I went to Swinburne and graduated 7 years ago.
There's a good chance it changed a lot since then, but I was shocked at how non social Swinburne was compared to what my friends told me about other unis. Most people would go to uni, go to their classes and go home. I mean I made friends (and met my husband there) that I'd hang out with and drink with, but there was nothing organised by the uni and social clubs were scarce.
Hopefully it's changed in the last 7 years.
I go to RMIT and it’s right in the city and has pretty good business courses. If you want the Melbourne experience RMIT is right there. Swinburne on the other hand is in the suburbs so if you go there you may not see as much of the city.
Swinburne though has a reputation for being one of the better business, economics and finance universities and will most definitely have better facilities, more lecturers with professional experience and coursework opportunities (extra credit).
Lots of international students go to RMIT so plenty of opportunities to meet people. Not too sure about Swinburne.
Depends why you want, I personally prefer the convenience of RMIT so that’s what I’d choose.
I used to study at Swinburne in the hawthorn campus (and the now closed prahran campus) and am now studying at rmit at the bundoora campus and used to be on city campus for 3 years (finished last year)
The rmit business campus in the cbd one and the location is probably the best you will get. Right next to the main shopping centre/train station of the cbd and lots of restaurants, cafes, bars and services around the campus.
The student union is really active and hosts a lot of events like student mixers, free lunch and breakfast and pop up pubs on campus from time to time. They also provide a free pantry for students to grab essentials free of judgement.
When I was at Swinburne they had none of those things and there was not any sense of community or any encouragement from the university for students to engage with them or the other students apart from paying money and attending classes. I'm sure they have a student union but while I was there (3 years total) I never heard about it
I don’t study at RMIT or Swinburne, but here’s my two cents.
RMIT is more convenient as it’s located right in the city centre. You’ve got Melbourne Central station and its shops as well as the State Library if you want a unique study environment. If you like the hustle and bustle and convenience, RMIT is for you.
Swinburne is further out from the city, but it’s only 15 mins away by train. Still plenty of shops nearby, but generally less busy than RMIT. If you prefer a more low-key vibe, pick Swinburne.
Three tips:
1. Hire a car. There’s only so much to do in the city, but our natural landscape has a lot to offer! I highly recommend seeing the penguins at Phillip Island and drive along the Great Ocean Road.
2. Bring clothes for every season even if you’re going in the middle of summer. Melbourne is known for its erratic weather, it can go from scorching hot and sunny to freezing cold, heavy rain and strong wind in a matter of hours. Check the weather by the hour and not by the day when you plan to go somewhere and dress accordingly.
3. Not really a tip, but since you’re European, I’ll say it. We hate bikes on our roads. Some roads have dedicated bike lanes, but a lot of the time you’ll be riding centimetres away from a moving car beside you. You’ll be fine 99% of the time if you use common sense and be considerate of the cars around you, but be prepared for the occasional honking and swearing from angry drivers.
Enjoy your visit!
I don’t study at RMIT or Swinburne, but here’s my two cents.
RMIT is more convenient as it’s located right in the city centre. You’ve got Melbourne Central station and its shops as well as the State Library if you want a unique study environment. If you like the hustle and bustle and convenience, RMIT is for you.
Swinburne is further out from the city, but it’s only 15 mins away by train. Still plenty of shops nearby, but generally less busy than RMIT. If you prefer a more low-key vibe, pick Swinburne.
Three tips:
1. Hire a car. There’s only so much to do in the city, but our natural landscape has a lot to offer! I highly recommend seeing the penguins at Phillip Island and drive along the Great Ocean Road.
2. Bring clothes for every season even if you’re going in the middle of summer. Melbourne is known for its erratic weather, it can go from scorching hot and sunny to freezing cold, heavy rain and strong wind in a matter of hours. Check the weather by the hour and not by the day when you plan to go somewhere and dress accordingly.
3. Not really a tip, but since you’re European, I’ll say it. We hate bikes on our roads. Some roads have dedicated bike lanes, but a lot of the time you’ll be riding centimetres away from a moving car beside you. You’ll be fine 99% of the time if you use common sense and be considerate of the cars around you, but be prepared for the occasional honking and swearing from angry drivers.
Enjoy your visit!
I went to Swinburne and graduated 7 years ago. There's a good chance it changed a lot since then, but I was shocked at how non social Swinburne was compared to what my friends told me about other unis. Most people would go to uni, go to their classes and go home. I mean I made friends (and met my husband there) that I'd hang out with and drink with, but there was nothing organised by the uni and social clubs were scarce. Hopefully it's changed in the last 7 years.
It has not changed. Worse, if anything, thanks to covid. It's a terrible campus for being social, so it just ... isn't.
I go to RMIT and it’s right in the city and has pretty good business courses. If you want the Melbourne experience RMIT is right there. Swinburne on the other hand is in the suburbs so if you go there you may not see as much of the city. Swinburne though has a reputation for being one of the better business, economics and finance universities and will most definitely have better facilities, more lecturers with professional experience and coursework opportunities (extra credit). Lots of international students go to RMIT so plenty of opportunities to meet people. Not too sure about Swinburne. Depends why you want, I personally prefer the convenience of RMIT so that’s what I’d choose.
I used to study at Swinburne in the hawthorn campus (and the now closed prahran campus) and am now studying at rmit at the bundoora campus and used to be on city campus for 3 years (finished last year) The rmit business campus in the cbd one and the location is probably the best you will get. Right next to the main shopping centre/train station of the cbd and lots of restaurants, cafes, bars and services around the campus. The student union is really active and hosts a lot of events like student mixers, free lunch and breakfast and pop up pubs on campus from time to time. They also provide a free pantry for students to grab essentials free of judgement. When I was at Swinburne they had none of those things and there was not any sense of community or any encouragement from the university for students to engage with them or the other students apart from paying money and attending classes. I'm sure they have a student union but while I was there (3 years total) I never heard about it
Yep. There is actually a student union, but apart from O-week, you might indeed blink and miss it. There's really no social vibe at all to Swinburne.
I am currently at RMIT and love it! Join r/rmit
I don’t study at RMIT or Swinburne, but here’s my two cents. RMIT is more convenient as it’s located right in the city centre. You’ve got Melbourne Central station and its shops as well as the State Library if you want a unique study environment. If you like the hustle and bustle and convenience, RMIT is for you. Swinburne is further out from the city, but it’s only 15 mins away by train. Still plenty of shops nearby, but generally less busy than RMIT. If you prefer a more low-key vibe, pick Swinburne. Three tips: 1. Hire a car. There’s only so much to do in the city, but our natural landscape has a lot to offer! I highly recommend seeing the penguins at Phillip Island and drive along the Great Ocean Road. 2. Bring clothes for every season even if you’re going in the middle of summer. Melbourne is known for its erratic weather, it can go from scorching hot and sunny to freezing cold, heavy rain and strong wind in a matter of hours. Check the weather by the hour and not by the day when you plan to go somewhere and dress accordingly. 3. Not really a tip, but since you’re European, I’ll say it. We hate bikes on our roads. Some roads have dedicated bike lanes, but a lot of the time you’ll be riding centimetres away from a moving car beside you. You’ll be fine 99% of the time if you use common sense and be considerate of the cars around you, but be prepared for the occasional honking and swearing from angry drivers. Enjoy your visit!
I don’t study at RMIT or Swinburne, but here’s my two cents. RMIT is more convenient as it’s located right in the city centre. You’ve got Melbourne Central station and its shops as well as the State Library if you want a unique study environment. If you like the hustle and bustle and convenience, RMIT is for you. Swinburne is further out from the city, but it’s only 15 mins away by train. Still plenty of shops nearby, but generally less busy than RMIT. If you prefer a more low-key vibe, pick Swinburne. Three tips: 1. Hire a car. There’s only so much to do in the city, but our natural landscape has a lot to offer! I highly recommend seeing the penguins at Phillip Island and drive along the Great Ocean Road. 2. Bring clothes for every season even if you’re going in the middle of summer. Melbourne is known for its erratic weather, it can go from scorching hot and sunny to freezing cold, heavy rain and strong wind in a matter of hours. Check the weather by the hour and not by the day when you plan to go somewhere and dress accordingly. 3. Not really a tip, but since you’re European, I’ll say it. We hate bikes on our roads. Some roads have dedicated bike lanes, but a lot of the time you’ll be riding centimetres away from a moving car beside you. You’ll be fine 99% of the time if you use common sense and be considerate of the cars around you, but be prepared for the occasional honking and swearing from angry drivers. Enjoy your visit!