University of Melbourne vs University of Queensland – Which is Best?
If you need to choose between the University of Melbourne vs University of Queensland, which is the best for you? It’s not just about location. It’s about what you want to study and how much you’re willing to pay for the experience.
This article compares two of Australia’s top higher-education institutions: the University of Melbourne and the University of Queensland, looking at the benefits, drawbacks, and cost implications of each option.
The University of Melbourne is a public research institution in Melbourne, Australia. Established in 1853, it is the oldest university in Victoria and the second oldest in Australia.
The University of Melbourne is one of Australia’s six sandstone universities and a member of the Group of Eight, Universitas 21, Washington University’s McDonnell International Scholars Academy, Association of Pacific Rim Universities, and the Association for Australian Institutions in Education.
The University of Melbourne, located in the nation’s “cultural capital,” has 8,000 academic and professional personnel who support a thriving student body of about 65,000 students, including 30,000 international students from over 130 countries worldwide. Four Australian prime ministers and five governors-general have been educated at the University of Melbourne.
About the University of Queensland
The University of Queensland. Credit: canva
UQ is a public research university in Brisbane, the state’s capital. The University of Queensland founded in 1909 by the Queensland parliament as one of the six sandstone universities, was given the title of the oldest institution in each state.
UQ was ranked second in Australia and second worldwide by the Australian Research Council in the most recent research evaluation and equal second in the country based on the average of four major global university league tables.
The University of Queensland is a founding member of edX, Australia’s largest Group of Eight institutions and one of the world’s most prestigious research-intensive Association of Pacific Rim Universities.
The University of Queensland has three magnificent campuses in South-East Queensland, where more than 53,600 students attend classes. International students make up about 18,000 of the approximately 54,000 university students at UQ’s three colorful schools.
The University of Melbourne vs The University of Queensland
Melbourne vs Queensland: The City and Cost of Living
Melbourne is a seven times winner of The Economist’s World’s Most Livable City award and is a UNESCO City of Literature, as well as the birthplace of Australian rules football and a major center for street art, music, and theatre.
Brisbane, the Queensland capital and “Sunshine State,” is a dynamic, cosmopolitan, safe, and pleasant metropolis that is frequently referred to as Australia’s most livable city.
According to its study, Expedia named Brisbane Australia’s friendliest city. That’s correct; citizens of Brisbane are reputedly the warmest and most amiable of all Australians.
The cost of living in Melbourne is considerably higher than in Brisbane. The higher cost is especially in the area of accommodation and lifestyle.
With the assumption of students with cheap to a moderate living style and shared house accommodation, the estimation of cost of living for both cities is as below.
Melbourne: from $AUD 634/week
Accommodation: from 225/week
Transport: from $AUD 38/week
Food: from $AUD 159/week
Personal: from $AUD 37/week
Clothing: from $AUD 140/week
Entertainment: from $AUD 35/week
Brisbane: from $AUD 611/week
Accommodation: from 198/week
Transport: from $AUD 38/week
Food: from $AUD 159/week
Personal: from $AUD 40/week
Clothing: from $AUD 140/week
Entertainment: from $AUD 36/week
Source: cost of living calculator
University Rankings
The University of Melbourne
#2 in Australia (QS World University Ranking / QS WUR 2022)
#37 in the world (QS World University Ranking / QS WUR 2022)
#1 in Australia (Times Higher Education / THE 2022)
#33 in the world (Times Higher Education / THE 2022)
#2 in Australia (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2020)
#7 in the world (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2020)
The University of Queensland
#5 in Australia (QS World University Ranking / QS WUR 2022)
#47 in the world (QS World University Ranking / QS WUR 2022)
#3 in Australia (Times Higher Education / THE 2022)
#54 in the world (Times Higher Education / THE 2022)
#4 in Australia (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2020)
#57 in the world (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2020)
Rankings by Subjects
The rankings are based on QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021 (Australia).
The University of Melbourne
Art & Humanities: #1
Life Science & Medicine: #2
Engineering & Technology: #2
Natural Sciences: #2
Social Sciences & Management: #1
Computer Science & Information System: #1
Art & Design: #6
Accounting & Finance: #1
Business & Management Studies: #1
Law & Legal Studies: #1
The University of Queensland
Art & Humanities: #6
Life Science & Medicine: #4
Engineering & Technology: #6
Natural Sciences: #7
Social Sciences & Management: #6
Computer Science & Information System: #5
Art & Design: #10
Accounting & Finance: #6
Business & Management Studies: #5
Law & Legal Studies: #6
Campus and Locations
The University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne’s main campus is in Parkville, an inner suburb north of Melbourne’s downtown business district, with several other locations throughout Victoria.
The institution has three additional campuses in Melbourne’s metropolitan region, all located at Burnley, Southbank, and Werribee.
The University of Queensland
The main St Lucia campus occupies much of the riverside suburb southwest of Brisbane’s central business district. Other UQ campuses and facilities are located throughout Queensland, with the largest being at Gatton and Mayne Medical School
The University of Queensland (UQ) has several overseas establishments, including the UQ North America office in Washington D.C. and the UQ-Ochsner Clinical School in Louisiana, United States.
Faculties/Schools and Programs
The University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is divided into 10 faculties, encompassing all major research and teaching departments.
Undergraduate Programs
Engineering & Technology
Bachelor Of Science (Extended) Major In Spatial Systems
Bachelor Of Science (Extended) Major In Mechanical Systems
Bachelor Of Science Major In Computing And Software Systems
Bachelor Of Science Major In Electrical Systems
Bachelor Of Science Major In Civil Systems
Bachelor Of Science Major In Informatics
Bachelor Of Science Major In Mechatronics Systems
Bachelor Of Science (Extended) Major In Computing And Software Systems
Bachelor Of Science Major In Data Science
Bachelor Of Science (Extended) Major In Civil Systems
Bachelor Of Science (Extended) Major In Data Science
Bachelor Of Science Major In Mechanical Systems
Bachelor Of Science Major In Spatial Systems
Bachelor Of Science (Extended) Major In Electrical Systems
Natural Sciences
Bachelor Of Science (Extended) Major In Mathematics And Statistics
Bachelor Of Science (Extended) Major In Mathematical Physics
Bachelor Of Science (Extended) Major In Geology
Bachelor Of Science (Extended) Major In Marine Biology
Bachelor Of Science (Extended) Major In Physics
Bachelor Of Commerce Major In Actuarial Studies
Bachelor Of Science Major In Physics
Bachelor Of Science Major In Climate And Weather
Bachelor Of Science Major In Environmental Engineering Systems
Bachelor Of Science Major In Marine Biology
Bachelor Of Science Major In Environmental Science
Bachelor Of Science Major In Geology
Bachelor Of Science Major In Mathematical Physics
Bachelor Of Science Major In Chemical Systems
Bachelor Of Science (Extended) Major In Environmental Science
Bachelor Of Science Major In Mathematics And Statistics
Bachelor Of Science Major In Chemistry
Bachelor Of Science (Extended) Major In Chemical Systems
Bachelor Of Science (Extended) Major In Climate And Weather
Bachelor Of Science (Extended) Major In Chemistry
Bachelor Of Science (Extended) Major In Environmental Engineering Systems
Life Sciences & Medicine
Bachelor Of Biomedicine Major In Psychology
Bachelor Of Arts Major In Anthropology
Bachelor Of Biomedicine Major In Infection And Immunity
Bachelor Of Biomedicine Major In Human Nutrition
Bachelor Of Science (Extended) Major In Psychology
Bachelor Of Arts (Extended) Major In Psychology
Bachelor Of Science (Extended) Major In Pharmacology
Bachelor Of Science (Extended) Major In Plant Science
Bachelor Of Science (Extended) Major In Pathology
Bachelor Of Biomedicine Major In Neuroscience
Bachelor Of Biomedicine Major In Cell And Developmental Biology
Bachelor Of Science (Extended) Major In Neuroscience
Bachelor Of Science (Extended) Major In Zoology
Bachelor Of Biomedicine Major In Microbiology
Bachelor Of Science (Extended) Major In Immunology
Bachelor Of Biomedicine Major In Biotechnology
Bachelor Of Science (Extended) Major In Genetics
Bachelor Of Science (Extended) Major In Physiology
Bachelor Of Science (Extended) Major In Microbiology And Immunology
Bachelor Of Biomedicine Major In Immunology
Bachelor Of Biomedicine Major In Pharmacology
Bachelor Of Biomedicine Major In Bioengineering Systems
Bachelor Of Biomedicine Major In Human Structure And Function
Bachelor Of Science (Extended) Major In Human Structure And Function
Bachelor Of Biomedicine Major In Pathology
Bachelor Of Agriculture Major In Production Animal Science
Bachelor Of Biomedicine Major In Biochemistry And Molecular Biology
Bachelor Of Biomedicine Major In Genetics
Bachelor Of Arts (Extended) Major In Anthropology
Bachelor Of Agriculture Major In Plant And Soil Science
Bachelor Of Biomedicine
Bachelor Of Biomedicine Major In Physiology
Bachelor Of Arts Major In Psychology
Bachelor Of Science Major In Agricultural Science
Bachelor Of Agriculture
Bachelor Of Science Major In Biotechnology
Bachelor Of Science Major In Genetics
Bachelor Of Science Major In Animal Health And Disease
Bachelor Of Agriculture Major In Agricultural Economics
Bachelor Of Science Major In Cell And Developmental Biology
Bachelor Of Science Major In Animal Science And Management
Bachelor Of Science Major In Microbiology And Immunology
Bachelor Of Science Major In Zoology
Bachelor Of Science
Bachelor Of Science Major In Physiology
Bachelor Of Science (Extended)
Bachelor Of Science (Extended) Major In Bioengineering Systems
Bachelor Of Science Major In Computational Biology
Bachelor Of Science Major In Biochemistry And Molecular Biology
Bachelor Of Science Major In Neuroscience
Bachelor Of Science (Extended) Major In Agricultural Science
Bachelor Of Science Major In Plant Science
Bachelor Of Science (Extended) Major In Biotechnology
Bachelor Of Science Major In Food Science
Bachelor Of Science Major In Human Structure And Function
Bachelor Of Science Major In Pathology
Bachelor Of Science Major In Bioengineering Systems
Bachelor Of Science (Extended) Major In Animal Health And Disease
Bachelor Of Science Major In Psychology
Bachelor Of Science (Extended) Major In Cell And Developmental Biology
Bachelor Of Science Major In Ecology And Evolutionary Biology
Bachelor Of Science (Extended) Major In Food Science
Bachelor Of Science Major In Forest Science
Bachelor Of Science Major In Immunology
Bachelor Of Science Major In Pharmacology
Bachelor Of Science (Extended) Major In Ecology And Evolutionary Biology
Bachelor Of Oral Health
Bachelor Of Science (Extended) Major In Animal Science And Management
Bachelor Of Science (Extended) Major In Biochemistry And Molecular Biology
Bachelor Of Science (Extended) Major In Computational Biology
Master Of Sports Coaching (Part-Time 2 Years; Recommended)
Master Of Sports Coaching (Full-Time 1 Year; Upon Approval)
Master Of Mental Health Nursing
Master Of Counselling
Graduate Certificate In Sports Coaching
Doctor Of Clinical Dentistry
Graduate Certificate In Sports Medicine
Master Of Speech Pathology Studies
Master Of Social Work Studies (1.5 Years)
Master Of Physiotherapy
Graduate Certificate In Pharmacy Practice
Master Of Occupational Therapy Studies
Graduate Certificate In Nursing (1 Year)
Master Of Social Work Studies (2 Years)
Master Of Psychology
Doctor Of Psychology
Graduate Certificate In Pharmaceutical Industry Practice
Master Of Organisational Psychology
Graduate Certificate In Nursing (6 Months)
Master Of Clinical Psychology
Master Of Clinical Pharmacy
Graduate Certificate In Clinical Pharmacy
Master Of Audiology Studies
Master Of Business Psychology (2 Years)
Master Of Business Psychology (1.5 Years)
Master Of Environmental Health Sciences
Master Of Physiotherapy Studies
Master Of Advanced Nursing
Master Of Dietetics Studies
Business, Economics, & Law
Master Of International Economics And Finance
Masters Of International Economics And Finance/Commerce
Master Of Health Economics
Master Of Economics And Public Policy
Master Of Tourism, Hotel And Event Management
Graduate Certificate In Tourism, Hotel And Event Management
Graduate Diploma In Economics
Master Of Development Economics
Graduate Certificate In Economics
Graduate Certificate In Economic Studies
Master Of Applied Econometrics
Master Of Leadership In Service Innovation
Masters Of International Commercial Law/Commerce
Graduate Certificate In Commerce
Graduate Certificate In Entrepreneurship And Innovation
Master Of Global Management
Master Of Commerce
Graduate Diploma In Business Research Methods
Graduate Diploma In Business Administration
Graduate Certificate In Business Administration
Master Of Business
Master Of Entrepreneurship And Innovation
Master Of Advanced Economics (1 Year)
Master Of Advanced Economics (1.5 Years)
Master Of International Commercial Law
Master Of Laws (1.5 Years)
Master Of International Law
Master Of Laws (1 Year)
Graduate Certificate In Business
Engineering, Architecture, & Information Technology
Master Of Engineering Science (Management)
Master Of Engineering Science (1.5 Years)
Master Of Engineering Science (1 Year)
Master Of Urban Development And Design
Master Of Sustainable Energy (Management)
Graduate Certificate In Engineering Science
Master Of Engineering (3 Years)
Master Of Engineering (2 Years)
Master Of Sustainable Energy
Graduate Certificate In Sustainable Energy
Graduate Diploma In Sustainable Energy
Master Of Interaction Design
Graduate Certificate In Information Technology
Graduate Diploma In Interaction Design
Master Of Data Science (2 Years)
Master Of Cyber Security (1.5 Years)
Master Of Data Science (1.5 Years)
Master Of Cyber Security (2 Years)
Graduate Certificate In Interaction Design
Graduate Diploma In Cyber Security
Master Of Information Technology
Graduate Diploma In Information Technology
Graduate Certificate In Cyber Security
Master Of Computer Science (Management)
Master Of Computer Science (1.5 Years)
Master Of Computer Science (1 Year)
Graduate Diploma In Computer Science
Graduate Certificate In Computer Science
Humanities & Social Sciences
Master Of Development Practice (1.5 Years)
Master Of Development Practice (2 Years)
Graduate Certificate In Development Practice
Master Of Museum Studies
Master Of Arts In Japanese Interpreting And Translation
Graduate Diploma In Arts In Japanese Interpreting And Translation
Masters Of Development Economics/Economics And Public Policy
Masters Of International Relations/Peace And Conflict Studies
Master Of Educational Studies (2 Years)
Master Of Educational Studies (1.5 Years)
Master Of Teaching (Secondary)
Master Of Educational Studies (1 Year)
Master Of Teaching (Primary)
Graduate Certificate In Educational Studies
Master Of Arts In Chinese Translation And Interpreting
Graduate Certificate In Arts In Chinese Translation And Interpreting
Master Of Applied Linguistics (2 Years)
Master Of Applied Linguistics (1.5 Years)
Master Of Applied Linguistics (1 Year)
Graduate Certificate In Applied Linguistics
Graduate Certificate In Governance And Public Policy
Master Of Peace And Conflict Studies (1.5 Years)
Master Of Communication (1.5 Years)
Master Of Peace And Conflict Studies (1 Year)
Master Of Communication (2 Years)
Graduate Certificate In Communication
Master Of Peace And Conflict Studies (2 Years)
Graduate Certificate In Peace And Conflict Studies
Graduate Certificate In Mediation And Conflict Resolution
Masters Of International Relations/International Law
Master Of International Relations (1.5 Years)
Master Of International Relations (1 Year)
Master Of International Relations (2 Years)
Master Of Music (1 Year)
Master Of Writing, Editing, And Publishing (1.5 Years)
Graduate Certificate In International Relations
Graduate Certificate In Writing, Editing, And Publishing
Master Of Governance And Public Policy (1.5 Years)
Master Of Governance And Public Policy (1 Year)
Master Of Writing, Editing, And Publishing (1 Year)
Master Of Music (1.5 Years)
Graduate Certificate In Music
Graduate Diploma In Governance And Public Policy
Master Of Governance And Public Policy (2 Years)
Medicine
Master Of Biostatistics (3 Years)
Master Of Biostatistics (2 Years)
Graduate Diploma In Biostatistics
Graduate Certificate In Epidemiology
Master Of Public Health
Graduate Diploma In Public Health
Master Of Sports Medicine
Graduate Certificate In Biostatistics
Doctor Of Medicine
Graduate Certificate In Public Health
Graduate Certificate In Alcohol, Tobacco, And Other Drug Studies
Graduate Diploma In Environmental Health Sciences
Graduate Certificate In Environmental Health Sciences
Master Of Medicine
Graduate Certificate In Medicine
Master Of Mental Health
Master Of Epidemiology
Graduate Diploma In Epidemiology
Queensland vs Melbourne:: Cost (Tuition Fee)
Estimation tuition fees for both universities are:
University of Melbourne: from $AUD 30,000 to 65,000 per year
University of Queensland: from $AUD 25,000 to 46,000 per year
Acceptance Rate And Admission
The University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne’s admissions criteria is moderately competitive, with a roughly 70% to 80% acceptance rate. Each program has unique entry requirements, and applicants’ competitiveness level varies.
Acceptance is based on academic excellence. An undergraduate degree of three years or more is required, with a minimum credit average (GPA equivalent to 65% at the University of Melbourne). It must be from the University of Melbourne, another Australian institution, or a university in another country.
The University of Queensland
Although the admissions are reasonably competitive, with an estimated acceptance rate of 40%, obtaining admission can be difficult because the institution receives many applications each year.
For admission, you need to:
Complete a qualification accepted by UQ – Queensland Year 12 or an equivalent qualification.
Achieve the minimum entry score.
Satisfy any subject prerequisites.
Meet the English language requirements.
Complete any program-specific application requirements.
The University of Queensland vs University of Melbourne: Which One is For You?
The University of Melbourne is for you
The University of Melbourne is for you if you are looking for:
Living in a big metropolitan city
Study in one of the oldest and most beautiful universities in Australia
Closer to Melbourne city center
Higher university rankings
Higher rankings in most subjects
The University of Queensland is for you
The University of Queensland is for you if you are looking for:
Living in a more relaxed and friendly city
Lower cost of living
An average lower tuition fee
Research area
Study in Medicine, since UQ is known for its Medicine School
FAQs
Is the university of Queensland prestigious?
UQ is known for its research, so if you are looking to graduate with a high-quality degree that will help in your future career then UQ is certainly the place to do it.
Is Melbourne university the best in Australia?
The University of Melbourne is the oldest university in Australia and has been ranked as one of the best universities in Australia.
Which is the best university in Australia?
The University of Melbourne, the Australian National University (ANU), the Univesity of Sydney, and the University of Queensland are both prestigious. Each has its strengths, so it is up to you which one will meet your personal goals better!
Is studying in Australia expensive?
Living costs may vary between different areas within Australia – some can be more expensive, but most cities offer a very comfortable standard of living compared to other world cities. Living costs will depend on your lifestyle and spending habits, but it is possible to live comfortably within the AU$40-50/day budget we suggest.
