[icedgreentea]

From the other thread on Australian University, it seems to me that many soompiers are Australians. I live in the states but I am planning to live there for about 7 months, take time off from school, and figure things out for myself, I guess. I want to earn money enough to sustain myself and attend part-time classes, perhaps. I was wondering which location would be best for young, independent ppl to find jobs, places to live [flat shares], and basically to enjoy myself. I would think that somewhere in the city by where universities are might be good for me. Where can that be? And I am willing to take any jobs [restaurants, hotel, whatever that'll bring me money]. I am going for the experience of being in a new environment, being independent, and enriching my life with many different ppl I hope to encounter. So there are no restrictions for me in this trip, as of yet. Any of your input will be appreciated. Thankss!

[vannushka]

Although Sydney is a more popular choice, many people opt for Melbourne because the housing in Melbourne is MUCH MUCH cheaper. General living expenses are more dear in Sydney as well.

I think you would need a working visa, find a part time job isn't too hard. For universities...well I think it would be kinda expensive since you would be international full fee paying student.

If you do come, ENJOY! Australia is a GREAT PLACE!

[jcraze]

Aye, Melbourne or Brisbane.

Although more asians in melbourne than brisbane.

[you_suck]

melbourne.. the place to be

[icedgreentea]

hmm so Melbourne is better than Sydney? what's better about it?

[Trungy]

I have always wanted to either visit, move, or go to school in Australia, and the one city that I keeps coming to mind is Melbourne, for sure. Just reading about Melbourne all over the place just keeps me motivated to visit the city one day. To me, Melbourne ranks at the top of my list of cities to visit, and let me tell you, it is one helluva long list.

As for what is good about it.. well from what I've read, Melbourne is a very diverse city, comparable to cities in the states. It is also a great city with a fun nightlife. I've always seen Melbourne in the same light as Sydney, but then again, it is my very own opinion.

As for more information, here is a link that gives you a nice outline of Melbourne. Not too indepth, but the idea is to give you the gist.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melbourne
http://wikitravel.org/en/Melbourne

[AsOne]

Well i live in melbourne and i live close to the city.

If your planning to go to universities down here, in the city, there is the Melbourne University. Melbourne University is the top uni here. Lol i'm proud of it but i don't go to it unfornately haha. *by the way i go to deakin university which isnn't far away from the city either* There's always RMIT which is in the city. Good uni also. Monash is very good indeed also but there's one in parkville which is in the city and there's one in clayton which is too far off from the city either.

And as for apartments and housings you can rent them for very cheap and the houses are always at top condition. ITry to contact the other owner of the place before hand and get to know them before you rent a place ok! From my friends bad experience, you definitely should. I'm not really sure of places in the city where they offer accomodation but i can contact my friend who lives there. It's usually expensive in the city though. Try suburbs close by to the city. i live in Springvale, which is basically dominated by asians, thus VERY CHEAPPPPP accomodation. The houses are pretty good too.

Most universities are close by to tram lines or bus or train lines. So there isn't any problem with travelling back and forth to the city. Just grab those pamphlets hehe i still have trouble with transportation although i've lived here most of my life.

For jobs, before you come over, prepare heaps of resumes!

Hehehee i'll come back later to edit my post, cause right now i gotta go schoool lol. If you wanna contact me just pm me ^^ I'm 18 by the way. haha

[vannushka]

hmm so Melbourne is better than Sydney? what's better about it?

Melbourne is slower paced than Sydney. It's more relaxing and everyone seems less tense than the people in Sydney. WHen I went to city I always had this feeling that everyone was BUSY. Just take a stroll in Melbourne and people seem much more relaxed and easy going. Melbourne has always been voted most livable city(it's a toss up between Melb and Vancouver). It's cheaper to live in, Sydney is the most expensive city in Australia to live in so not a really good choice for a student. Although it doesn't have the glam that Sydney has, Melbourne is quite entertaining if you know where to go. Public transport in Melbourne is very easy to use as well. Melb and Syd are both multiculturalled but Melb is not as racist.

About housing, you can get an apartment..shared for around $150aud.

[certifiedPSYCHOPATH]

if it was a toss up between melbourne and sydney, then i would recommend melbourne.
like what everyone else has said, melbourne is inexpensive and has a great nightlife and local attractions. when i was in melbourne, alot of restaurants in chinatown were after workers, so i don't think you'd have trouble finding a job...as for transportation, their public transport, in my opinion, is one of the best in australia

you can easily find cheap accommodation on the outskirts of the city, and there are plenty of large asian communities that can offer even cheaper housing

so yes, i think melbourne would be best for you

if you do decide to go anywhere for long term, i think it'd be best to get someone you know here to check out your accommodation beforehand for you before you actually come



for me, i'd choose adelaide

[rapunzel283]

Although Brisbane has great unis and a great lifestyle, I'm honestly not too sure about jobs and housing. >_<.

Melbourne is a great place to go

And Adelaide if you're looking or something quiter

[sweet_lil_strawberry]

if you pick perth all i can say is we are literally the most isolated capital city in the world!
housing and food is way cheaper here compared to sydney.... man me n my frends went to sydney for holiday and we saw the housing prices and all i can say is that their crazy O.O technically if my house was in sydeny its apparently worth over a million @.@

we are by far the quietest capital in AUST i can guarantee it its always in the newspaper how were're trying to get more stuff happening here

if you do study here you'll be a full fee paying uni student which is a lot of money =O ....but i think you'll be eligible for rent assistance[gov will help you with housing fees i think up to 2/3 of your rent MAY be payed for you depending on you circumstances] and some other grants forgot wat they were but yeh ^^

we pretty much have 5 uni's. Our top uni is UWA[university of western aust][the most prestiges uni and specialises in medicine, business, literature n all that smart stuff haha]
.... then theres our internationally recognised Curtin Universtiy of technology[specialises in computer technology, engineering, business and pharmacy, the only uni that offers pharmacy in W.A. lots of asians hehe i go to this uni,theres alot of hot ppl ]
.....Murdoch university [my bro goes here theres alot of japanese ppl O.O] the only uni that allows you to become a vet but you have to be super dooper smart to be a vet you have to take all these tests and have a T.E.R over 99 something[the highest T.E.R possible is 99.95 anyways] so i reckon you gotta be a genius!
...... Edith cowan uni [also alot of asians but not many locals want to go here unless your getting a teaching degree]
..... Notre dame university [private uni which specialises in teaching degrees]
have fun in AUST if you do decide to come!!!

[juki_love]

well if you're going there to enjoy yourself with more relaxation then i would say Melbourne+~ (but it's boring if you don't know where to go)

i live in sydney+~ and trust me, it's hectic``
if you decide to go to Sydney, UTS is the closest uni to the city~ then comes usyd and unsw.. there are also other uni's but they are a bit far from the ct++

o and yea like everyone says, Melbourne is less expensive when compared to living in Sydney~

[Golden Zeta Gundam]

born and raised in Syd.. dunno what Melb is like..

and looking at prices for Syd and Melb.. are abit far

Melb is cheaper , and seems abit better as i heard

in Syd , your just gunna get trampled by Honkies(but egg nam the girls are dang hot hot hot)

im still in HS and shouldnt be in Uni thread lol , final yr of HS aswell

[certifiedPSYCHOPATH]

^ LOL!

i guess everyone's promoting their own cities (except sydney-ers...their city is out of my league )

but yeh, melbourne is the most well rounded taking into consideration - unis, accommodations prices and social scene, but perth and adelaide are much much more inexpensive, with universities that are just as reputatable. brisbane...i dunno about there

[vannushka]

^ haha we ARE promoting our city

i know the difference in housing price between melb/syd but not between melb/other cities.

i dont think the difference would be THAT big...big enough for you to chose adelaide/perth over melbourne.

if you like living with more asians..melb/syd is the way to go

when i went to brisbane...i thought food was expensive there..maybe it was a holiday area

[sexability]

i dunno about everywhere else... buh i will promote adelaide....
i wud say it is a quiet place buh ur not short of things to do... you just gotta find the places.... i go to UNISA which is rite in de city, deres also adelaide uni both of these are about 5/10 minute wallk to "rundle mall" .... got no idea about accomodation... public transport is widely available, fairly cheap too
ermmm *mind blank*
lataz!!

[boka]

melbourne is probably the way to go, i hear some good things about it.

i live in brisbane, and to have fun here, you need to know people who know where all the best places to eat and visit are - everything's all spread out all over the place here. over half of the CBD population in brisbane is asian - i would say 80-90% of the apartment building i live in is occupied by korean students.

[icedgreentea]

^What's CBD?
Thank you allll so much for your inputs!! I am planning to go there around May, which I hear is winter season in Australia, and that Melbourne can get a bit chilly, is this true? How chilly does it get? Where in Melbourne specifically do you recommend? Furthermore, if I were to room with other students, where do they usually post up their ads? I know I'll be in the dark just because those things get around by mouth and since I don't know anyone, it'll be harder for me to find such a place, right?

[vannushka]

CBD = central business district..which means the heart of the city.

DONT WORRY! we dont even have SNOW...you live in america right? you guys should be use to the cold...in the early morning it can get down to 8degrees(celius).."cold" to melbourne is 15degrees...which isn't chilly AT ALL compared to the snow that you get in america.

It really depends where you want to stay..in teh heart of the city..will obviously be more expensive..but then that cuts down on transport costs...although food in the city is more expensive...do you know what uni you're looking at? there's the eastern suburbs...and the western subs...for someone new like you...maybe it's best to spend a bit more and stay nearer to the city..you can move out later on if you like

students usually put ads up in the uni..but if you go to the uni sites..they might have ads up there...try googling it..i also see ads up in the city...but your best bet is uni sites..and at the actual unis

This is one site.
http://www.unilodge.com.au/location-list.asp?State=VIC

[MUSTARD*]

I live in Sydney and have been to melb for like a week..

I prefer SYdney for a working life and livng but melbourne is great to lay back and relax abit more.

one thing... there is no night life in melb on a wednesday night ;____; (from when i went there ;P )