University of Melbourne facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
The University of Melbourne

Coat of arms
Latin: Universitas Melburniensis
Motto	Postera Crescam Laude (Latin)
Motto in English	I shall grow in the esteem of future generations
Type	Public research university
Established	22 January 1853; 172 years ago (1853-01-22)
Accreditation	TEQSA
Academic affiliation	Go8 U21 APRU ACU AOTULE CILECT AAL TNEU AACSB EQUIS AMC UA MISA
Endowment	AU$1.287 billion (2022)
Chancellor	Jane Hansen
Vice-president	Paul Axup Nick Blinco
Vice-Chancellor	Duncan Maskell
Provost	Nicola Phillips
Academic staff	5,186 (2023)
Administrative staff	5,328 (2023)
Total staff	10,514 (2023)
Students	53,963 (EFTSL, 2023)
Undergraduates	27,146 (EFTSL, 2023)
Postgraduates	23,113 coursework (EFTSL, 2023) 3,703 research (EFTSL, 2023)
Location	Melbourne , Victoria , Australia 37°47′47″S 144°57′41″E / 37.7963°S 144.9614°E / -37.7963; 144.9614
Campus	Urban and regional with multiple sites 35.2 hectares (0.35 km2) (Parkville Campus) 2,507 hectares (25.1 km2) (Total)
Colours	Traditional Heritage Blue and Dark
Sporting affiliations	UniSport EAEN UBL
Mascot	Barry the Bear

The University of Melbourne is a large public research university in Melbourne, Australia. It was started in 1853, making it Australia's second oldest university. It is the oldest university in Victoria. Its main campus is in Parkville, just north of Melbourne's city center. The university also has other campuses across Victoria.

The University of Melbourne is one of Australia's "sandstone universities." These are the oldest and most respected universities in the country. It is also part of the Group of Eight, which is a group of leading Australian research universities. Since 1872, many student homes, called residential colleges, have joined the university. They offer places to live for students and teachers, along with fun activities and learning programs.

The university has ten different academic departments. It also works with many research centers. These include places that study medical research, brain science, and economics. The university has fifteen special schools for advanced studies, like the Melbourne Business School and the Melbourne Law School.

Many important people have studied at the University of Melbourne. Four Australian prime ministers and five governors-general have graduated from here. Eight Nobel Laureates have taught or studied at the university. This is more than any other Australian university.

The university's Coat of arms shows a blue shield with a white image of "Victory" holding a laurel wreath over the stars of the Southern Cross. The university's motto, Postera crescam laude, means "I shall grow in the esteem of future generations."

University History

How the University Started

The University of Melbourne began with an idea from Hugh Childers in 1852. He was a government official who set aside money to start a university. The university was officially created on January 22, 1853. It was allowed to give degrees in subjects like arts, medicine, law, and music.

The first stone for the university buildings was laid on July 3, 1854. Classes started in 1855 with three professors and sixteen students. Only four of those first students graduated. Sir Charles Hotham, the leader of the Victoria colony, officially opened the buildings on October 3, 1855.

The university quickly added more subjects. A law school opened in 1857. Engineering and medicine schools followed in the early 1860s. Student residential colleges opened in 1872.

The first leader, Redmond Barry, was chancellor until 1880. The university was built thanks to the money from Victoria's gold rush. It was meant to bring a "civilizing influence" during a time of fast growth. In 1881, women were allowed to join the university. Julia 'Bella' Guerin was the first woman to graduate from an Australian university in 1883.

Growth in the 1900s

In the early 1900s, the university started offering more practical courses. By 1901, over 500 students were enrolled. The university added a Diploma of Education in 1903.

Even with money problems in the 1890s, the university kept growing. Many new buildings were built between 1900 and 1906. This growth happened because the government gave more money. The university also started teaching dentistry and agriculture. During this time, the university became a top place for research in Australia. After World War II, many more people wanted to go to university, which changed the university a lot.

Expansion from the 1980s to 2000s

The university grew a lot in the 1980s and 1990s. It joined with several other colleges. For example, the Melbourne Teachers' College became part of the Faculty of Education in 1988. More students than ever before attended the university, with over 35,000 students. This growth continued when the Victorian College of the Arts joined in 1992. This added more campuses to the university.

In 2001, the Melbourne School of Population Health was created. It was the first of its kind in Australia. This school brought together many different study areas, from social sciences to health research.

In 2008, the Vice Chancellor, Glyn Davis, changed how the university taught its courses. This new way was called the Melbourne Model. It changed many specific undergraduate degrees into six general bachelor's degrees. Students would then specialize in a professional or research course after their first degree. This change was influenced by universities in North America. Some students and staff did not like the new model. They worried about job cuts and the quality of teaching.

Recent Changes and Challenges

Between 2013 and 2015, the university changed its administration. This led to about 500 staff losing their jobs. At the same time, the university spent $2 billion on new buildings. Some departments were also reorganized. For example, the Melbourne School of Land and Environment was closed. Its subjects moved to other faculties.

In 2019, there were concerns about the workplace culture in the Faculty of Arts. Also, the Vice Chancellor's high salary caused some debate. The university became very reliant on money from international students.

In 2020, teaching moved online because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Most classes used online tools like Zoom. The university also announced job cuts for about 450 staff. More job losses happened in 2021, even though the university had a small financial surplus. Some subjects were cut, which Nobel Laureate Peter Doherty criticized.

The university also faced issues with staff payment. In 2021, the Vice-Chancellor apologized for not paying about 1,000 casual staff members correctly. The university had to pay back $9.5 million. This happened after protests by a staff union. The university has been criticized for having many staff on temporary contracts.

In 2021, the government approved a new campus at Fishermans Bend. This $2 billion campus will focus on engineering and is planned to open in 2026. It is part of a big building program.

In June 2021, a new policy was made to protect transgender people while keeping freedom of speech. In 2023, a building was damaged with messages about this issue. In August 2023, some union members went on strike. They asked for higher wages.

Student Activism and Engagement

On April 24, 2024, students started a peaceful protest on campus. They wanted the university to be open about its investments. They asked the university to make sure its investments followed United Nation's Principles for Responsible Investment. On May 15, students occupied a building, renaming it Mahmoud's Hall.

The university sent a notice on May 14, warning students and staff about breaking rules. It mentioned possible disciplinary action. However, the protests remained peaceful. On May 22, student representatives announced an agreement with the university. They said they would end the protest if the university shared information about its investments. As of May 23, discussions were still ongoing.

University Campuses

The University of Melbourne has several campuses. Three are in Melbourne: Burnley, Southbank, and Werribee.

• The Burnley campus teaches horticultural courses.
• The Southbank campus is for performing arts, visual arts, film, television, and music.
• The Werribee campus teaches veterinary science.

In regional Victoria, there are campuses at Creswick and Dookie.

• Creswick is used for forestry courses.
• Dookie is for agriculture courses.
• The Shepparton campus has a special center for rural health studies.

The university also partly owns the Melbourne Business School at the Parkville campus. A new engineering campus is being planned for Fishermans Bend. It is expected to open in 2026.

Parkville Campus

The Parkville campus is the university's main campus. It started in a large area north of Grattan Street in Parkville. It has grown to include buildings in nearby Carlton. The university is working on a big plan to improve its campuses. This campus was founded in 1853. It is just north of Melbourne's city center.

The Parkville campus has many cafes, two gyms, five university libraries, a bank, and a bike shop. It is located near eight hospitals and many research institutes. Some of the oldest buildings, like the Old Quad, have a beautiful Gothic revival style. The Old Quad was recently restored.

The Parkville campus has been used for filming movies, like The Death and Life of Otto Bloom. The new Union and Guild Theatres are also located here.

Southbank Campus

The Southbank campus is home to the Victorian College of the Arts and the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music. It is in Melbourne's creative arts area. This campus has special stages for theatre and dance, film studios, art studios, and concert halls.

A big project worth A$200 million was finished in 2019. It included a new music conservatorium and updated historical buildings for teaching. In 2011, the Victorian State Government gave $24 million to support arts education here.

Burnley Campus

The Burnley Campus is about 5 km east of Melbourne's city center. It focuses on ornamental and environmental horticulture. The campus has nine hectares of beautiful, historic gardens. It has been a learning place for horticulture since 1891. Students can take short courses, degrees, and do research here. They can specialize in things like urban landscape management and park management.

Creswick Campus

The Creswick campus is 120 km north-west of Melbourne. It is on 15 hectares of land, with forests nearby. Students and staff can stay here when they are studying. Creswick campus has taught forest science since 1910. It is Australia's only campus dedicated to forest ecosystem science. Scientists here study water, soil, plants, and more.

Dookie Campus

The Dookie campus has been the university's rural home for agriculture since 1886. It is about 220 km north-east of Melbourne. Dookie campus is very large, with 2440 hectares of land. It has student housing, an orchard, a winery, sheep, and a robotic dairy. Agriculture students can study here for a semester.

Shepparton Campus

The Shepparton Medical Centre campus is nearly 200 km north of Melbourne. It is part of the Melbourne Medical School. This campus provides housing for students. The University of Melbourne Shepparton Medical Centre was the first teaching clinic built in Australia. It provides healthcare to Shepparton and nearby areas.

Werribee Campus

The Werribee campus is about 30 km south-west of the city. It is where the Melbourne Veterinary School does research and teaching. The campus recently had a AU$63 million upgrade. This improved facilities for treating pets and training future veterinarians. Victoria's only approved veterinary course is taught here and at the Parkville campus.

Fishermans Bend Campus

A new engineering campus is being designed at Fishermans Bend. Construction is expected to start in 2024 and open in 2026. This 7.2-hectare site will be used by the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology and the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning.

How the University is Run

Leadership and Management

The University of Melbourne is run by a special group called the "Council." This group chooses the vice-chancellor, approves big plans, and makes sure everything runs smoothly. The leader of the Council is called the "chancellor." The "academic board" checks the quality of teaching and research.

The university has rules and policies to guide its operations. The University of Melbourne Executive is the main management team. The university's leaders, including the chancellor and vice-chancellor, set the vision for the university.

Money and Fundraising

The University of Melbourne has about $1.335 billion in its special fund, called an endowment. After some financial difficulties in 2008, the university had to make changes, including reducing staff.

In 2013, the university started a fundraising campaign called Believe. It raised $500 million by 2016. The goal was to raise another $1 billion by 2021.

University Departments

The University of Melbourne has nine main departments, called faculties. These faculties cover all the major areas of study and research.

• Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning
• Faculty of Arts
• Faculty of Business and Economics
• Faculty of Education
• Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
• Faculty of Fine Arts and Music
• Melbourne Law School
• Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences
• Faculty of Science

Academics and Learning

How to Get In

The university has high entry requirements. Most students need a very good score on their Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) to get into bachelor's degrees. For example, in 2019, the guaranteed entry score for Arts was 85, and for Biomedicine, it was 96.

There are special programs like Access Melbourne for students who have faced challenges. This program can offer guaranteed entry with slightly lower ATAR scores. For example, in 2023, the guaranteed ATAR for Arts was 88 for these students. International students make up 44% of the university's student body.

Teaching Style

The University of Melbourne has a unique way of teaching called the "Melbourne Model." It offers nine general three-year degrees instead of many specialized ones. Students then go on to do more specialized postgraduate courses. Many professional degrees are only for graduate students. These are often master's or doctorate degrees.

University Rankings

University rankings
University of Melbourne
QS World	13
THE World	34
ARWU World	32
US News World	27
CWTS Leiden World	29
Australian rankings
QS National	1
THE National	1
ARWU National	1
US News National	1
CWTS Leiden National	1
ERA National	1

The University of Melbourne is highly ranked around the world. In 2025, it was ranked 13th globally by QS World University Rankings. Times Higher Education ranked it 33rd globally in 2021–2022. It is often ranked as the number one university in Australia by many different ranking systems.

The university also ranks highly in specific subjects. For example, in 2020, it was ranked 10th in the world for law and 12th for education. However, in 2021, student satisfaction at the University of Melbourne was lower than the national average.

Research and Innovation

The University of Melbourne spends a lot on research, second only to Australia's national science agency. It is a top research university in Australia, with the most research students.

In 2018, National Taiwan University ranked the University of Melbourne 29th globally for its scientific papers. The Center for World University Rankings (CWUR) ranked it 57th in the world in 2018/19.

The university is connected to over 100 research centers. In 2010, it spent $813 million on research. It also had the most government research scholarships for students.

The university has a special program called the Melbourne Entrepreneurial Centre (MEC). It helps new companies get started. There is also a training center for entrepreneurs called the Wade Institute of Entrepreneurship.

University Libraries

The University of Melbourne's libraries are very popular, with over three million visitors each year. They have more than 3.5 million items, including books, DVDs, and music. They also have over 32,000 e-books and many digital journals.

The university has twelve libraries across its campuses:

• ABP (Architecture, Building and Planning) Library
• Baillieu Library
• Brownless Biomedical Library
• 

  Inside the Brownless Library
  Burnley, Creswick and Dookie Libraries
• ERC (Eastern Resource Centre) Library
• Giblin Eunson Library
• Law Library
• Southbank Library
• Veterinary and Agricultural Science Libraries

Most libraries focus on specific subjects, except for the Baillieu and ERC libraries. There is also a fun recreational library run by the Student Union.

University Museums

Grainger Museum

The Grainger Museum is on the Parkville campus. It is the only museum in Australia built to tell the story of one person's life. It has over 100,000 items, including photos, costumes, and musical instruments. These items were collected by Percy Grainger, a famous composer and pianist.

Harry Brookes Allen Museum of Anatomy and Pathology

This museum, also on the Parkville campus, has one of Australia's largest collections of old anatomical models and real human body parts. It helps medical students learn. It is usually not open to the public.

Henry Forman Atkinson Dental Museum

This museum is at the Melbourne Dental School on the Parkville campus. It is the oldest dental collection in Australia, with over 3500 items.

Ian Potter Museum of Art

The Ian Potter Museum of Art is the university's main art museum, located on the Parkville campus. It started in 1972 and has hosted over 500 exhibitions. The museum has more than 16,000 art pieces, from ancient times to modern art.

Fiona & Sidney Myer Gallery

This gallery is on the Southbank campus. It is a place for students and teachers from the Victorian College of the Arts to show their new artwork. It helps connect artists, academics, students, and the public.

Medical History Museum

The Medical History Museum is inside the Brownless Biomedical Library on the Parkville campus. It offers exhibitions and educational programs about medical history.

Noel Shaw Gallery

The Noel Shaw Gallery is in the Baillieu Library on the Parkville campus. It opened in 2014. Each year, it shows two exhibitions that connect with the university's courses.

Ed Muirhead Physics Museum

This museum is in the School of Physics building on the Parkville campus. It is named after Ed Muirhead, a former physics chairman. The museum has old scientific tools, many made by past professors for research.

Dax Centre

The Dax Centre is on the Parkville campus. It is named after Eric Cunningham Dax, who used art to help people with mental health. The center has exhibitions and programs to promote mental health.

Tiegs Museum

The Tiegs Museum is in the BioSciences building on the Parkville campus. It has a collection of animal specimens gathered over 120 years. It is named after a former professor, Oscar Tiegs. The collection includes everything from small insects to large animal skeletons.

Buxton Contemporary

Buxton Contemporary is an art museum on the Southbank campus. It opened in 2018 and has four public art galleries. It was a gift to the university from art collector Michael Buxton.

Science Gallery

Science Gallery Melbourne opened in 2021 on the Parkville campus. This large gallery combines art and science in its exhibitions. It is part of a global network of Science Galleries.

Herbarium

The University of Melbourne Herbarium is a special collection of plants used for teaching and research. It is part of the School of Biosciences.

Student Life

Student Homes (Residential Colleges)

Melbourne University has 10 student residential colleges. Seven of them are located around the cricket oval on the northern edge of the campus. The other three are in nearby areas.

University of Melbourne residential colleges

Trinity College 1872–present	Ormond College 1881–present	Janet Clarke Hall 1886–present	Queen's College 1887–present	St Mary's College 1918–present
Newman College 1918–present	University College 1937–present	Medley Hall 1954–present	International House 1957–present	St Hilda's College 1964–present

Most of these colleges also welcome students from other universities like RMIT University and Monash University, Parkville campus. Graduate House is a college for graduate students.

Student Groups and Clubs

There are two main student organizations: the University of Melbourne Student Union (UMSU) and the Graduate Student Association (GSA). UMSU was started in 1884 to help students and create a community. The GSA supports all graduate students with events and training.

The university has over 200 clubs for students. These clubs cover many interests, like culture, politics, languages, and sports. Over 25,000 students are members of UMSU clubs. The GSA has over 100 groups with more than 36,000 student members. UMSU also publishes a student magazine called Farrago.

University Sports

Melbourne University Sport (MU Sport) manages all sports and fitness activities at the university. It also helps elite athletes. Students, staff, and alumni can join the fitness center.

MU Sport offers many sports clubs, including:

• Aikido, athletics, badminton, baseball, basketball, cheerleading, cricket, cycling, dancesport, dragon boat, fencing, football (men's and women's), futsal, gridiron, hockey, inline, karate, kendo, lacrosse, mountaineering, netball, quidditch, rowing, rugby union, skiing, snowboarding, soccer, softball, squash, surf riding, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tai chi, tennis, touch football, underwater (SCUBA), ultimate frisbee, volleyball, water polo, waterski and wakeboard, and weightlifting.

The Melbourne University Football Club started in 1859. It is one of the oldest Australian rules football clubs in the world. The Melbourne University Lacrosse Club (MULC) started in 1883 and is the oldest continuously running lacrosse club in the world. The Melbourne University Cycling Club (MUCyc) has won many championships. The Melbourne University Boat Club is the oldest rowing club in Australia.

The university has great sports facilities. These include a gym, fitness programs, group classes, a swimming pool, squash courts, and more.

University Leaders

Chancellors

The chancellor is the ceremonial head of the university. Here are some of the chancellors:

• The Hon. Sir Redmond Barry: 1853–1880
• Jane Hansen: 2023–Present

Vice-Chancellors

The vice-chancellor leads the university's daily operations. Here are some of the vice-chancellors:

• Hugh Childers: 1853–1857
• Sir John Monash: 1923–1931
• Glyn Davis: 2005–2018
• Duncan Maskell: 2018–present

Nobel Prize Winners

Many Nobel Prize winners have been part of the University of Melbourne. They have taught, studied, or done research here.

• Elizabeth Blackburn, Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (2009)
• Sir John Eccles, Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1963)
• Sir Frank Macfarlane Burnet, Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1960)
• Joshua Lederberg, Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1958)
• Howard Florey, Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1945)
• Sir James Mirrlees, Nobel Prize in Economic Science (1996)
• Bert Sakmann, Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1991)

Famous Alumni

The University of Melbourne has many famous graduates. They include governors-general, prime ministers, judges, and Nobel Prize winners. They are also leaders in business, science, and the arts. Frances Dorothy Gray was Australia's first female dental science graduate in 1907.

• Notable University of Melbourne alumni include:
• 

  Julian Assange, activist

• 

  Elizabeth Blackburn, biologist

• 

  Cate Blanchett, actress

• 

  Frank Macfarlane Burnet, virologist

• 

  Portia de Rossi, actress

• 

  Alfred Deakin, Prime Minister of Australia

• 

  Elizabeth Debicki, actress

• 

  John Eccles, neurophysiologist

• 

  Helen Garner, writer

• 

  Julia Gillard, Prime Minister of Australia

• 

  Germaine Greer, public intellectual

• 

  Harold Holt, Prime Minister of Australia

• 

  Randeep Hooda, actor

• 

  Barry Humphries, comedian

• 

  Robert Menzies, Prime Minister of Australia

• 

  John Monash, military commander

• 

  Peter Singer, philosopher

• 

  David Warren, inventor

• 

  Feliks Zemdegs, speedcuber

• 

  Chin Hoong Fong, seed scientist

Awards and Recognition

• The University of Melbourne Award honors people who have made a great and lasting contribution to the university. Their names are put on bronze plaques along Professors Walk on the Parkville campus.
• The Patricia Grimshaw Awards for Mentor Excellence are given each year to staff who are great mentors. This award started in 2008 to honor historian Patricia Grimshaw.
• The Dublin Prize started in 1910. It recognizes students or past students who made important new contributions to literature, science, or art.

Gallery

See also

In Spanish: Universidad de Melbourne para niños

• Centre of Excellence for Biosecurity Risk Analysis (CEBRA) – within the School of Biosciences
• George Paton Gallery
• List of universities in Australia
• NICTA – national information and communication technology research centre, co-supported by Melbourne University
• Redmond Barry Distinguished Professor, which recognises outstanding professors
• University of Melbourne Academic Dress
• University of Melbourne Student Union
• Victorian School of Forestry