---
url: 'https://kdinternational.com.au/university-of-melbourne-entry-requirements-saudi-students/'
title: 'University of Melbourne: Rankings and Entry Requirements'
author:
  name: هند العمري
  url: 'https://kdinternational.com.au/author/hind-alamri/'
date: '2026-09-30T06:00:00+00:00'
modified: '2026-09-30T06:02:04+00:00'
type: post
summary: 'University of Melbourne rankings in QS 2027 and THE 2026, entry and English requirements, costs, and its place in the Saudi King Salman Scholarship lists for 20'
categories:
  - Australian universities
tags:
  - Emdad track
  - King Salman Scholarship Program
  - QS rankings
  - University of Melbourne
image: 'https://kdinternational.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/kd-46-en-art.png'
published: true
---

# University of Melbourne: Rankings and Entry Requirements

*[اقرأ هذا المقال بالعربية](https://kdinternational.com.au/ar/?p=2581)*

### Key takeaways

- The University of Melbourne is first in Australia in THE 2026 (37th globally) and second in QS 2027 (22nd), behind UNSW.
- The Melbourne Model means a broad bachelor degree followed by professional specialisation at graduate level, so plan the full pathway.
- Undergraduate English minimum is IELTS 6.5 with no band below 6.0; graduate requirements vary by course.
- In the Ministry of Education’s 2026–2027 guide, the Al-Ruwwad list has no Australian university; Melbourne appears in the Research and Development and Emdad field lists.
- Al-Ruwwad and Emdad require a final unconditional offer, so convert a conditional offer before you apply for sponsorship.
- Budget AUD 29,710 in living-cost evidence and the AUD 2,500 visa charge that applies from 1 July 2026, on top of tuition.

### In this article

- [Where does the University of Melbourne rank?](#s-1)
- [What is the Melbourne Model?](#s-2)
- [What are the entry requirements?](#s-3)
- [How much does it cost?](#s-4)
- [Is Melbourne on the Saudi scholarship lists?](#s-5)
- [How KD International helps with a Melbourne application](#s-6)

The University of Melbourne is Australia’s top-ranked university in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2026 and second in Australia in the QS World University Rankings 2027. Admission needs a competitive academic record and an approved English test score. For Saudi scholarship students, Melbourne appears in the 2026–2027 field lists of the Research and Development and Emdad tracks, not in the Al-Ruwwad (الرواد) top-30 list. Here is what you need before you apply.

## Where does the University of Melbourne rank?

The answer depends on which ranking you read, and it helps to know both because the Saudi Ministry of Education builds its lists on global rankings.

| Ranking | University of Melbourne | Position in Australia | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | 22nd in the world | Second, after UNSW (19th) | [ABC, 18 June 2026](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-06-18/global-university-rankings-unsw-top-performer/106808096) |
| THE World University Rankings 2026 | 37th in the world | First in Australia | [THE, 9 October 2025](https://www.timeshighereducation.com/student/best-universities/best-universities-australia) |

In QS 2027 Melbourne placed 22nd, while the University of New South Wales (UNSW) took the Australian top spot for the first time at 19th, as reported by [ABC News, 18 June 2026](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-06-18/global-university-rankings-unsw-top-performer/106808096). The university says it is first in Australia for academic reputation (19th globally) and employer reputation in the same edition, according to the [University of Melbourne newsroom, June 2026](https://www.unimelb.edu.au/newsroom/news/2026/june/university-of-melbourne-in-top-25-for-qs-world-university-rankings).

In THE 2026 it is 37th in the world and the only Australian university in the top 50, followed by Monash at 58th, according to [THE’s list of Australian universities, published 9 October 2025](https://www.timeshighereducation.com/student/best-universities/best-universities-australia). So "Australia’s number one" is accurate for THE and "second" for QS; that precision matters when you read ministry lists.

## What is the Melbourne Model?

Melbourne structures its degrees differently from most Australian universities. The Melbourne Model is a broad undergraduate degree first, then professional specialisation at graduate level. According to the [university’s profile on THE](https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/university-melbourne), Melbourne offers 11 undergraduate degrees with nearly 100 major fields of study and 270 professional graduate degrees; it was founded in 1853 and has more than 65,000 students.

### What it means in practice

- Bachelor degrees (Science, Arts, Commerce, Design, Biomedicine and others) are broad, and you choose your major inside them. The Bachelor of Science, for example, is 300 credit points over 36 months full-time, according to the [2026 University Handbook](https://handbook.unimelb.edu.au/2026/courses/b-sci).
- Every degree includes "breadth" subjects from outside your home faculty.
- Professions such as medicine, law, engineering and teaching are mostly taught as graduate degrees after the bachelor. If one of those is your goal, count the full pathway, and make sure both the field and the degree level fit your scholarship track.

## What are the entry requirements?

### Academic requirement

Entry is competitive and is assessed on your secondary or university results, depending on the level and course. There is no single cut-off for all programs, so check your course page in the [Handbook](https://handbook.unimelb.edu.au/2026/courses/b-sci) and the country-specific requirements on the university website. If you fall short, the university offers a conditional offer through an approved foundation or bridging program, according to its [undergraduate English requirements page](https://study.unimelb.edu.au/how-to-apply/english-language-requirements/undergraduate-english-language-requirements).

### English language requirement

- Undergraduate: the minimum IELTS score is 6.5 overall with no band below 6.0, and the university also accepts TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge, LanguageCert Academic and MET, according to the [undergraduate English requirements page, as at September 2026](https://study.unimelb.edu.au/how-to-apply/english-language-requirements/undergraduate-english-language-requirements).
- Graduate: the required score varies by course and some courses ask for more than the general minimum; check your course on the [graduate English requirements page](https://study.unimelb.edu.au/how-to-apply/english-language-requirements/graduate-english-language-requirements).
- If your previous secondary or degree study was taught and assessed entirely in English at an approved institution, you may be exempt, according to the [same page](https://study.unimelb.edu.au/how-to-apply/english-language-requirements/undergraduate-english-language-requirements).

Remember that the university’s requirement is separate from the visa requirement: the Department of Home Affairs does not accept at-home tests (such as IELTS Online) for visa purposes and requires the test to be taken within the two years before you apply, according to the [Department of Home Affairs, as at 1 July 2026](https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/student-500).

### How to apply

- Choose your course and major in the [Handbook](https://handbook.unimelb.edu.au/2026/courses/b-sci), and if you will be sponsored, confirm the field is in the Ministry of Education guide.
- Prepare translated certificates and transcripts, a passport copy and your English test result.
- Apply online directly to the university or through one of its approved agents.
- If you receive a conditional offer, meet the conditions to turn it into a final unconditional offer; the Al-Ruwwad and Emdad tracks require a final, unconditional acceptance, according to the [Ministry of Education](https://sites.moe.gov.sa/scholarship-program/paths/path-emdad/).
- Accept the offer and pay what is required to receive your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE), then apply for the student visa (subclass 500).

Our team explains each stage in [Practical steps](https://kdinternational.com.au/ar/%d8%ae%d8%b7%d9%88%d8%a7%d8%aa-%d8%b9%d9%85%d9%84%d9%8a%d8%a9/).

## How much does it cost?

- Tuition: the university charges by the subjects you study rather than a flat course price; check the current figure for your field in the [university’s international fee table](https://study.unimelb.edu.au/how-to-apply/fees-and-scholarships).
- Living costs for the visa: Home Affairs requires evidence of AUD 29,710 for a student’s living costs over 12 months, according to the [Department of Home Affairs, as at 1 July 2026](https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/student-500).
- Student visa application charge: AUD 2,500 from 1 July 2026, according to [Study Australia, 3 July 2026](https://www.studyaustralia.gov.au/en/tools-and-resources/news/student-visa-application-charge-increase).

## Is Melbourne on the Saudi scholarship lists?

Yes, with an important detail. The Ministry of Education lists the University of Melbourne among the recommended universities in Melbourne, alongside Monash, Deakin, RMIT and Swinburne, on the [Australia page of the King Salman Scholarship Program (برنامج خادم الحرمين الشريفين للابتعاث)](https://sites.moe.gov.sa/scholarship-program/countries/australia/).

In the [Guide to University Lists by Field for the 2026–2027 academic year](https://object.moe.gov.sa/nasaq/cm/files/aldlyl-alastrshady-ltrtyb-qwaaem-aljamaeat-hsb-almjalat-2027-2026.pdf), the picture is:

- The Al-Ruwwad track list (30 institutions) contains no Australian university this year; the track targets the world’s top 30 institutions, according to the [track page](https://sites.moe.gov.sa/scholarship-program/paths/path-arruaad/).
- The University of Melbourne appears in the field lists for the Research and Development (البحث والتطوير) and Emdad (إمداد) tracks, including natural sciences and mathematics, ICT, engineering, agriculture and veterinary science, social sciences, arts and humanities, and business and law.
- Emdad requires acceptance at one of the top 200 institutions on the program’s list, covers bachelor and master degrees, and requires a final unconditional acceptance, according to the [Ministry of Education](https://sites.moe.gov.sa/scholarship-program/paths/path-emdad/); Research and Development also targets the top 200, according to the [program website](https://sites.moe.gov.sa/scholarship-program/).
- General conditions include Saudi nationality and a maximum age of 30 for bachelor applicants (Al-Ruwwad excepted), according to the [program conditions](https://sites.moe.gov.sa/scholarship-program/conditions/).

Lists change every year, so check the guide in force when you apply. For the differences between tracks, read our [guide to Saudi scholarship programs](https://kdinternational.com.au/ar/?p=2318); if Al-Ruwwad is your target, read [the Al-Ruwwad track: conditions and fields](https://kdinternational.com.au/ar/arruaad-track-scholarship-australia/).

## How KD International helps with a Melbourne application

KD International is a Saudi-Australian education consultancy and university admissions company with offices in Riyadh and Sydney. It states that its admission service is free for students applying to fields covered by the scholarship programs and to universities recognised by the Ministry of Education. We help you match a course to the ministry lists, prepare the file, follow the offer until it is unconditional, and then guide you through the visa and NAATI-certified translation. Apply through our [application form](https://kdinternational.com.au/applynow/) or [contact us](https://kdinternational.com.au/ar/%d8%aa%d9%88%d8%a7%d8%b5%d9%84-%d9%85%d8%b9%d9%86%d8%a7/).

Melbourne is a strong choice for a student with a competitive record, an English score in hand and a clear scholarship track. Your next step: open the Handbook, pick your course, and compare it with your field’s list in the ministry guide before you apply.

## Frequently asked questions

Is the University of Melbourne the number one university in Australia? 
In THE World University Rankings 2026, yes: it is 37th globally and the only Australian university in the top 50. In QS 2027 it is 22nd globally and second in Australia behind UNSW.
  What IELTS score do I need for the University of Melbourne? 
For undergraduate entry, 6.5 overall with no band below 6.0, according to the university as at September 2026. Graduate courses set their own scores, so check your course page.
  Is the University of Melbourne on the Al-Ruwwad track list? 
In the Ministry of Education’s 2026–2027 guide, the Al-Ruwwad list of 30 institutions contains no Australian university. Melbourne appears in the field lists for the Research and Development and Emdad tracks. Check the guide in force when you apply.
  What is the Melbourne Model? 
A degree structure that starts with a broad bachelor degree, in which you choose a major and take breadth subjects outside your faculty, followed by a specialised graduate degree for professions such as medicine, law and engineering. The university offers 11 undergraduate and 270 graduate degrees, according to its THE profile.
  How much is tuition at the University of Melbourne for international students? 
Fees are charged by the subjects you study rather than a flat course price, and they differ by field. Check the current figure in the university’s fee table, and add AUD 29,710 in living-cost evidence for the visa.
  Does the Saudi scholarship accept a conditional offer from Melbourne? 
The Al-Ruwwad and Emdad tracks require a final unconditional acceptance issued by the admissions office, according to the Ministry of Education. Meet your offer conditions first, then apply for sponsorship with the final offer.
  

## Official sources

- [Australian universities make ‘historic’ global rankings (QS 2027)](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-06-18/global-university-rankings-unsw-top-performer/106808096) — ABC News
- [University of Melbourne in top 25 for QS World University Rankings](https://www.unimelb.edu.au/newsroom/news/2026/june/university-of-melbourne-in-top-25-for-qs-world-university-rankings) — The University of Melbourne
- [Best universities in Australia 2026](https://www.timeshighereducation.com/student/best-universities/best-universities-australia) — Times Higher Education
- [University of Melbourne profile](https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/university-melbourne) — Times Higher Education
- [Bachelor of Science (B-SCI) — 2026 Handbook](https://handbook.unimelb.edu.au/2026/courses/b-sci) — The University of Melbourne
- [Undergraduate English language requirements](https://study.unimelb.edu.au/how-to-apply/english-language-requirements/undergraduate-english-language-requirements) — The University of Melbourne
- [Graduate English language requirements](https://study.unimelb.edu.au/how-to-apply/english-language-requirements/graduate-english-language-requirements) — The University of Melbourne
- [Fees and scholarships](https://study.unimelb.edu.au/how-to-apply/fees-and-scholarships) — The University of Melbourne
- [Student visa (subclass 500)](https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/student-500) — Australian Department of Home Affairs
- [Student Visa Application Charge increase](https://www.studyaustralia.gov.au/en/tools-and-resources/news/student-visa-application-charge-increase) — Study Australia
- [أستراليا — قائمة دول الابتعاث](https://sites.moe.gov.sa/scholarship-program/countries/australia/) — وزارة التعليم السعودية
- [الدليل الاسترشادي لقوائم الجامعات حسب المجالات 2026–2027](https://object.moe.gov.sa/nasaq/cm/files/aldlyl-alastrshady-ltrtyb-qwaaem-aljamaeat-hsb-almjalat-2027-2026.pdf) — وزارة التعليم السعودية

### Ready to start?

KD International helps you choose a university, prepare your admission and visa file, and answers your questions about Saudi scholarships and studying in Australia. [Apply now](https://kdinternational.com.au/applynow/) or [message us on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/966582357717).

*Last updated: 14 September 2026. Fees and requirements change; always confirm with the official source before deciding.*