Arts + Sciences (RMIT)
Unique Experiences
Experience Melbourne’s dynamic art, culture, and tech scene
through public talks, site visits, festivals, and expos
Enjoy touring the Great Ocean Road
to see natural landmarks like the Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge, and the Otway Rainforest
Immerse yourself in Melbourne laneway culture
a vibrant tapestry of art, food, and history waiting to be explored
Your Destination
Melbourne is Australia’s creative and multicultural hub, celebrated for its thriving arts scene, world-class universities, and strong focus on innovation and research. The city offers a unique blend of historic architecture, cutting-edge design, and diverse cultural influences, making it a dynamic setting for both academic and personal growth. Whether you’re studying the arts, sciences, IT, technology, or engineering, Melbourne provides top-tier education, opportunities for hands-on learning, and access to a network of global thinkers. With its lively café culture, outdoor festivals, coastal escapes, and reputation as a center for creativity and discovery, Melbourne is the perfect place to study abroad while experiencing one of the Southern Hemisphere’s most vibrant and forward-thinking cities.
Program Highlights
- Academic Courses: Choose courses from host institution courses, CIEE and online courses delivered by CIEE’s global partner, ASU, that align with your academic major.
- Immersive Experiences: Participate in activities, excursions, study tours, and more that showcase your host city's culture, values, and local art, film, music, cuisine, and sports scenes.
- Cultural Projects: Volunteer with members of the local community, join university clubs to socialize with your peers, and attend local workshops and events to get to know your host city.
Excursions & Activities
CIEE’s excursions and cultural activities in Melbourne will open doors for you to explore Australia’s rich diversity, language, culture, history, and timeless beauty in ways that will enhance your time abroad.
Samples of excursions and activities:
- Visit one of Victoria’s stunning wildlife sanctuaries such as Healesville or the Koala Conservation Reserve on Phillip Island and get a selfie with kangaroos, koalas, wombats, or echidnas
- Discover Melbourne’s hidden bars and multicultural dining scene as you weave through laneways and rooftops to uncover craft cocktails and gourmet bites
- Indulge your creative streak in the cultural capital of Australia and experience the best festivals, live music, comedy, theater, dance, and more
Program Blogs
Differences between US & Australian academic culture
Study abroad is meant to be different to what you are used to back home. So be prepared for differences in and out of the classroom. Academic Calendar Australia: The... keep reading
Eat, Drink, Explore: Melbourne
@cieestudyabroad Eat, Drink, Explore: Melbourne, Australia Check out our NEW study abroad programs in Melbourne in our bio! #ciee #cieestudyabroad #studyabroad #melbourne #australia #eatdrinkexplore Show Me How - Men I... keep reading
From Learner to Leader
Garrett, from Western Washington University, Summer 2025 Intern in Melbourne "I leave this internship not only with a stronger resume but with a stronger sense of capability and confidence.” My... keep reading
Housing & Meals
Housing
CIEE Melbourne offers diverse housing options to ensure you're comfortable in your home away from home. From homestays to shared apartments, we will strive for your accommodation preferences to be met. All housing has convenient access to plenty of shopping, supermarkets, restaurants, and public transportation.
Standard Housing: Includes a shared bedroom in a shared apartment or student accommodation within 45 minutes of the city and CIEE Melbourne. Both options have bathrooms in the room (shared with your roommates), fully equipped kitchens, shared living rooms, and coin or card operated shared laundry facilities onsite. Bed linen is provided.
Homestay: Includes a room in the home of a host family to fully immerse yourself in Melbourne’s culture. Melbourne is a multicultural city, and students will stay with families of various nationalities. These homes are located within a 45-minute to 1-hour public transport commute from the university's main campus. The homestay experience includes breakfast and dinner from Monday to Friday. Students will have the freedom to come and go as they please while spending quality time with their host families, gaining firsthand insight into everyday life in Melbourne.
A note: The default criterion to assign housing is first-come, first-served; however, other factors may also be considered. If we cannot accommodate your first housing choice, we'll let you know before you arrive. Non-standard housing options require an additional fee that can be found in the program Dates and Fees.
Meals
- Shared Apartments/Residence Halls: Housing in Melbourne is self-catered and there are plenty of options to choose from. Melbourne has a vibrant food scene with an array of fresh food markets, cafes and restaurants, and pop-up eateries all over the city. The Queen Victoria Market in the city is famous for its meat, fish, poultry, vegetables, fruits plus spices, cheeses, and more. Melbourne is also famous for its food precincts including China Town, Little Vietnam, the Middle Eastern mile, and Little Italy. It’s safe to say Melbourne is a foodie’s paradise.
- Homestay: Students who live with homestay families receive two meals daily (usually breakfast and dinner). Other meals and/or snacks are on the student. Students can make use of the kitchen space at the homestay, and families will provide a cabinet or storage area to store their food, ingredients, etc.
Academics
CIEE Melbourne: Study in the heart of Melbourne, Australia's vibrant cultural capital, with easy access to cafés, beautiful gardens, and iconic laneways brimming with street art. CIEE Melbourne boasts contemporary teaching and learning spaces, outstanding student support, and onsite staff available for guidance and academic advising.
The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT): Located in the heart of Melbourne, RMIT is renowned for its strengths in technology, design, and enterprise. Established in 1887, RMIT delivers practical education, training, and research, designed in collaboration with industry partners to ensure graduates are highly employable. According to the QS World University Rankings, RMIT is recognized among the world's top 100 universities in Art and Design, as well as in various Engineering disciplines, including Civil and Structural, Electrical and Electronic, and Mechanical, Aeronautical, and Manufacturing.
Arizona State University (ASU): Brought to you by CIEE in partnership with ASU, enhance your international coursework with online classes that align with your degree requirements. ASU offers thousands of online courses in asynchronous 7.5-week sessions that fit within the CIEE academic calendar.
Course Information
Course info:
RMIT course codes are designed to provide specific information about each course and range from 1000-4000. In Australia, undergraduate degrees are usually three years with the fourth year being an honors year. It is important to check if there are any prerequisites for your selected courses.
Detailed information about specific courses, their codes and any prerequisites are available on the RMIT course guides page.
Languages and Cultural Studies
Social Sciences
Business, Economics, Management, and Marketing
Communication, Journalism, and Media
History, Philosophy, Religion
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
Engineering and Engineering Technologies
Natural Resources, Conservation, and the Environment
Psychology
Languages and Cultural Studies
Social Sciences
Business, Economics, Management, and Marketing
Communication, Journalism, and Media
History, Philosophy, Religion
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
Engineering and Engineering Technologies
Natural Resources, Conservation, and the Environment
Psychology
Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
Students may design their own study broad program by selecting courses from across any of RMIT University’s disciplines, as long as they meet the necessary prerequisites. Alternatively, they can choose to study one of the of pre-selected Study Abroad Packages:
- Social Change
- Sustainability and Urban Planning
- Legal and Justice Studies
- Fashion and Textiles Merchandising
- Entrepreneurship
- Business, IT and Logistics
- Blockchain and Behavioural Business
- Aviation
Spotlight on RMIT’s unique courses:
GRAP2593: Animation & Interactive Media
Develop your animation and design skills exploring 2D and 3D animation, stop-motion, character design, and the fundamentals of cinematography, from both a practical and theoretical aspect.
MKTG1442: Introduction to Fashion Retailing
This course introduces you to the fashion retailing sector with an overview of local and global brands, whilst examining retail formats and ownership models and the role of visual merchandising within the changing retail experience.
ECON1340: Strategic Games for Business
This course introduces students to how to use game theory to recognize and understand strategic situations, to predict others’ behaviors and to design appropriate strategic and tactical responses for business success.
PHYS2183: Rocket Science
Get a close-up into the world of orbital mechanics and astrodynamics, calculating orbits and trajectories, orbit matching, gravity assists, docking and berthing. And design and build your own rocket!
SOCU2316: Sport, Equity & Social Change
Look deeply into how sport can change the world, as a central dimension to social life, threading relations between people across generations via the casual play at local parks, organised competitions at ovals, all the way through to the mega-events and massive stadiums of the global sport industry. Sport as an everyday barometer of social and cultural priorities, identity and social participation.
GRAP3029: Storytelling for Advertising
Develop your own skills in writing and crafting compelling headlines, persuasive texts and engaging scripts and scenarios, to develop your storytelling and communication skills for diverse media platforms.
COMM1081: Music & Popular Culture
This course examines the role, significance and influence of music in popular culture, engaging with contemporary issues, historical events and key genres in music within diverse cultural forms, such as television, the media, and online.
CIEE proudly partners with ASU to deliver asynchronous, 100% online coursework that aligns with your degree requirements from anywhere you study abroad.
CIEE and ASU offer courses online per program eligibility, at no additional charge. Be sure to review online courses with your home school advisor.
Check the CIEE Program Dates and ASU start dates below to maximize course options within your program!
Search ASU Online Courses BROWSE FAQs for more INFO
Note: This course listing is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a contract between CIEE and any applicant, student, institution, or other party. The courses, as described, may be subject to change as a result of ongoing curricular revisions, assignment of lecturers and teaching staff, and program development. Courses may be canceled due to insufficient enrollment.
"(GI)" denotes courses that originated at CIEE's Global Institutes and that are offered at multiple CIEE sites.
Scholarships & Grants
CIEE offers scholarships and grants annually to help students like you make your study abroad dream a reality.
Students who apply to this program are eligible for the following scholarships and grants:
- Ping Scholarships for Academic Excellence
- Global Access Initiative (GAIN) Grants
- CIEE Gilman Go Global Grant
- Trailblazer Grant
To be considered, submit the CIEE Scholarships & Grants application within your CIEE program application.
Dates & Fees
You get more for every dollar when you study abroad with CIEE, because our high-quality programs include everything from excursions to insurance. There are no hidden charges, and no disappointing surprises when you arrive.
*Dates for this program are provided as tentative dates. Please consult with your study abroad advisor to confirm dates before purchasing your flights.
To help you budget, keep in mind that students are responsible for the cost of international airfare, local transportation, books and supplies, visas, and personal expenses. In addition, your college or university may charge additional fees for study abroad, or may require you to receive a transcript via CIEE's School of Record, which carries an additional fee of $500.
Program Fees
CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.
| Participation Confirmation | $300 * |
| Educational Costs | $15,456 ** |
| Housing | $8,000 *** |
| Insurance | $194 |
| Total Fees | $23,950 |
Financial Aid
CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.
Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
*non-refundable fee
**direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students
***Housing fees listed are for financial aid purposes only and should not be considered a basis for calculation of refunds.
Program Fees
CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.
| Participation Confirmation | $300 * |
| Educational Costs | $15,456 ** |
| Housing | $8,000 *** |
| Insurance | $194 |
| Total Fees | $23,950 |
Financial Aid
CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.
Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
| Meals not included in program fee | $426 † |
| International Airfare | $1,700 †† |
| Local Transportation | $600 ††† |
| Books & Supplies | $40 |
| Visa Fees | $1,280 |
| Personal expenses | $310 †††† |
| Other | $450 ††††† |
| Total Costs | $4,806 |
*non-refundable fee
**Direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students
***Housing fees listed are for financial aid purposes only and should not be considered a basis for calculation of refunds.
†The listed estimated cost is for students in homestays. For students in homestays, families provide 2 meals a day. For students in residence halls, you should budget approx. $390 per month for groceries if you plan on making your own meals, and more if you plan on eating out regularly.
††round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure
†††Transport costs are $50AUD per week.
††††$100 emergency fund + cell phone expense + toiletries
†††††OSHC - Extra Health Insurance for Student Visa
Program Fees
CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.
Financial Aid
CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.
Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
What's Included
Tuition
Housing
Pre-departure Advising
Advising before you depart to set goals and answer questions
Optional on-site airport meet-and-greet
Orientation
Introduction to your program plus practical information about living in your host city
On-site Staff
Full-time program leadership and support in your city
Cultural and/or Co-curricular Activities
Excursions and/or Study Tours
Travel Protection
CIEE iNext travel protection
24/7 emergency on-site support
Our Staff
Joanna Shaw
Center Director
Jo has lived in Melbourne since she was a child and loves everything about this dynamic and cool city. She has a Masters of International Relations from La Trobe University...
Tharidhu Peries
Program Coordinator
Tharidhu is originally from Sri Lanka and been living, studying and working in Australia for nearly four years. He brings a wealth of experience from working across government and non-government...
Get Started
1
2
Connect With Your Campus Study Abroad Office
Share your plans and confirm you're on track to meet all required steps to go abroad.
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Contact Us
Send us an email if you still have questions or need information about applying to this program.
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