Victorian Universities

Melbourne

Melbourne is a big, vibrant and interesting city. Compared with Sydney, rent tends to be cheaper, and its public transport system makes the city easy to navigate.

Students are spoiled for choice in Melbourne, with La Trobe University, The University of Melbourne, Monash University, RMIT University, Swinburne University of Technology and The Victoria University of Technology all providing excellence in tertiary education.

Lovers of fine food and coffee will be happy in Melbourne – as there are an overwhelming number of great cafes and restaurants to choose from, while there are a huge number of hotels in the city and suburbs, if you’re visiting first. The bohemian lifestyle tends to attract students to the areas of Brunswick and St Kilda, which is where you’ll find no shortage of funky clothes shops and eateries. And Melbourne’s nightlife is legendary – with regular live music, and nightclubs that stay open late.

The only real drawback is the weather – it can change from bright and sunny to cold and stormy in a matter of minutes. The summers tend to be dry and hot, while the winters can get very cold, so make sure you pack a coat!

As far as accessibility goes, the country’s second biggest city is among the easiest to get to from elsewhere in the country with all the leading airlines flying to Melbourne daily from all capital cities. The airport itself is a fair way out of town, though the Skybus is a cheap and quick way to get straight into the CBD once you land.

Ballarat

Ballarat is about an hour and a half west of Melbourne. Home to Federation University Australia, this fast-growing town offers a laidback lifestyle – making it the perfect place to focus on your studies.

The town is rich with historical significance, as it played an integral part in the Australian gold rush of the 1850s. As a result, Ballarat is filled with heritage buildings (such as the former gaol) that are well worth a look.

It’s fairly cheap to live in Ballarat, which makes it perfect for students. Additionally, the class sizes tend to be smaller, and it’s easy to get around the town (as there isn’t much traffic).

Geelong

An hour south west of Melbourne, Geelong is Victoria’s second largest city. It is situated on the coast, which means there are plenty of great beaches to discover.

Deakin University is about fifteen minutes from the heart of Geelong, in a suburb called Waurn Ponds. It’s surrounded by natural beauty – yet also close to shops, cafes, restaurants and cinemas.

Students will enjoy the cheaper rent (compared with Melbourne) and the many cycle paths which make it easy to get around. Plus you’re only ever an hour away from Melbourne if you want to head into town for a gig or festival.


Victorian Universities 

The following information is taken directly from the website of the particular university or from the Australian Vice-Chancellor’s Committee website. A listed university does not represent any affiliation or recommendation made by boredofstudies.org and is purely a representation of facts about that particular university. Boredofstudies.org provides links to external organisations as an information service only and does not necessarily endorse any organisation or products which are represented on the external sites.

The University of Ballarat – www.ballarat.edu.au
Deakin University – www.deakin.edu.au
La Trobe University – www.latrobe.edu.au
The University of Melbourne – www.unimelb.edu.au
Monash University – www.monash.edu.au
RMIT University – www.rmit.edu.au
Swinburne University of Technology – www.swin.edu.au
Victoria University of Technology – www.vu.edu.au


top The University of Ballarat – www.ballarat.edu.au

PO Box 663
Ballarat Victoria 3353
Tel: (03) 5327 9000
Fax: (03) 5327 9545

The University of Ballarat is Australia’s only regional dual-sectoral University committed to providing high quality services to students, the community and industry in western Victoria and beyond.

The University, based at Mt Helen, has five campuses; Mt Helen and the historic SMB Campus in Ballarat and one each at Horsham, Stawell and Ararat, making it the pivotal provider of post-secondary education for Central and Western Victoria.

The University of Ballarat offers the best of both worlds combining a strong tradition of 130 years of tertiary education in Ballarat with the freedom and dynamism that comes with being a relatively small and new University with close links to local industry and technology.

The University has a student population of over 19,000 and provides a wide range of educational and training programs from apprenticeships and TAFE certificates through to post graduate degrees including doctorates.

International students at the University of Ballarat come from over 25 different countries to participate in a diverse range of TAFE and higher education programs.

Key areas of activity in research and consulting and educational programs at the University include tele-imaging; multi-media; geographical information systems; engineering and minerals; environmental and food sciences; heritage studies; tourism; occupational health and safety; electronic commerce and rural health. Research is also complemented by the University’s Technology Park on the Mt. Helen Campus facilitating and promoting new technology in products and services through scientific and industrial research.


top Deakin University – www.deakin.edu.au

Geelong Victoria 3217
Tel: (03) 5227 1100
Fax: (03) 5227 2001

Big university, small campuses
Deakin is one of Australia’s largest universities, providing all the resources of a major university to more than 70 000 students. Yet the campuses are not huge and overbearing. Instead, it is easy to get around and there is a strong community feeling.

Young, innovative
Deakin takes pride in its youth. Established in the 1970s as one of the new generation of Australian universities, Deakin successfully combines a university’s traditional focus on excellent teaching and research with a desire to challenge conventional practices and to seek new ways of developing and delivering courses

Metropolitan and regional
Deakin University has campuses in the metropolitan area as well as in regional cities. The largest campus is in Melbourne, then there are campuses in Victoria’s second largest city Geelong, and in the beautiful coastal city of Warrnambool. While many students like to study close to home, others prefer to experience a different lifestyle by moving away from home to study.

Industry-relevant courses
Deakin’s courses have been developed to be relevant, practical and up-to-date. Staff maintain close links with industry and professional groups, and many courses have a built-in work experience component, meaning graduates develop the skills which will allow them to ‘hit the ground running’.

Flexible study options
Deakin students really take advantage of being able to fit their study around work, family or lifestyle demands. Off-campus and online study options give students the flexibility to change study mode during a course, or pick up extra subjects. The University’s library and IT resources are set up to fully support this study flexibility.

International focus
Global isn’t just a word at Deakin. Our students come from all over the world, and study on every continent via student exchange programs and distance education programs. While studying at Deakin students can grow to become global citizens and develop a richer cultural perspective.


top La Trobe University – www.latrobe.edu.au

Bundoora Victoria 3083
Tel: (03) 9479 1111
Fax: (03) 9478 5814

The main campus of La Trobe University in Melbourne is situated in spacious parkland and includes a Wildlife Reserve. This metropolitan campus also houses the main research and teaching faculties of the University, including the Research and Development Park, a world renowned library, multi-media facilities and a hospital including student medical services.

The University also operates a further six campuses in regional Victoria, extending from Mildura in the west through Bendigo, Shepparton, Beechworth and Albury-Wodonga to Mount Buller in the Victorian Alps. The regional campuses are all linked to each other and to the main campus in Melbourne by various ICT facilities, including video-conferencing, thereby ensuring that high quality teaching and research are available throughout the University.

The University maintains a comprehensive academic profile and the defining features may be summarised as follows:

A comprehensive academic profile encompassing professional, vocational, clinical and traditional programs of training, study and research.
The pursuit of pure and applied research.
Student-focussed learning programs.
International exchange and co-operation.
The provision of university programs in regional Victoria.
Effective links with industry, the professions and local communities.

The key objectives of the University are to be an internationally acknowledged centre for teaching, training, scholarship and research and to prepare students for the various needs and challenges of work and society.

The University has a particularly strong commitment to internationalisation and it seeks not only to attract students and staff from all around the world but also to provide opportunities for local students and staff to gain international experience through a scheme of exchange programs. In particular it leads the International Network of Universities which is a consortium of universities specifically designed to promote student mobility. Currently the University has links with some 250 institutions in more than 40 countries.

The University is committed to student-centred learning and in this regard it is pleasing to report that graduates have consistently accorded a very high rating to the quality of the teaching in the annual surveys conducted by the Graduate Careers Council of Australia. A comprehensive range of student support services and facilities are available.


top The University of Melbourne – www.unimelb.edu.au

Parkville Victoria 3052
Tel: (03) 8344 4000
Fax: (03) 8344 5104

The University of Melbourne opened in 1855 as Victoria’s first university and Australia’s second. Now a multi-campus university of 34,000 students its main campus is a focus of the City of Melbourne’s ‘Knowledge Precinct’ and the prestigious medical research precinct, the ‘Parkville Strip’.

Melbourne is recognised internationally for its academic and research excellence and leadership in linking with industry in research centres of strategic national importance — including partnerships in 14 Cooperative Research Centres. It is a founding partner in Bio21, a $400 million biotechnology precinct which, with Victorian Government support, is committed to building and sustaining a world class biotechnology industry.

Its cultural connections include the Melbourne Theatre Company, Melbourne University Press, the Victorian College of the Arts, and the award-winning Ian Potter Museum of Art. Alumni are leaders in politics and public service, major contributors to the arts, sciences and the professions, and winners of Nobel and Australia Prizes.

Melbourne has 11 faculties, the School of Graduate Studies and the internationally-accoladed Melbourne Business School. In 2001, it is home to around 5700 international students. Exchange agreements with over 130 institutions enable students to study overseas earning approved credit towards their Melbourne degree

Each year Melbourne Scholarships—Australia’s most comprehensive scholarship program – provide study opportunities for around 3000 high-achieving students

The University’s Melbourne Agenda aims to position Melbourne as a superb campus-based research and teaching university. Melbourne University Private – a commercially-based university, provides advanced education, training, research and consultancy services to business, industry and international and government agencies.

The University is also a founding member of Universitas 21, an international network of leading research-intensive universities.


top Monash University – www.monash.edu.au

Wellington Road
Clayton Victoria 3168
Tel: (03) 9905 4000
Fax: (03) 9905 4007

Monash at a glance
Monash is Australia’s most internationalised university.
It has more than 49,500 students from over 100 countries, speaking 90 plus languages.
Monash University is a member of the prestigious Group of Eight (Go8) universities, recognised for excellence in teaching, learning, research and graduate outcomes. The Go8 undertake 70% of all research conducted in Australian universities and over half of all basic research conducted throughout Australia.
Monash University libraries house more than 2.6 million items.
Monash University has eight campuses and two centres. Six campuses in Australia, one in Malaysia, and one in South Africa and centres in London, UK and Prato, Italy.

Research
Our academic staff publish some 5,000 research works annually. Monash University has 75 research centres and is involved with 17 Co-operative Research Centres.

Graduate outcomes
87% of new Monash graduates found full-time employment or went onto further study, within four months of graduation.*
Monash graduates earn some of the highest average salaries*.
26% continued into postgraduate study*.
* (Graduate Careers Council of Australia, Graduate Destination Survey, 2001)

Environmental awareness
Approximately 20 tonnes of paper are recycled from Monash Campuses every month. This represents approximately 44% of Monash’s paper purchases.
Monash University has 150 green office reps across its Australian Campuses–these reps are facilitating environmental improvements throughout Monash.

Sporting achievements
Monash staff and students excelled at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester, adding four gold, one silver and two bronze medals to Australia’s tally.


top RMIT University – www.rmit.edu.au

GPO Box 2476V
Melbourne Victoria 3001
Tel: (03) 9925 2000
Fax: (03) 9663 2764

RMIT University is renowned for its quality education and training programs, innovative consultancy and research and its close links with industry and employers.

RMIT emphasises education for employment and research to solve real-world problems. Students, graduates and staff are expected to contribute creatively, critically and responsibly to their professions and the community.

The University’s seven faculties (Applied Science; Art, Design and Communication; Business; Constructed Environment; Education, Language and Community Services; Engineering and Life Sciences) offer a range of programs to over 50,000 students in Australia and overseas. These include TAFE apprenticeships, certificates and diplomas, bachelor degrees, graduate certificate and diplomas, masters by research or course work, and professional or research doctorates. Students have the flexibility to structure their study with double degrees, dual awards, pathways between TAFE and degree courses, as well as short courses and distance learning. They also have the opportunity to work in industry whilst completing their degree.

The University also tailors programs for industry and community clients. These can be delivered in the workplace and in some cases online.

RMIT University has more than 25 research centres and institutes including seven Cooperative Research Centres.

RMIT is also one of Australia’s most successful international universities. This is recognised by RMIT having won the first Australian Export Award for Education in 1998, the Governor of Victoria Export Award for Education in 1998,1999 and 2000 and the 1999 Business Asia News Magazine Award for best Australian service activity in Asia. Links with universities and colleges around the world allow RMIT staff and students to participate in exchanges, study abroad programs, and co-operative teaching and learning programs.

The city campus is located at the northern end of Melbourne’s Central Business District. The Bundoora campus is situated in the northern suburbs of Melbourne and is set on forty-two hectares of extensive parkland. The university’s third campus is in the inner northern suburb of Brunswick. RMIT also occupies a number of other sites in and around the city. The most significant of these are at Fishermans Bend and Point Cook as well as Hamilton in regional Victoria.


top Swinburne University of Technology – www.swin.edu.au

PO Box 218
Hawthorn Victoria 3122
Tel: (03) 9214 8000
Fax: (03) 9819 5454

Swinburne has a strong reputation in Australia and overseas as a provider of career orientated education and as a university with a commitment to research. The University maintains a strong technology base and important links with industry, complemented by a number of innovative specialist research centres which attract a great deal of international interest.

A feature of many Swinburne undergraduate courses is the applied vocational emphasis and direct industry application through Industry Based Learning (IBL) programs. Swinburne was a pioneer of IBL, a program which places students directly in industry for vocational employment as an integral part of the course structure.

Swinburne is now one of a few Australian universities whose responsibilities span the range of programs from apprenticeships to PhDs. In keeping with this breadth of involvement, the University continues to play a leading role in creating new approaches to integration between sectors.

The creation of study pathways between sectors and courses is firmly in place at Swinburne. Current pathways involve moving either from the TAFE sector into Higher Education or from TAFE based VCE studies into full TAFE courses. A limited number of pathways are available for students to move from degree courses into TAFE studies, and this will increase in the future. This process of articulation provides students with greater flexibility to complete tertiary qualifications.

Swinburne was founded to provide expanded and more accessible educational opportunities to the residents in the ‘outer east’ of Melbourne. Due to the amalgamation on 1 July 1998 with the former Eastern TAFE, Swinburne’s operations are now conducted at six campuses: Croydon, Hawthorn, Healesville, Lilydale, Prahran and Wantirna. While focusing on its regional responsibilities, Swinburne is heavily involved in international initiatives and plays a significant part in the internationalisation of Australia’s tertiary education system. In 1998 Swinburne established the Laem Chabang School of Engineering in Thailand providing VET programs in electrical/electronic and mechanical engineering, information technology and English language studies.

In 2000, Swinburne established Swinburne Sarawak Institute of Technology in Kuching, East Malaysia. Swinburne Sarawak will provide seamless multisectoral tertiary education in Engineering (computer systems electronics and mechatronics) and Business.


top Victoria University of Technology – www.vu.edu.au

Ballarat Road
Footscray Victoria 3011
PO Box 14428 MC
Melbourne Victoria 8001
Tel: (03) 9688 4000
Fax: (03) 9689 4069

Recognised as one of Australia’s most innovative universities, Victoria University offers a unique combination of academic and vocational skills, coupled with an advanced research profile. Established under the State of Victoria’s Victoria University of Technology Act of 1990 we are known as Victoria University, our registered trade and business name. Structurally, the University can be examined from an administrative or academic perspective. You may wish to view the diagrams demonstrating these structures.

Victoria University has become one of Australia’s largest universities, and one of the five dual-sector universities offering both Higher Education and Technical and Further Education courses. More than 50,000 students and 3000 staff make up the greatest international mix at any Australian university. The University also has nearly 2300 international students currently studying, both onshore and offshore.

With 11 campuses strategically placed both in Melbourne’s central business district and throughout Melbourne’s western region, including rural campuses at Sunbury and Werribee the University is well positioned to meet the needs of students, industry and the community.

The University’s four Higher Education faculties and four Technical and Further Education schools have developed strong links with industry, business and the local community. A number of alliances have been forged with key industry players to give students direct access to cutting-edge research, as well as work experience to broaden their employment options.

Bringing tertiary education to all members of the community is a priority for Victoria University. Its Portfolio Partnership Programtailors courses and course pathways to meet individual student needs, including easy pathways between Technical and Further Education and higher education.

Victoria University is also part of an international network of universities and has formal exchange agreements with institutions throughout Asia, Europe, the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada. The University runs offshore courses in Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore and the People’s Republic of China.

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