Monash or RMIT: how to choose

Monash University and RMIT University are both in Melbourne, but they are different kinds of institution. Monash is a Group of Eight research university. RMIT grew out of a technical college and still leans into design, media, and applied technology. The table above shows the current tuition and entry figures from our database. This page is about which one fits.

Reputation and ranking

In the QS World University Rankings 2027, Monash sits at 31 in the world and RMIT at 119. Monash carries the broad research reputation that comes with the Group of Eight. RMIT is strongest in specific fields: it is consistently rated among the world's leading universities for art and design, and it has a strong name in architecture, communications, and engineering technology. If your field is one of those, the overall ranking gap matters less than it looks.

What each is built for

Monash runs a large course catalogue across most disciplines, operates its own campuses in Malaysia and Indonesia, and puts research at the centre. Medicine, pharmacy, and law are materially harder to get into than the rest of the university. Its main campus, Clayton, is about 20 kilometres from central Melbourne, so factor in commuting time or living further out.

RMIT is built around studios, industry projects, and work placements. Its main campus is in the Melbourne city centre. Design and architecture courses are portfolio-assessed. The teaching is more applied and less research-focused, which suits students who want a direct line into practice.

Cost over a full degree

Tuition in the table is per year. Multiply by the course length: most bachelor degrees run three years, most coursework masters one and a half to two. On current figures Monash is around AUD 7,000 a year more than RMIT, so over a three-year bachelor the gap is roughly AUD 21,000. Living costs are the same in both cases because both are in Melbourne. The real cost of studying in Australia guide has the full budget.

Entry requirements

RMIT's academic and English requirements are lower across most courses, and entry is more attainable. Monash asks for a higher English score and is more competitive. If your marks or test score are borderline, RMIT is the safer application. Check IELTS versus PTE if you have not sat a test yet.

Which to choose

Choose Monash if you want a Group of Eight research brand, you are aiming at medicine, pharmacy, or law, or you want to keep your options wide for a later skilled visa where the institution's standing can help with employers.

Choose RMIT if your field is design, architecture, media, or applied technology, budget matters, you want a city-centre campus with built-in industry placements, or your entry profile is borderline.

For most other fields, the difference in graduate outcomes is smaller than the ranking gap suggests, and cost and course fit should decide it.

Is Monash better than RMIT?

Monash ranks higher overall and is a Group of Eight research university, so for research-heavy fields and for courses like medicine and pharmacy it has the stronger reputation. RMIT is rated among the world's best for art and design and is strong in architecture and applied technology. For those fields RMIT can be the better choice despite the lower overall ranking.

Is RMIT a good university for international students?

Yes. It is a large public university in central Melbourne with a long record of teaching international students, strong design and technology programs, and industry placements built into many courses. Entry requirements are more attainable than at the Group of Eight.

Which is cheaper, Monash or RMIT?

RMIT is cheaper. On current figures its international tuition is around AUD 7,000 a year less than Monash. Both are in Melbourne, so living costs are the same.

Does the Group of Eight matter for permanent residence?

Not directly. The skilled visa points test does not award points for the university you attended. It can matter indirectly through employer preferences and graduate outcomes in some fields, but the course, the occupation it leads to, and your points score matter far more.