Land and Food Resources

International Students

International activities of the Faculty of Land and Food Resources

In the past ten years the Faculty has enrolled more than 250 international postgraduates, many of whom have conducted Masters or PhD research projects in their home country or relevant to their home country. Research has included: evaluations of extension and rural education services; farm management and economic evaluation of commodities and projects; plant breeding, physiology and production; and animal sciences, particularly animal nutrition and reproduction.

Faculty staff are actively involved in research and development projects in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Philippines, China, the South Pacific and Southern Asia. There are strong collaborative research links with peers in the USA, Europe and elsewhere.

The International Centre

Staff at the International Centre are committed to ensuring that your time at the University of Melbourne enables you to take home a rich academic and social experience. The Centre is conveniently located within the University and students use it as a drop-in centre for supportive advice and information on a variety of University-related and extra-curricular activities.

The aim of the International Centre is to look after you from the time you make enquiries about studying at the University to the time you become an alumnus on your return home.

How does the International Centre achieve this? Firstly, it will give your application maximum individual attention. Once accepted, the Centre will assist you with placement in housing and provide you with comprehensive information prior to arrival. You will be invited to attend a pre-departure program to meet other students and their families. These will be conducted either by The University or their trusted representatives in-country.

Some of the on-campus support includes:

Please make the International Centre your first stop after your arrival in Melbourne. For further information contact our friendly staff at the front desk.

The International Centre
The University of Melbourne
Victoria 3010
Australia
Telephone: +61 3 8344 4505
Facsimile: +61 3 9347 9062
Queries and Sending an Email: http://unimelb.custhelp.com

Living and working in Australia

Students with families

Before bringing your spouse or children to Australia you will have to prove you can support them financially. The Australian Embassy in your country is responsible for granting approval.

Employment and work conditions

Most international students may work up to 20 hours a week during their stay in Australia. Spouses accompanying postgraduate students are allowed to work full-time. Students are advised, however, that part-time employment is difficult to obtain, and that excessive employment may impact negatively on their studies.

Please note that students and their dependants applying for student visas for the first time will not automatically be granted permission to work in Australia. Students and their dependants will only be able to apply for a visa with work rights after they arrive in Australia and the student has commenced their course of study. Applicants must produce evidence that the student has commenced study and pay a $AUD50 fee. More information can be obtained from the International Centre upon arrival.

The University recommends that PhD students avoid working more than nine hours a week because of their heavy study load. Students with Australian Development Scholarships are not permitted to work during semester without special consent from AusAID.

Schooling for dependants

It is immigration policy that school-age dependants of international students undertake formal schooling while they are in Australia. You will need to provisionally enrol your child in a school before you leave your home country, and if you are not on an Australian scholarship you will normally have to pay the school fees one semester in advance. The Australian Diplomatic Mission in your country can tell you which Victorian schools are registered to enrol international students. The school will send you a Confirmation of Enrolment Form stating the name of the schooling program and its duration, so that you can obtain the appropriate visa for your child.

You will be required to pay school fees for your child unless you are the recipient of:

OR

Government school fees (Approximate costs):

Primary - $A4000 per year
Junior Secondary - $A5000 per year
Senior Secondary - $6000 per year

Health

It is compulsory for international students to have health insurance in the form of Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). This entitles students and their dependants to 100% cover in a public hospital and a rebate of 85% of the government scheduled fee for a consultation with a general practitioner or specialist. OSHC covers the cost of attending the Student Health Service at the University of Melbourne.

Professional development program for spouses

The program is offered without cost to the spouses of international students and scholars and is intended to assist participants new to Melbourne to acquire further language and professional skills.

English Language Requirements

International students are required to provide evidence of English language proficiency.

Applicants must satisfy the University's English Language Requirements.

To satisfy English language requirements for admission to the University you must have:

OR

OR

Generally faculties require an IELTS score of 6.5 or a TOEFL score of 580, TWE 4.5 (paper-based) or 237 with an Essay Rating Score of 4.5 (computer-based). Some faculties require higher scores.

Fees

All international students must pay tuition fees unless they have been awarded a scholarship. Details of fees for particular courses are listed in the Schedule of Courses and Fees for International Students, and are also published on the University's web site.

Applying for courses

Closing dates for applications

Application procedure

An application form is available on the web or in the International Postgraduate Prospectus.

Step 1

Complete all sections of the Application Form, and sign and date the form.

Step 2

Attach certified copies of all relevant documents (including TOEFL or IELTS results, academic transcripts, references, etc.). If you are applying for credit for subjects studied at another tertiary institution, include a detailed description of each of the subjects with your application. If any of these documents is written in a language other than English, you must include an official certified translation of the document.

Step 3

Obtain a bank draft for $A50, payable to 'The University of Melbourne' or pay by credit card. This is a non-refundable application fee. If you are accepted by the University this fee will be credited to your tuition fees.

Step 4

Send the Application Form to:

International Admissions
International Centre
The University of Melbourne
Victoria 3010Australia

On receipt of an application International Admissions immediately sends you an acknowledgment letter. Applications for coursework will normally take two weeks to assess if the application has all the necessary documentation.

Applications for research programs normally take four weeks to assess. Time for mail delivery varies from country to country; taking this into account, please do not hesitate to contact International Admissions on:

Telephone: +61 3 8344 4505
Facsimile: + 61 3 8347 9062
Email: international-centre@unimelb.edu.au

Acceptance of an offer

Step 1

You will receive a letter of offer specifying the course into which you have been accepted, and with this letter you will also receive a package containing the International Student Guide, information about the airport meeting service, temporary accommodation, payment of fees, orientation program and enrolment dates. You will also receive an Acceptance Agreement Form and a Payment Options Form.

Step 2

If you wish to accept this offer, you must complete the Acceptance of Agreement Form and choose which form of payment of fees best suits you. Send your fee payment to the International Centre, in order to secure your place. When you pay these fees you must also pay an additional amount to cover Overseas Student Health Cover charges for 12 months.

You will then be sent a Confirmation of Enrolment Form, the official document required in order to apply for a student visa. Before you are granted a visa you must undergo a health check. This may take three or four weeks, so it is important to schedule enough time for all the necessary procedures.

Step 3

When you receive the Confirmation of Enrolment Form you must take it to an Australian Embassy or High Commission in order to apply for a student visa. Applicants must be able to show that they have the financial resources to cover all expenses during their stay in Australia (eg. tuition fees, return airfares and living expenses), are genuinely seeking temporary entry for the purpose of full-time study, and are in good health. The Australian Government requires a pre-visa assessment for applicants from certain countries. This pre-visa process can take from four to six weeks, and must be completed before an application for a student visa can be made.

On arrival

You will need to show your academic transcripts and evidence that you have a visa that will allow you to study in Australia when you formally enrol in your course at the University of Melbourne.

Scholarships for international students

The Melbourne Scholarships Program is the most valuable and comprehensive of its kind in Australia. In 2004, we awarded over 900 new scholarships to postgraduate and undergraduate students from Australia and around the world.

If you are an international student with a first-class academic record you are invited to consider one of our prestigious Melbourne Scholarships which are available for both postgraduate coursework and research higher degree programs.

Melbourne International Research Scholarships (MIRS)

Number to be awarded and benefits: Up to 80 new MIRS are awarded each year and provide a living allowance of $18,000 approx. per year (in 2004) for the standard duration of the degree. The level of stipend is reviewed annually. Both commencing international research higher degree students and currently-enrolled international students are eligible.

Commencement

Melbourne International Fee Remission Scholarships (MIFRS)

Number to be awarded and benefits

Scholarships are available in all courses although each Faculty has a limit on the number in any one year. Only commencing international research higher degree students are eligible for MIFRS.

Commencement

International Postgraduate Research Scholarships (IPRS)

These are highly sought-after Australian Government scholarships that are awarded annually to commencing full-time research higher degree students who have been offered an unconditional place in Masters, approved Higher Doctorates, Masters leading to PhD and PhD programs.

Students who are awarded an IPRS from the University of Melbourne will automatically be allocated a Melbourne International Research Scholarship (living allowance).

Number to be awarded and benefits

Commencement

IPRS holders must begin by 31 August.

Postgraduate Coursework Scholarships (International)

Number to be awarded and benefits

Closing dates

Education cost for dependants

Students who are in receipt of an Australian Higher Education Scholarship which covers full course fees (eg. MIFRS or IPRS) are not required to pay school fees for dependant children who attend a Victorian Government school. For further information see the Victorian Department of Education web site: www.dse.vic.gov.au/isp or contact the International Student Policy and Program Unit of the Department of Education.

Telephone: +61 3 9637 2898.

Postgraduate scholarships selection

The University holds a Primary Scholarship Selection Round during December every year when the majority of available scholarships are awarded. International students who submit applications after the closing date will be considered on a continuous basis after completion of the primary selection round in December. (Note: Although a number of scholarships are available at this time, allocation is subject to availability within Faculties.)

Application procedures

Students applying for a new course of study using the 'Application for Admission as an International Postgraduate Student' form are not required to provide an additional application form or documentation for scholarship selection. Students receiving an unconditional offer of a place will be considered automatically.

Students already enrolled in the course for which they are seeking a scholarship (MIRS only) should complete the application form available from the Melbourne Scholarships Office.

General eligibility requirements

Candidates are selected on academic merit and demonstrated research potential:

(Please note: these are guidelines only. Full details are available in the International Scholarships Brochure.)

Meet us Overseas

Our staff make regular visits overseas to promote programs offered by the Faculty. We invite you to come and meet with University of Melbourne representatives http://www.futurestudents.unimelb.edu.au/about/meetstaff/os/index.html

Further information

For a more detailed explanation of scholarship benefits, conditions and eligibility, please refer to the University's list of International Scholarships or contact the Melbourne Scholarships Office

Australian Development Scholarships (ADS)

The Australian Government offers scholarships for students from developing countries to study in Australia to enable students to gain knowledge and skills which will help the development of their home country when they return. For further information contact the Australian Diplomatic Mission in your home country or visit the AusAID web site.

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