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Learn the Area
Find your nearest supermarkets, shops, public transport, university route and other places you expect to use regularly.
Living in Frankston as an Interstate or International Student
Made the move and settled into MPG Lodge? Here’s a practical guide to student life in Frankston, getting to know your new home and making the most of living away from home.
Welcome to Life in Frankston
Moving away from home for university is exciting, but the first few weeks can also involve a lot of change. You are getting used to your studies, your accommodation, a new routine and potentially an entirely new city or country at the same time.
Once you have moved into MPG Lodge and unpacked, one of the best things you can do is start getting familiar with Frankston rather than limiting your routine to your room and university.
Learn where things are, explore the local area, meet people and give yourself time to establish a routine. Before long, Frankston can start feeling much more familiar.
Your First Few Weeks in Frankston
You do not need to work everything out immediately. Start with a few basics and build from there.
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Build a Routine
University life becomes easier when you establish a routine around classes, study, meals, exercise, social time and sleep.
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Meet People
Get to know other students at your accommodation and university. Having familiar faces around can make a new place feel like home much faster.
Frankston Is More Than Somewhere to Study
It can be easy to fall into a routine of accommodation, university, study and repeat. But if you have moved to Frankston for university, take some time to actually experience where you are living.
Frankston combines a busy metropolitan centre with beaches, waterfront areas, parks, cafes, restaurants, shopping and easy access to other parts of Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula.
You do not need to plan a huge day out every weekend. Even something as simple as finding a favourite cafe, going for a walk or exploring a different part of the area can help you become more comfortable in your new home.
Things to Do Around Frankston
When you have a break from classes and study, there are plenty of ways to get out of your room and enjoy the area.
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Beach & Waterfront
Spend some time around Frankston’s waterfront, go for a walk along the foreshore or head to the beach when the weather is good.
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Cafes & Food
Explore local cafes and restaurants with friends or find somewhere you enjoy visiting between classes and study sessions.
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Shopping & Essentials
Get familiar with the local shopping areas so you know where to go for groceries, clothing, household items and everyday essentials.
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Parks & Outdoors
Take a break from screens and study by getting outside, exploring local parks or simply finding somewhere different to walk and unwind.
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Explore the Mornington Peninsula
When you have more time, Frankston is a useful starting point for exploring further down the Mornington Peninsula with friends.
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Head Into Melbourne
Living near public transport also gives you the option of heading towards central Melbourne for events, shopping, entertainment or a day out.
Make MPG Lodge Your Home Base
Student accommodation should be somewhere you can return to after university, studying, work or spending time exploring Frankston.
At MPG Lodge, students have access to furnished accommodation, high-speed Wi-Fi, shared kitchen facilities, laundry facilities, common areas and study-friendly spaces.
Shared accommodation also means you are living around other students who are going through many of the same experiences — classes, assignments, exams and adjusting to university life.
Your Home in Frankston
Get Involved in University Life
Your university experience does not have to end when a lecture or class finishes.
Look at the clubs, societies, activities and events available through your university. They can be a good way to meet students outside your course and make connections when you are new to the area.
This can be particularly valuable for international and interstate students who arrive in Frankston without an established local group of friends.
MPG Lodge is located close to Monash University Peninsula Campus, so students studying there can stay connected to campus without a long daily commute.
Learn the Public Transport Network
If you have moved from overseas or interstate, learning the local transport system early can give you much more freedom to explore beyond your immediate neighbourhood.
MPG Lodge is approximately 450 metres from the nearest train station, providing convenient access to public transport.
Once you understand the routes you use most often, getting to university, shopping, work or heading further afield becomes part of your normal routine.
Getting Used to Living Away From Home
For many students, university is also their first experience of living independently. A few simple habits can make the transition easier.
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Stay Connected With Home
Keep in regular contact with family and friends back home, especially while you are still settling into your new surroundings.
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Look After the Basics
Regular meals, enough sleep, exercise and time away from study all matter when you are managing university and independent living.
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Give Yourself Time
It is normal for a new city, new accommodation and new university to take some time to feel familiar. You do not need to have everything figured out in your first week.
New to Australia?
International students are adjusting to more than a new university. You may also be getting used to a different country, transport system, culture and way of life.
Start locally. Get comfortable with MPG Lodge, your university route and Frankston first, then gradually explore more of Melbourne and Victoria as you settle in.
Staying connected with people at home while also making an effort to meet people locally can help you build a sense of community in your new home.
Make the Most of Your Time in Frankston
University can go quickly. Between assignments, exams and everyday responsibilities, it is easy to forget that living somewhere new is an experience of its own.
Explore Frankston, meet people, try new things and take advantage of having the Mornington Peninsula and greater Melbourne within reach.
MPG Lodge can be your home base while you study, but what you do beyond your room can become just as important a part of your university experience.
More Guides for MPG Lodge Students
Our student resources cover the different stages of finding accommodation, preparing to move and settling into life in Frankston.
If you have only recently decided on MPG Lodge, read our guide for students and parents. Or explore all of our student resources for more useful information.