TL;DR – Annual tuition at the University of Melbourne (Đại học Melbourne) for Vietnamese students in 2026 starts at about AUD 40,000 for an arts degree and reaches AUD 55,000+ for commerce or engineering. High-achieving students can lock in scholarships worth up to 100% of tuition. After graduating, Vietnam-born students can stay and work in Australia for 2–4 years on the 485 visa, with extra advantages if their degree falls into a national shortage area. Melbourne is consistently ranked inside the global top 15 and sits in the Group of Eight—Australia’s most research-intensive universities—giving Vietnamese graduates a qualification that opens doors both in Australia and across Asia.
Core Answers in Data (2026 Snapshot)
| Question | Answer (2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate tuition range | AUD 40,000 – 55,000 per year | Arts ≈ AUD 40k, Commerce ≈ AUD 52k, Engineering ≈ AUD 50k; Medicine/Dentistry AUD 80k+ |
| Postgraduate coursework range | AUD 45,000 – 60,000 per year | Master of Management ≈ AUD 54k, Master of IT ≈ AUD 50k |
| Full scholarship availability | Yes – 1,000+ international scholarships per year | Melbourne International UG Scholarship, Graduate Research Scholarships |
| Post-study work visa | 2 years (Bachelor), 3 years (Masters), 4 years (PhD) | Plus 2 extra years for shortage occupations in 2026 |
| Graduate employment rate (broad) | ~90% of Melbourne graduates employed within 3 years | QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2025: Melbourne #8 globally |
| Vietnamese student presence | One of the top 10 nationalities on campus | Supported by active Vietnamese student clubs and Melbourne’s Vietnamese community |
University of Melbourne at a Glance: Rankings and Reputation
Melbourne consistently ranks among the world’s top universities. In the QS World University Rankings 2025, it placed 13th globally, and in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025 it held 37th place. As a member of Australia’s prestigious Group of Eight (Go8), it attracts more research funding than any other Australian university and produces graduates with strong employer recognition—QS ranks Melbourne 8th in the world for graduate employability.
For Vietnamese students, this prestige translates directly into career advantage. Employers in Vietnam, Singapore, and Australia understand the weight of a Melbourne degree, particularly in fields like accounting, IT, engineering, and education. A 2026 survey by the Australian Government’s QILT found that international graduates from Go8 universities had a full-time employment rate 12 percentage points higher than the overall average.
Tuition Fees 2026: A Detailed Breakdown
Universities in Australia typically increase fees by 3–5% annually. The figures below are projections for the 2026 academic year, built from the University of Melbourne’s 2025 published fees plus indexation.
Undergraduate Programs (Annual, AUD)
- Bachelor of Arts: ≈ AUD 40,500
- Bachelor of Commerce: ≈ AUD 52,000
- Bachelor of Science: ≈ AUD 49,500
- Bachelor of Biomedicine: ≈ AUD 53,500
- Bachelor of Engineering (Honours): ≈ AUD 50,500
- Doctor of Medicine (graduate-entry): ≈ AUD 80,000+
Postgraduate Coursework (Annual, AUD)
- Master of Management (Accounting): ≈ AUD 54,000
- Master of Information Technology: ≈ AUD 50,500
- Master of Engineering: ≈ AUD 52,000
- Master of Public Health: ≈ AUD 48,000
- Master of Education: ≈ AUD 44,000
These prices do not include the Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), which costs approximately AUD 600–800 per year, or living expenses. The Australian Department of Home Affairs estimates a student in Melbourne needs about AUD 24,505 in 2026 for living costs per year. For a Vietnamese family, this means the total cost of a three-year bachelor of commerce—including living expenses and travel—can exceed AUD 230,000, making scholarships an essential part of the equation.
Scholarships for Vietnamese Students in 2026
The University of Melbourne offers more than 1,200 scholarships for international students each year, and Vietnamese applicants have a strong track record of winning them. The most important programs are:
- Melbourne International Undergraduate Scholarship: Automatic consideration for high-achieving international students. Awards range from a one-off AUD 10,000 to 100% tuition fee remission for the duration of the degree. In 2025, about 50 students received the full 100% fee waiver.
- Graduate Research Scholarships (Master’s by Research / PhD): Covers 100% of tuition fees and provides a living allowance of AUD 37,000+ per year (2026 stipend rate). Vietnamese researchers in STEM regularly secure these awards.
- Melbourne Graduate Scholarships (coursework): 25% tuition remission for high-performing students entering select master’s programs. Often granted to students with a distinction average (GPA 3.5+/4.0).
- Australia Awards Scholarships: Fully funded scholarships for students from developing countries, including Vietnam. Covers full tuition, living expenses, and travel. Applications for the 2027 intake typically open in early 2026.
Most undergraduate scholarships are merit-based and require an outstanding academic record (e.g., final-year high school GPA above 9.0/10 or an International Baccalaureate score of 40+). Vietnamese students who sit for the national high school graduation exam (Kỳ thi tốt nghiệp THPT) and score in the top 1% have been successful in the past. Early preparation is crucial—many scholarships have application deadlines 8–10 months before the course start date.
Post-Graduation Work Opportunities in Australia (2026 Policy)
Australia’s post-study work rights make a Melbourne degree far more valuable than just a certificate. In 2026, the key tool for Vietnamese graduates is the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485). The duration depends on your qualification:
- Bachelor degree: 2 years
- Master by coursework: 3 years
- Master by research: 3 years
- Doctoral degree: 4 years
Moreover, the Australian Government continues the extra 2-year extension for graduates in verified skills-shortage areas. As of 2026, shortage occupations include software engineers, civil engineers, electrical engineers, accountants, registered nurses, secondary teachers, and data scientists. A Vietnamese student who completes a Master of IT at Melbourne and is under 35 can therefore secure a total of 5 years of post-study work rights (3 years base + 2 years extension).
Melbourne graduates also benefit from the university’s strong industry network. Over 70% of coursework programs include internships, industry projects, or clinical placements. The Melbourne Employability Accelerator and the university’s dedicated careers portal list more than 20,000 job ads per year, many suitable for international students. Vietnamese alumni working in Australia frequently cite these programs as their entry point into competitive graduate roles at firms like Deloitte, EY, and REA Group.
How Vietnamese Students Can Improve Employability While Studying
- Pick a future-focused specialization: Degrees in AI, cybersecurity, renewable energy, and health informatics are on the 2026 Skills Priority List. Melbourne’s Melbourne Connect precinct puts students directly next to tech startups and research labs.
- Join the Vietnamese Student Association (UMSU): This club connects hundreds of Vietnamese students and hosts career panels with successful alumni in Australia and Vietnam.
- Use the 48-hour work right strategically: From 1 July 2026, international students can work up to 48 hours per fortnight during term. Seek part-time roles in your field rather than low-skilled casual work—Melbourne’s CareerHub helps find these jobs.
- Get a Professional Year Program: For accounting, IT, and engineering graduates, the Professional Year Program provides a structured internship and five additional points toward skilled migration.
These steps reduce the gap between graduation and a full-time job offer, which for Vietnamese students averages about 4–6 months if they engage early with career services.
Q: Is the University of Melbourne worth the cost for a Vietnamese student?
For many Vietnamese families, a Melbourne degree is an investment that pays off within 2–5 years of full-time work in Australia. Starting salaries for Melbourne graduates in engineering and IT average AUD 70,000–85,000 in 2026, while business graduates can expect AUD 65,000–75,000. Combined with the post-study work visa, this creates a clear window to repay education costs and build a career. Even those returning to Vietnam find that local employers in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi value a Melbourne qualification, often offering salaries 30–50% above the VN market average for local-only graduates.
Q: What if I don’t get a scholarship? Are there other ways to reduce costs?
Yes. The University of Melbourne allows semester-based payment plans, and some Vietnamese students work the maximum allowed hours and manage to cover 30–40% of their living expenses. Some families also take advantage of education loans offered by Vietnamese banks with partnership agreements with Australian institutions. Additionally, Melbourne has a generous Advanced Standing (credit) policy—if you have completed a relevant bachelor’s degree, you can shorten a master’s program by up to a year, saving substantial fees.
Q: Can I bring my family with me as a Vietnamese student at Melbourne?
Most Vietnamese students on a student visa can bring immediate family members (spouse and children) as dependents. The partner can work up to 48 hours per fortnight in 2026. If the student is enrolled in a master’s or doctoral degree, the partner may be eligible for full working rights. This makes family relocation financially easier for mature-age students.
References
- University of Melbourne – Tuition fees for international students. https://study.unimelb.edu.au/fees (official university source, updated for 2025 and used to project 2026 costs)
- Department of Home Affairs – Post-study work stream (subclass 485). https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/temporary-graduate-485 (authoritative 2026 visa rules and extensions)
- QS Top Universities – Graduate Employability Rankings 2025. https://www.topuniversities.com/employability-rankings (global ranking confirming Melbourne’s top-10 employer reputation)
- Australian Government Skills Priority List. https://www.nationalskillscommission.gov.au/insights/2025-skills-priority-list (identifies shortage occupations that unlock extra post-study work years in 2026)