For those serious about it, The Link co-working space is a dream. Spacious, equipped with high-speed WiFi and meeting rooms, it’s designed to boost productivity and maybe even inspire your next big project. And for a bit of relaxation, Campus Hangout offers a premium cinema experience right in the comfort of your own home, complete with a large smart TV and Disney+.
If you don’t get a pool view room like mine, no problem, many of the rooms offer a front row seat to the stunning Melbourne skyline.
Hungry after all that exploring? Head to The Yard, the trendy ground floor cafe overlooking the pool. They serve barista-made coffee and tasty, inexpensive snacks (I opted for the chia seed pudding, which didn’t disappoint) and keep your wallet happy with the $6 toasties.
What really sets Campus Melbourne apart is its jam-packed events calendar. Pizza parties, video game nights, paint & sip, table tennis tournaments – you name it, it’s there for you.
The accommodation is in Preston, about 9km north of Melbourne’s CBD, but they offer a free shuttle bus that takes local residents straight into the CBD and stops right outside RMIT – super convenient. I hopped on and experienced it for myself. The driver was obviously a hit with the students because everyone was chatting and laughing the whole way through. It was a great example of the close-knit community atmosphere here.
When I set out, the area had a lot to offer. From the best ramen I’ve ever slurped at Shop Ramen to delicious Italian coffee and doughnuts from Pausa Pranzo, I certainly ate well. A few students in the accommodation also recommended the $10 Bahn Mi at CJ, which is now on my list of must-try places next time I visit. Plus, it’s just a tram ride from Thornbury High Street, which is teeming with bars and cinemas.
So, if I could relive my undergraduate years, would I choose the Melbourne campus? Absolutely! To be honest, the amenities alone were what drew me in – hello, who wouldn’t want to lounge by that stunning pool after a day of lectures? But it was the sense of community that really won me over. The accommodation offers countless opportunities to meet and socialize with students from all over the world, making it much easier to settle into a new city and feel at home.
