The Iglu Guide | Blog
How far from uni is too far? Choosing Melbourne student accommodation by commute time
Ask any student what they wish they’d thought about more before signing a lease, and commute time usually tops the list. A gorgeous apartment loses its shine fast if it costs you an hour each way on a packed tram. Before you fall for a listing photo, it’s worth thinking through what your daily trip to campus will actually look like.
Commute time changes everything, not just your travel
A short trip to uni does more than save time. It means you can duck home between classes, sleep in a little longer, and still make it to that 9am lecture. It means late nights in the library or on campus with friends don’t turn into a logistics problem. And it means bad weather is a minor inconvenience rather than a reason to skip class altogether.
Melbourne is a big, spread out city, and its universities aren’t clustered together the way some cities’ are. RMIT and the University of Melbourne sit right in the CBD, Monash‘s main campuses are further out in the east and southeast, and Deakin, Swinburne and La Trobe each have their own pocket of the city. So “close to uni” means something different depending on where you study.
RMIT and University of Melbourne: the CBD advantage
If you’re heading to RMIT or the University of Melbourne, the CBD is easily walkable to campus, which changes your options considerably. Iglu Melbourne City sits opposite Queen Victoria Market, while Iglu Melbourne Central is tucked behind the State Library, and both put you within an easy walk or bike ride of RMIT, the University of Melbourne and ACU. A little further west, Iglu Flagstaff Gardens and the newer Iglu Flagstaff Station sit beside the leafy Flagstaff Gardens, also within easy reach of the same universities, plus Kaplan, Impact English and William Angliss, with the gardens themselves making a pleasant route on two wheels.
Living this close means your commute becomes almost incidental. You can leave for a lecture with minutes to spare, and the city’s trams, laneways and coffee spots become part of your everyday routine rather than something you visit occasionally.
Studying at Monash? Weigh up the trade off
Monash students face a slightly different equation, since the Clayton campus sits a fair way from the city centre. Iglu South Yarra is a strong option here, particularly if you’re at the Caulfield campus, with a direct train link that keeps the trip short. South Yarra also happens to be one of Melbourne’s most liveable pockets, with Chapel Street’s shopping and cafes right on your doorstep, so even if your commute is a touch longer than a CBD address, day to day life stays easy.
If Clayton is your main campus, it’s worth timing an actual trip on Google Maps or the PTV journey planner before you commit to any address, city fringe suburbs included. A suburb that looks close on a map doesn’t always translate to a quick trip once you factor in changes and walking time at each end.
Getting around without a car
Most Melbourne students get by entirely on public transport, and the city makes this fairly painless. Trams cover the inner city extensively, including a free zone through the CBD, while the train network connects outer suburbs to the centre reasonably quickly. A myki card is all you need across trams, trains and buses, so it’s worth setting one up in your first week rather than relying on single tickets.
Cycling is another option worth considering, especially for shorter trips. Melbourne has a growing network of bike lanes and shared paths, including scenic routes along the Yarra River and through the city’s gardens, and a bike can shave real time off a journey that would otherwise involve waiting for a tram. It also means you’re not tied to a timetable if you have an early class or a late finish.
Beyond the daily commute, proximity to transport also shapes your social life. Being a short tram, train or bike ride from friends, part time work or your favourite café strip matters just as much as the trip to lectures.
How far is too far?
There’s no universal answer, but a good rule of thumb is to think in terms of time, not distance. Fifteen to twenty minutes door to door is comfortable for most students, whether that’s on foot, by bike or on public transport. Anything under thirty minutes is still very manageable, especially if it’s a direct train or tram with no changes. Beyond that, it’s worth asking yourself honestly whether you’ll actually make it to that early lecture on a cold, rainy morning, or whether the commute will start eating into sleep, study time or simply how much you enjoy your day.
Ultimately, the best accommodation is the one that fits your course, your budget and your lifestyle. Take the time to map your commute properly before you sign anything. It’s a small step that makes a real difference to how much you enjoy your time at uni.
Frequently asked questions
Most students find a commute of fifteen to twenty minutes comfortable, with up to thirty minutes still considered manageable, particularly when the trip involves a direct tram or train with no changes.
The CBD and its immediate fringe, including areas near Flagstaff Gardens, put students within walking distance of both RMIT and the University of Melbourne, along with ACU.
South Yarra offers a short, direct train link to Monash’s Caulfield campus, making it a practical option for Caulfield students, while also being convenient to the CBD.
Melbourne has an extensive tram and train network, accessible with a myki card. The CBD tram network includes a free zone, making inner city travel simple.
A shorter, simpler commute generally supports better sleep, more consistent class attendance and more time for study and social activities, making it worth prioritising alongside budget and room type.
Using a journey planner such as PTV’s or Google Maps to map the actual trip, including walking time and any changes, gives a more accurate picture than judging distance from a map alone.
