Melbourne, University of, is an institution of higher education in Victoria, Australia. The university was established in 1853 and opened in 1855.
The University of Melbourne was founded as a state-maintained institution. The university began with only four teachers and 16 students. It originally had just four faculties (departments)—mathematics, natural sciences, modern literature and political economy, and classics and ancient history. The university introduced vocational courses, such as law, medicine, and engineering, in the 1860’s and 1870’s. Changes in legislation in 1881 allowed women to be admitted to the university. The university introduced further professional courses, such as agriculture, dentistry, and education, in the early 1900’s. Today, the university is associated with a number of other institutions, including the Australian Artificial Intelligence Institute and the Melbourne College of Divinity.
The university’s website at http://www.unimelb.edu.au offers additional information.
