My learning journey started when I received a course offer with international merit scholarship for the undergraduate programme under the faculty of Medicine of Monash University, which is ranked 61 among the top 100 universities in international rankings.
International students are given an official welcome to the university during the orientation period. The two weeks of orientation is filled with several educational, social and cultural events wherein we get to meet our teaching faculty and coursemates. The whole Monash team is well aware of the common problems faced by the international students academically and socially, and help is readily available all days on campus.
LEARNING ENVIRONMENTIndustry-based learning is applied to most of the courses. Theory and placements are given equal importance. Besides my lectures, tutorials, and clinical learning environment labs, we were offered clinical rotations in hospitals from the first semester. Thus, we got our hands into practice as well. The concepts are well explained and demonstrated by these four modes of teaching. Assessments differ from unit to unit and are split into exams, assignments, quizzes and tutorial participation. This keeps us occupied throughout the semester and reduces the exam stress. The entire course is reassessed and constantly improved every year in response to the student evaluation about the units at the end of each semester.
Monash University strongly encourages students to participate in club and volunteering activities. I was offered a place in the 2015 Monash mind leadership programme which focused on leadership skills and benefits of volunteering. Student club events provide a great opportunity to make friends with students from all around the globe. Education is not only about marks. Academic studies accompanied with leadership skills makes a complete student
LIVING IN MELBOURNEMonash University has on- and off-campus accommodation. Staying on campus was fun and also academically helpful. Social events and study sessions take place throughout the week. Intercampus exchange programmes, study tours and international internships give a global exposure and can be planned as part of the course.
Melbourne has a huge multicultural population, and I got to make many friends. People in Melbourne are understanding, helpful and sociable. I had the chance to taste the cuisine from most countries around the world. The great ocean road and Philip Island were worth the visit. Australian open tennis and ODI cricket keeps the sports fans like me engaged throughout the year. As a whole, Monash university was my home away from home. Going on to my second year at Monash, I was selected as a student mentor for the students joining in 2016. My classes commence in March, and I’m eagerly waiting to welcome the first-year international students as a student mentor of Monash University.
The writer is pursuing her undergraduate double degree in health sciences at Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
