Student Accommodation Melbourne

While the colleges all share similarities (such as single occupancy rooms, all meals provided, academic support, intercollegiate activities, etc.), each college has its own unique characteristics. The following factors are some of things you may like to consider that impact on a particular college’s culture:

College ethos/values

Size and history of the college

Make up of the student community

UC has a reputation as a friendly, relaxed and supportive community. Our vibe is generally fairly laid back and we accommodate quite a few regional students. As we accept students from many universities, we also have a diverse range of people studying a diverse range of things. We are non-denominational and tend to lean towards more of an artistic vibe. While facilities are not the key reason to choose a particular college, UC is known for having fairly large rooms on average and over two thirds of our rooms have their own ensuites - so even as a first year you are likely to get a really good room if you apply early.

While there are no set quotas, below is the approximate break-down of our student population in any given year.

40% regional Victoria

40% domestic interstate

10% - 15% international

10% - 15% Melbourne metro

Around 70% of our students are studying at the University of Melbourne, with the remaining 30% studying at RMIT, Monash (Pharmacy) and ACU. Our community consists of 340 students, making us one of the larger colleges on the Crescent. We also try to avoid a big intake of students from any one particular high school in order to minimise the formation of ‘cliques’.

UC is a community, and in order for it to function as your ‘home away from home’, the students need to be accepting of others, flexible and inclusive. When we interview applicants we consider a variety of factors, including academic performance, extra-curricular activities and community engagement, but ultimately we are looking for friendly ‘all-rounders’ who we think will be a good fit for our residential college community.

University College is a residential college, meaning we offer somewhere for students to live. We do not run our own courses, rather we provide academic support to whatever a student is already studying at university, a bit like having a tutor for a subject in high school.

Yes, UC welcomes students from RMIT, ACU and Monash University. You must be studying a Bachelor degree, or an Associate degree (or similar pathway course) and be engaged in full time study.

College fees are updated yearly. For current fees, please see our University College Fees page.

If you are investigating other accommodation options, it’s important to consider what is included in the fees. The hidden extras such as wifi, electricity and food can add up. While colleges are a more expensive student accommodation option, they offer so much more than the alternatives, and have next to no hidden costs. There are intangibles to think about too, such as the easier transition to university life in Melbourne and the friendships and community atmosphere that colleges provide.

They include your accommodation, academic support, wellbeing support, internet, electricity, water, meals, activities and much more. At UC, the only extras are any optional Student Club ticketed events that you may wish to attend (such as the Ball) and our laundry facilities. You can find a complete list of inclusions on the fees page.

While the universities run a lot of their own clubs, there are also clubs you can get involved with at college. At UC, various clubs have been established over the years based on the interests of the individuals living with us. We have had film clubs, chess clubs, debating clubs and more. But largely our activities are arranged by various committees and within individual leadership roles that people take on in their second year of college. Each year a Student Club Executive is elected, with a music rep, sports reps, wellbeing rep, sustainability rep and more. These students often form committees, to help them arrange events in that space. So really it’s just a case of throwing your hat in the ring and pursuing the things of interest to you.

We offer the best sized rooms on the Crescent! Each room comes fully furnished with a bed, desk, lamp, chair, bedside table and wardrobe. Some larger rooms also include an additional piece of furniture, such as a chest of drawers or bookcase. 96% of our rooms have double beds, and two thirds have ensuites (the rest offer shared bathroom facilities). Residential college students don’t have to share rooms and are encouraged to decorate them. Unlimited wifi, heating and fans are provided, and rooms are vacuumed fortnightly by cleaners.

Rooms for new college students will be allocated in order of receipt of application. For returning college students, rooms are allocated based on a room points system – the higher your room points (earned by getting involved in College life) the more likely you will get your preferred room. Kitchenettes and laundry facilities are available in each wing. Take a look at our galleries or virtual tours to get a feel for some of our rooms.

There are a variety of events throughout the year. Some are managed by the College (such as the formal dinners, art and design week etc), others are organised by our student body (such as musical soirees, the Ball and music production), while others are intercollegiate activities, meaning every college around the Crescent participates (such as sports, Battle of the Bands and the Step-Up dance competition). Rest assured there are plenty of events that take place throughout the year, and plenty of ways to meet people. It is entirely up to you how many things you want to try, but we encourage you to make the most of the College experience.

There are scholarships available for students who need financial assistance to live at UC. Our scholarships generally range from $5,000 to $7,000 of support, with several major scholarships also available, including one full fee-paying. Many of our scholarships have specific eligibility criteria, so if you need major financial support, please contact us for a conversation about your personal circumstances before applying. More information can be found on our scholarships page.

View a comprehensive list of our scholarships.

Students are not able to apply individually to each college, rather you need to complete an application on the intercollegiate website and rank the colleges in an order of preference. This way, should you not get into your first choice, your information is passed on to your next preference for consideration. You should expect to hear from your first college choice not long after you apply, they will request any additional information they specifically require (this varies from college to college and may include references, a personal statement, academic results etc). All colleges will require you to undertake an online interview, then some colleges (such as UC) make provisional offers as we go, other colleges will wait until later in the year to offer you a place.

Yes, you can live with us if you are still yet to turn 18, but you will not be permitted to drink alcohol at College events while you are underage. 

Unfortunately international students under 18 years old are NOT permitted to reside with us as we are not registered to act as guardians for international students. 

As we receive applications we process them, assess them and make provisional offers at various stages throughout the year. This means at UC, you have a better chance of securing yourself an early place, which can provide great peace of mind.

While the exact move in date varies from year to year, first year students normally move in on the third Saturday of February, and Orientation Week (or O-Week) runs for a week from there. The week involves all kinds of activities, organised by our second year O-Week leaders. It is a great chance to meet people, and the fun is normally accompanied by some practical knowledge, such as how to get around Melbourne and training around college life.

University Women’s College changed its name to University College in 1975. Men were enrolled as residents and today the gender balance is roughly equal. In recent years an average of 55 – 60% of residents have been women – which reflects both the applicant profile and the University’s enrolment data.

No. The vast majority of students want to use their time at College for studying and student activities. Therefore, all meals (three meals a day, seven days a week) are provided, and there is no discount for meals not taken. Vegetarians, vegans and other dietary requirements are catered for as standard.

Passivhaus is a German concept and is a rigorous, voluntary standard for energy efficiency in a building, which reduces the building’s ecological footprint. The newer wings of the College were built to Passivhaus standard. Read more in our Passivhaus FAQs.

There are limited car spaces available on-site for an additional fee. It is unlikely for a first year student to get a parking space, as returners get first preference. After you have submitted your residential application you are welcome to email our Registrar to express your interest - please let us know why you are seeking a parking space and consider carefully if you really need one, as we try to allocate any leftover parks based on need. There are absolutely no guarantees your request will be successful, particularly if you applied to college quite late.

Please note that UC is located close to four universities (the University of Melbourne, RMIT, Monash Pharmacy and ACU) and is on a tram line, so most students get by easily without a car. A bike is another transport option, with bike racks located on-site.

There are 340 places available at UC. We only accept undergraduate students. 

The main entrance is locked between 6pm and 8am and entirely over the weekends. Students have their own electronic fob keys and are free to come and go at any time by swiping their fob over the sensor. The residential college reception is staffed from 8am – 6pm, Monday to Friday. Outside of these hours there are Resident Tutors on duty to help if students get locked out. The College also has a number of Youth Workers, who are trained in first aid, to support students overnight. So there is always someone available 24hrs a day. Students with wellbeing concerns are able to book an appointment with our Student Wellbeing Coordinator.

UC offers a number of paid work positions in the kitchen, library and maintenance teams, as well as other ad hoc opportunities. We also offer unpaid student internships in various areas, such as marketing, student photographers and school ambassadors.

At UC, your contract does not include the mid-year winter break. Therefore all first and second year students are required to move out (third year and more senior students can remain). However, you can safely store your belongings in the lockable portion of your wardrobe. For those who live further away, we also have a storage shed for those things you can’t store in your room. We find many students use this time to travel, return home or work. You are able to stay during the shorter, mid-semester breaks. You will return to the same room in semester 2 (unless you have requested and been granted a room swap).

UC only offers yearly contracts, unless you are a study abroad student. There may be an opportunity for you to join us only for semester 2, should spaces become available.