The Iglu Guide | Blog
Where to live when studying at RMIT University Melbourne
Formalised as a university in 1992, RMIT University Melbourne originally began life as a working men’s college. Now Australia’s largest tertiary institution with over 30,000 students, RMIT runs courses across three different academic colleges: the College of Design and Social Context, the College of Business, and the College of Science, Engineering and Health. Ranked as a world-leading university that leads the country in graduate employment, RMIT has a coveted 5-star QS rating and ranks 15th in the world for art and design-based subjects. With three campuses and two sites in Victoria alone. Students have access to everything that this fabulous city has to offer, from the museums and galleries to the exciting nightlife and beyond. Student accommodation near RMIT University Melbourne is many and varied, with the option to explore a range of suburbs beyond the immediate city centre, facilitated by a world-class public transport system.
RMIT University Melbourne, city campus: student accommodation options
Melbourne CBD
Live in the heart of the action and enjoy all the conveniences that come with city living. With everything on your doorstep, students have the opportunity to enjoy the wealth of activities that the world’s 3rd most liveable city has to offer. Immerse yourself in the arts, laneways, restaurants and bars, and enjoy the Grand Prix buzz from Albert Park every year. With Uni just a short stroll away, student living doesn’t get any better. Iglu Melbourne City, Iglu Melbourne Central and Iglu Flagstaff Gardens are all ideally placed for access to RMIT.
RMIT city campus to Iglu Melbourne Central: 4 mins walk
RMIT city campus to Iglu Melbourne City: 9 mins walk
RMIT city campus to Iglu Flagstaff Gardens: 14 mins walk
North Melbourne
With residents having an average age of just 29, North Melbourne is definitely a place that any student could happily call home. Situated just 3km north of the CBD, this inner-city suburb has retained its own unique charm, with a laid-back village vibe that belies its fantastic location and proximity to the city. A buzzing neighbourhood with a thriving café scene, it also offers a lively array of bars and pubs that keep the large student population busy after class. North Melbourne is also home to a wide array of galleries and studios, testament to the creative scene that has since developed from this once working-class neighbourhood.
RMIT city campus, by train: 25 mins
RMIT city campus, by bike: 8 mins
Carlton
Once designated a slum back in the 1950s, today Carlton is more renowned for its coffee culture, hip designer stores and range of cultural activities, not to mention the numerous Italian eateries that line up along the famed Lygon Street. The suburb has a mixed cultural heritage that ranges from Italian and Greek right through to Asian and Indian, and the high student population has helped to shape the inclusive community feel that permeates the local streets. Just a short hop from the CBD but without the pricy rental tags, Carlton is a fantastic choice of location for your new student accommodation.
RMIT city campus, by train: 15 mins
RMIT city campus, by bike: 6 min
Fitzroy
Combining grit and glamour, old and new, heritage and eclectic, Fitzroy is one of Melbourne’s most charming suburbs that is never short of ambience and charm. Interestingly, this thriving hotpot is actually the most densely populated area outside of the CBD – and it’s not hard to see why. Get your designer fix on Gertrude Street, catch a gig at the local pub or try some bar hopping on Brunswick Street, the commercial heart of the suburb. Attracting students, professionals and families alike, there’s something for every student to enjoy on the streets of Fitzroy.
RMIT city campus, by train: 30 mins
RMIT city campus, by bike: 10 mins
RMIT University Melbourne, Bundoora campus: student accommodation options
Bundoora
When convenience living is king, you can’t beat Bundoora for proximity to university. A mere 2.5km tram ride will take you directly into the campus grounds, or alternatively have you in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD in just under one hour. Bundoora itself is popular with families and students alike, with quiet tree-lined streets and large houses on offer. If green spaces or proximity to sporting options are your thing, look no further than student accommodation in Bundoora. Take your pick from bowling, golf and baseball – or check out Mount Cooper, Melbourne’s highest point located in the 180-hectare Bundoora Park.
RMIT Bundoora campus, by train: 15 mins
RMIT Bundoora campus, by bike: 11 mins
Mill Park
Escape the hustle and stress of city living but stay completely connected when you live in Melbourne’s Mill Park. A 4-minute bike ride will have you at lectures right on time, or head down to the heart of the city and arrive within the hour. Popular with families and professionals alike, Mill Park combines the best in convenience living with surprising bang for your buck. With picturesque lakes, walking tracks and fresh air right on your doorstep, it’s hard to believe your student accommodation is located so close to the city buzz.
RMIT Bundoora campus, by train: 10 mins
RMIT Bundoora campus, by bike: 4 mins
RMIT University Melbourne, Brunswick campus: student accommodation options
Brunswick
This charming suburb makes for an increasingly popular choice with the Melbourne crowd, which unfortunately means that student accommodation prices are being pushed up and up. Think classic eateries, hip bars, live music and a multicultural community fusion – and that’s the Brunswick experience. With Sydney Road at the heart of the action, here you’ll find vintage stores, art galleries, book shops and eateries, all sandwiched between pubs, bars, live music venues and the occasional middle eastern bakery. Brunswick is a place where differences bring communities together, and where diversity brings strength and unity. And with a mere 20-minute journey time into Melbourne’s CBD, it’s no wonder it makes for a popular student accommodation choice.
RMIT Brunswick campus, by train: 10 mins
RMIT Brunswick campus, by bike: 4 mins
Coburg
Just 3km north of Brunswick and a considerably cheaper student accommodation option, Coburg has a similarly eclectic ambience that benefits from the Brunswick over sprawl. The multicultural community mix means that the high street is jampacked with a wide range of delicious international flavours, entirely unmatched anywhere else in the city. And with the gentrification still in process, Coburg residents benefit from the best of both worlds – affordable when you need it, luxe when you want it. Take in the great outdoors and jump on the Merri Creek bike path that passes through Coburg, with 21km of trail way that doesn’t cross a single road. Absolute bliss. Think character homes, quiet streets and cultural blends, that’s the Coburg experience.
RMIT Brunswick campus, by train: 15 mins
RMIT Brunswick campus, by bike: 13 mins
