Study spaces

Outlined on this page are the facilities at School, Faculty and University levels that are available to Faculty of Arts graduate researchers.

Faculty of Arts study spaces

Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences

A variety of facilities are offered by the Graduate School, including the Arts Graduate Hall, a telephone conference room, reading group and seminar rooms, and equipment for loan. For more information, please visit the Resources web page.

Research Higher Degrees (RHD) Reading Room

Due to COVID Safe requirements, access to the RHD Reading Room will be limited to students who have been allocated a desk in the space.

The RHD Reading Room is a quiet study space modelled after the Victorian State Library Reading Room and available exclusively to enrolled Faculty of Arts graduate researchers to use. If you are eligible, your student card will be automatically encoded for swipe access to the area.

Lockers in RHD Reading Room

There are limited number of lockers available for graduate researchers in the RHD Reading Room. If you have been allocated a desk in the space and wish to access a locker, please email arts-grstudyspaces@unimelb.edu.au.

Graduate Research study spaces

The Faculty of Arts have limited study spaces available for graduate researchers. Graduate researchers are required to formally apply for a dedicated desk. Study spaces are situated in the School and Faculty building across campus.

  • Asia Institute - Sidney Myer Asia Centre
  • School of Culture and Communication - John Medley & Walter Boas Buildings
  • School of Historical and Philosophical Studies -  Arts West Building
  • School of Languages and Linguistics - Babel Building
  • School of Social and Political Sciences - Walter Boas Building
  • Interdisciplinary / Faculty - Old Physics and Old Arts Buildings

It is recommended that you have your own laptop to support your coursework and research demands. Some desks are equipped with desktop computers and others are in open spaces with no desktop computers.

Desk allocation guidelines

Graduate researchers interested in lodging an application are required to have read the Desk allocation guidelines.

How to apply

Graduate researchers are required to formally apply for an assigned study space in the Schools and Faculty buildings.

Applications for study spaces are open all year-round and are assessed on a first-come basis. Every effort is made to allocate eligible applicants to a study space in a timely manner, however, there may be instances when the number of applications exceeds the available spaces. In such cases, your request will be put on a waiting list and we will be in touch when a study space is made available.


University study spaces

The Graduate Centre

The Graduate Centre in Building 1888 (Building 198) provides shared, family-friendly spaces and small group study spaces, lockers, meeting rooms and a graduate lounge. Visit the Graduate Student Association facilities website for more information.

Eligible graduate researchers who are in the thesis submission stage may be considered for a desk in 1888 Building. Go to the Graduate Research Hub – Tenured study spaces website to check your eligibility and how to apply.

The Baillieu Library

A dedicated study space for graduate students is available on the first floor of the Baillieu Library. The room has power-enabled desks with seats for 24 students. Graduate students can access the room with their student cards. There are also four graduate study rooms in the Baillieu Library, which can be booked for two-hour periods.

Library study spaces

All University libraries have study spaces, computers, rooms, and group study spaces available. Check Bookit! Online to see what's available and make a book. For branch locations and opening hours, visit the Library website.

Find additional study spaces

  • Bookit! Online allows you to find and access computers, study rooms and group meeting rooms across campus
  • Lost On Campus is another great resource for find study spaces and rooms