The university maintains 6 academic colleges, 7 research centers, 6 research institutes, and the university's Victoria Polytechnic. The university offers courses in both Technical and Further Education (TAFE) and higher education subjects. There are about 40,000 students enrolled in various courses at the university, out of which 14,000 students are international students coming from around the world to study in Australia.

The College of Arts and Education offers a range of pre-degree, undergraduate, and postgraduate courses and conducts research in education, youth work, arts, communication, community development, creative arts and industries, psychology, social science, and social work. 

The University also offers flexible learning options and a unique VU block Model under which the student gets to focus on only one unit or subject at a time over a four weeks block. To encourage extra-curricular participation among students, there are various student clubs and organizations such as leadership groups, sports clubs, social Sports, volunteering opportunities, spiritual and religious clubs, social clubs, cultural clubs, etc.