Arriving at RMIT as an international student in 2026 means setting up housing, banking, transport, phone, and a Medicare equivalent in your first two weeks - while jet-lagged and figuring out tram lines. This is the practical guide: what to do in what order, what each step costs, and which RMIT services actually help.
Before You Arrive: What’s Already Sorted
Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) issued by RMIT, student visa subclass 500 approved, Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) booked through your visa application. Pre-arrival accommodation: most international students book RMIT-arranged short-term accommodation for 1-2 weeks ($350-$550/week) while finding permanent housing. RMIT’s International Student Services pre-arrival guide covers the basics; this guide picks up where it ends.
Week 1: Permanent Housing
Use the first week to find permanent share-house accommodation. Best inner suburbs: Carlton ($300-$400/room), Brunswick ($230-$320), North Melbourne ($260-$360), Footscray ($180-$260). Use Flatmates.com.au and the RMIT Student Wellbeing housing listings (private board). Inspect in person before signing - never pay deposit without inspecting. Standard bond is 4 weeks rent, paid into the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority (RTBA) - never pay bond directly to a landlord.
Week 1: Bank Account
Big four banks (CBA, ANZ, Westpac, NAB) all offer student accounts with no monthly fees. CBA’s Smart Access account is the most common student choice - opens in branch with passport + CoE + Australian address. Online opening from overseas before arrival is possible but the in-branch confirmation is required to activate. ATM fees are zero at your own bank’s machines, $2-$2.50 at others.
Week 1: SIM Card and Phone
Optus, Telstra, Vodafone, and ALDI Mobile all offer student-friendly prepaid plans. $30-$40/month gets 30+ GB plus unlimited domestic calls in 2026. Long-term contracts available but prepaid is recommended for first 3 months while you settle. Buy SIM at the airport for immediate connectivity, then switch to a cheaper plan in town once you have your bank set up.
Week 2: Tax File Number (TFN)
Apply for TFN online via the Australian Taxation Office website - free, takes 28 days. You need TFN for any paid employment. International student work allowance: 48 hours/fortnight during semester, unlimited during semester breaks (per Department of Home Affairs subclass 500 conditions, 2026). Without TFN, you’ll be taxed at the highest marginal rate.
Week 2: Medicare and OSHC
You’re not eligible for Medicare unless you’re from a Reciprocal Health Care country (UK, Belgium, Finland, Italy, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Republic of Ireland, NZ, Slovenia, Sweden). Otherwise: Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) covers most medical costs through Bupa, Medibank, NIB, Allianz Care, or AHM. Find your provider’s nearest practitioner. RMIT Health (Building 5) handles routine GP visits with student rates.
Transport: Myki Setup
Buy a Myki card at any 7-Eleven, train station, or PTV hub - $6 card cost, top up via online or recharge stations. Student concession Myki: $4.60/day cap, $9.20/week cap. Apply for student concession by submitting RMIT student ID + photo via PTV’s Concession Application portal. Without concession, full-fare cap is $11.10/day - 2x more. Myki Money is the default; Myki Pass is cheaper if you commute daily on the same route.
Where to Eat First Week
Cheapest student lunches: Chinatown food courts ($8-$14), Queen Vic Market deli hall ($8-$10 lunch boxes), Footscray Vietnamese ($10-$14 pho). RMIT main campus has multiple cafes from $4-$5 coffees, $10-$14 lunches. International student strips: Swanston Street north (Korean, Japanese), Russell Street (Vietnamese, Thai), Lygon Street Carlton (Italian).
RMIT Services Worth Knowing
International Student Services (Building 8): visa advice, study extensions, exchange programs. Student Wellbeing: counselling, financial aid for emergencies. Career Services: resume help, job placement, internships. Student Union: cheap food, advocacy, social events. RMIT Library: 24/7 in exam periods, study rooms, free printing credit, computer access.
Cultural Adjustment First Month
Most international students at RMIT report homesickness peaks at week 6-8. Strategies that work: join student clubs (RMIT has 90+, all run via Student Union), attend Welcome Week events (free food and tours, week 1), find a cuisine from home (Footscray for African/Vietnamese/Lebanese, Box Hill for Chinese, Springvale for Vietnamese, Coburg for Middle Eastern). Distance from family is real; RMIT counselling is free for enrolled students.
What This Means for You
Two weeks of setup: housing, bank, SIM, TFN, OSHC, Myki. Use RMIT International Student Services for any visa or compliance questions - they’re the official authority and free. The first month is the hardest; by month three most international students are settled. For housing specifics, see cheapest suburbs near RMIT; for daily food, cheap eats near RMIT.
Jack Carver covers Melbourne food, drink, and city life for MELBZ.