Deakin Burwood doesn’t have a buzzy student bar scene right at the campus gates - the surrounding suburbs are mostly residential and the campus itself is partially dry on most days. The honest answer is the on-campus DUSA bar plus a tram or short drive to Camberwell or Box Hill for variety. This is the 2026 breakdown.
DUSA Cafe Bar: On-Campus
DUSA (Deakin University Student Association) runs the on-campus bar on Burwood campus - typically Wednesday-Friday afternoons during semester. $7-$9 schooners (cheapest in the area), $14-$18 pub meals. Members-only requires Deakin student ID. Closes early during exams. The default first-year student bar.
Box Hill: 10-Minute Train
Box Hill (10-minute train + 5-minute walk from Burwood) has multiple options. The Box Hill Hotel ($9-$10 schooners, pub menu, beer garden), the Royal Hotel Box Hill (similar), and several Asian-style karaoke bars at Box Hill Central. The pub options are mainstream; the karaoke options are more interesting for student groups.
Camberwell: The Mid-Tier Option
Camberwell has the Royal Camberwell Hotel ($9-$11 schooners), the Burke Road bars including Cookie Camberwell ($10-$14 cocktails), and a couple of small wine bars. 10-minute bus or 5-minute drive from Burwood. Slightly higher tier than Box Hill but still casual.
Glen Waverley: Asian-Friendly Bars
Glen Waverley (15-minute bus): Asian-style karaoke bars and pubs. KTV-style options popular with international students. The Glen pub is the main mainstream venue ($9-$11 schooners). 15-minute trip; not a daily option.
Hawthorn: 20-Minute Tram for Wider Scene
Hawthorn (tram 75 to Glenferrie Road, 30 minutes from Burwood): the Hawthorn Hotel and several smaller bars on Glenferrie Road. More buzzy than Burwood/Box Hill. Worth the trip for special nights.
CBD Trips
For serious nights out, Deakin Burwood students take tram 75 + walk = 60 minutes to CBD, or train via Box Hill = 50 minutes. Round-trip 2+ hours; realistic for special events. The default for weekend nightlife is Fitzroy or the laneway bars - see the Melbourne nightlife itinerary.
Wednesday Specials
DUSA bar runs $5-$7 schooner specials Wednesday afternoons during semester. The Box Hill Hotel runs $7 parmas Wednesday + $9 schooners. The Royal Camberwell runs trivia Tuesday with $0 entry.
What to Skip
Skip the over-priced inner-east hotel bars (Hawthorn, Camberwell premium) for daily drinking - DUSA bar or Box Hill saves $4-$5 per drink. Skip drink-driving entirely - Victoria Police runs RBT operations on the Burwood Highway return route. The trams 75 and trains run until midnight (1am Friday-Saturday).
What This Means for You
For walking-distance: DUSA bar (Wednesday-Friday). For mainstream local pubs: Box Hill Hotel or Royal Camberwell. For variety: Glen Waverley or Hawthorn. For serious nights: tram 75 + walk to CBD. See the wider scene at Melbourne nightlife itinerary, or cheap eats near Deakin Burwood for the food map.
Tom Hartigan writes regional and outer-suburb stories for MELBZ.
