Your visa options to study design abroad in Melbourne/Naarm, Australia

Melbourne is an awesome choice for students who love arts, culture, music and diverse cuisine options.

Boasting a huge and lively creative community, Melbourne is effortlessly hip, and unabashedly multicultural, liberal, bohemian and progressive. The cultural, art and design capital of the continent, it’s packed with inspiring galleries, dynamic creative hubs, spectacular street art, a thriving live music scene, and a diverse collection of neighbourhoods, all infused with the Australian ‘can-do’ attitude that means it never sits still for a moment.

“Melbourne is an amazing buzzing city, always on the go. Creativity everywhere to keep you inspired.” —Kayla Greer, New Zealand

Information about Melbourne:

Shillington details:

Our campus location is conveniently located the middle of the city, close to Flinders Station and Federation Square.
Course dates and fees for Melbourne

Interviews with past students:

Visitor Visa (Subclass 600), eVisitor (Subclass 651), Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417), Work and Holiday Visa (Subclass 462), Electronic Travel Authority (Subclass 601) Visa) holders and New Zealand citizens

Please note: Shillington is not CRICOS registered, which means students are not able to apply for international student visas. But you don’t need a student visa to study at Shillington! Research your eligibility for the tourist and work visas listed above, which allow up to 3 months of study—perfect for our full-time graphic design course.

Australia offers a free eVisitor (Subclass 651) Visa, which allows tourists of any age to live and study for up to 3 months.

If you’re between 18—30 years old (35 for Canadian and Irish citizens), there are two visas which allow you to live, work and study for up to a year. Perfect to graduate from our 3 month course, then work or travel for the remainder of your visa. Visit Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417) and Work and Holiday Visa (Subclass 462) to check your home country’s eligibility.

Visit IMMI to learn more

Accommodation and transport tips

Looking for where to live in Melbourne? Since you’ll be spending a lot of time at Shillington, we recommend sticking within a 30 minute commute-time of campus. Past students recommend Richmond, Collingwood, Northcote, St Kilda, Elwood, Pahran and South Yarra.

“I stayed in the free tram zone. Shillington was about a 10/15 min free tram ride away so that’s great for 8am classes.” —Zee Hwee Tey, Singapore

Research your options:

Transportation in Melbourne:

When you arrive in Melbourne, get a MYKI card. It’s an easy tap on/tap off system for trains, buses and ferries. Download the TripView app for easy planning.
Our campus is within Melbourne’s Free Tram Zone, bordered by Spring Street, Flinders Street and La Trobe Street.
Melbourne Bike Share offers bicycle rentals from around A$3 per day.

Cost of living and exchange calculator

You’ll probably have a lot of questions about how much moving to Melbourne will cost. Do your research to best prepare for your study adventure!

Here are some helpful financial resources:

XE Currency Convertor is a great tool to calculate the exchange rate from your home country into Australian dollars.
Insider Guides offers a cost of living calculator, designed to help you discover how much it would cost to live in Melbourne. You can compare accommodation, transportation, entertainment and more.

Tips from students who studied abroad at Shillington On the blog

Creative's Guide to Melbourne

There’s so much to see and do in Melbourne, Australia!

Want to know the cool spots according to people in the design scene? On the Grid is a collection of cultural guides lovingly curated by local creatives. Check out top recommendations for Melbourne, broken up by unique neighbourhoods.

“Studying abroad creates a different kind of ‘filter’ for your design work. It’s like you have learnt a new language and now your brain thinks in two different design languages.” —Silja Aav, Estonia

Shillington’s top 10 things to do in Melbourne:

National Gallery of Victoria (NGV). This premier arts museum offers free general entry, and amazing ticketed exhibition. Walkable from campus, and a must-see.
Chapel Street. An iconic Melbourne district, this is a perfect spot for shopping, dining and nightlife.
Australian Football League (AFL). Also known as Aussie Rules or just plain “footy”, you can’t beat the crowds and passion at an AFL game. “It makes no sense but the Aussies are very into it.” — Kayla Greer, New Zealand
Royal Botanical Gardens. Featuring rare plants and breathtaking landscapes, visit the gardens for a pop of nature within the city.
Great Ocean Road. You’ll need to hire a car for this one, but exploring Victoria’s beautiful coastline is a must-see when in Melbourne.
Melbourne Laneways. A major factor of Melbourne’s charm and intrigue is the 40+ laneways and arcades—some in super hidden spots.
Queen Victoria Market. Operating since 1878, this market has a wide variety of produce and specialty shopping. Check times for night markets too.
Melbourne Museum. The largest museum in the Southern Hemisphere, Melbourne Museum is rich with natural and cultural history.
Stand Up Comedy. Melbourne has live venues presenting stand-up comedy seven nights a week.
Yarra Valley Wine Tour. Less than an hour from Melbourne’s CBD, the Yarra Valley is perfect for wine-loving visitors.