest. If you're a graduate student, there are loads of events designed especially for you. You can also discover the University's latest research at a free public lecture, held most evenings around campus.
Melbourne Accelerator Program (MAP)
MAP is Australia’s leading entrepreneurship initiative. Whether you’re starting from a business idea or already working on a startup, MAP provides the networks and expertise to accelerate your success. You can start by attending free public forums, and see where your ideas take you.
MAP’s Female Founders’ Leadership Series also offers mentoring, introductions and practical entrepreneurial education for up to 60 high-potential female entrepreneurs each year.
Study overseas
Study at some of the world’s most prestigious institutions as part of your degree and gain an academic and professional edge. You could take French in Quebec, science in Estonia, business in Beijing, join a research lab in Berlin, or study anthropology in Santiago – where you go is up to you. Choose a year or semester-long exchange or an intensive overseas subject. Tailored overseas experiences are available in many degrees. Whatever you choose, you can count on it being a life-changing experience!
Join our outstanding alumni
The Melbourne experience doesn't end when you graduate. You'll be part of our network of 360 000 alumni living and working in 150+ countries. Join an alumni association, access special offers such as discounted memberships to the National Gallery of Victoria and Melbourne Recital Centre, attend alumni events and free public lectures, participate in short courses, become a mentor and enjoy a discount on some single subject studies through the Community Access Program.