My Exchange at Monash University
Hi there, I see that you might be interested in spending a semester in Melbourne! Applying to Monash University was pretty streamlined as the application process was set out well by the 360 team. Upon arriving in Melbourne, I was transported to my on-campus accommodation, a complimentary service Monash provided. There are two types of accommodation there – Residential Villages (like UoA’s Carlaw Park) and Urban Community (i.e. Studio Apartments, similar to 55 Symonds). I chose to live in the Urban Community for convenience – the room had its own kitchen, bathroom, fridge, freezer, etc. The residential team held many events over the semester, with my main highlights being bowling (twice!), laser tag and the weekly ‘Munch and Mingle’ – where we were treated to different types of food each time (soba noodles, burritos, banh mi, dumplings, buryani, and more). These events definitely helped me to socialise with my hallmates. Overall, Monash’s hall of residences was cheaper than uni accommodation Auckland in my opinion, especially considering all the extra activities that they hold.
A few days after arriving in Melbourne, I walked around campus to find where my classes were located. I couldn’t help but admire how centralised, modern (most of them anyways) and beautiful the campus was. The campus center consists of at least 10 different food stalls, which meant that finding nice food (and coffee!) on campus wasn’t an issue. There was also a mini-supermarket (aka Monash Merchant) directly underneath one of the halls of residence that was relatively affordable (considering it is on campus!), which made buying groceries that much easier! In general, the cost of groceries were slightly higher in Australia compared to NZ.
Another great thing about living on-campus is that you are legible for day trips to Melbourne’s main tourist attractions at a subsidised cost! There were four main destinations, which were Phillip Island, Ballarat and Sovereign Hill, Werribee Zoo and Healsville Santuary. These trips were held weekly up until just before the exam period, which meant that I had time to visit three of the four destinations mentioned above.
On the Phillip Island trip, the first destination was San Remo, where we took some photos of the scenery, had some fish and chips and, perhaps more importantly, watched pelicans getting fed. Woolamai Beach was our next destination, where we walked along the beach side. The beach seems to be a popular surfing area, as there was a surfing competition happening on the day. Next up was Churchill Island, which is a historic working farm. Here we got to see several animals and several activities such as sheep shearing and cow milking. As we head into the evening, we visited the Nobbies to learn about the island’s marine life and coastal environment, as well as taking pictures of the stunning coastal views! All these activities led to the main highlight of the day – seeing penguins at the Penguin Parade! This was purposely set to be the last activity of the day since the penguins (which are only about 20 cm tall – cute!) only come up to the coast after sunset – this meant that we had to wait a significant amount of time to see them. Additionally, the weather was really cold and windy – so bring extra layers of clothing (you’ve been warned!). However, this was worth it in the end as we got to see about 20 tiny little penguins walk past.
The Sovereign Hill trip started with guided tour of Ballarat, where we listened to the city’s history and its importance during the gold rush era. Here we took a photo with piece of gold nugget erected at the city center, before hoping back onto the bus to Sovereign Hill, a “outdoor museum” replicating the streets of gold rush era. Multiple exhibitions and shows are held throughout the day, so there’s something for everyone! Some activities include horse riding, a confectionary demonstration, gold panning (good luck finding it!), gold pouring, candle making, wheel making and more! The main highlight was going on an underground tour of the mine to learn about the dangers and challenges faced by the miners that worked there at the time, as well as seeing more gold [however, we were told at the end the one that they showed us was a fake one 🙁 ]
Lastly, I will touch on a little more about the campus experience. Monash’s style of teaching is significantly different to Auckland’s, at least for engineering. Two of my courses involved watching pre-recorded lectures weekly before coming on campus for what Monash calls a workshop or practical session, where the key learnings from the week are reinforced, weekly quiz solutions are discussed, along with other activities such as group discussions on certain topics. One of my courses involved both a workshop and a practical session, here the workshop session was centered around the theoretical content and the practical content was more of a problem solving/calculation focussed session. I think the idea behind watching the lectures before coming on campus to attend these sessions is to reconsolidate the content learnt, therefore making retaining the content more effective than “traditional” lecturing classes.
Thank you for reading. Overall, the exchange was a fascinating and enjoyable experience. I hope I have inspired you to study abroad for a semester (or two!).
Q&A
What were some of the highlights of the academic experience at your host university?
A particular highlight that stood out to me was the laboratory component of my process control course (CHE3162). The chemical engineering department at Monash has a pilot-scale water treatment plant built to enhance the practical/hands-on experience for students. It is perfect for relating theory to real-world applications. Additionally, it is also in the process of being utilised to conduct experiments for real industry projects. The specific activity that I did on the pilot plant was called a step test, where essentially the valve position of a certain stream (e.g. dirty water) is adjusted to monitor the response of other streams/variables. UoA currently doesn’t have an apparatus such as the one at Monash, which meant that I wouldn’t have gotten such a cool experience doing the course at Auckland!
Another amazing highlight was biodiesel making from canola oil. This was a laboratory component of the bioenergy course (RSE3243)! The transformation from canola oil to biodiesel was possible via something called a transesterification reaction, where the fatty acids from canola oil are reacted with methanol (or ethanol) to make a fatty acid methyl ester (FAME, i.e. biodiesel) and glycerol (i.e. soap). After the biodiesel component was separated from glycerol using a separating funnel, several tests were conducted to measure density and viscosity, as well as determining the cloud point. These measurements are important as they can be used to compare to industry/textbook values to determine whether the biodiesel generated can actually be used in vehicles. Overall, I thought this lab was interesting (apart from long wait times!) and of real-world importance as we look towards renewable sources that can generate energy.
Would you recommend any particular activity/activities unique to your host country or university?
Yes – seeing cute lil penguins at Phillip Island and visiting the Twelve (now Eight!) Apostles!
Also watching the Grand Final AFL match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) was pretty amazing.
What are your top 3 tips for future students attending your host university or going on exchange to your host country?
1. Embrace the Culture and Diversity: Australia, and particularly Melbourne, is known for its cultural diversity. Take the time to explore and appreciate the multicultural aspects of the city and university. I would recommend engaging with local customs, trying different cuisines, and participating in cultural events. Monash University offers a range of clubs and societies that celebrate diversity, providing opportunities to connect with people from various backgrounds.
2. Get Involved in Extracurricular Activities:
Joining clubs, societies, or sports teams at Monash is an excellent way to meet new people, make friends, and enrich your overall university experience. Whether it’s academic, cultural, or sports-related, there’s likely a group that aligns with your interests. This involvement not only enhances your social life but also provides a chance to learn more about Australian culture and make connections that can last a lifetime. If you are planning to live on-campus, there are always events going on every week, so I would recommend you to make the most of it!
3. Explore Beyond the Campus: While your academic studies are important, don’t forget to explore the wider community and natural beauty of Australia. Melbourne is a vibrant city with a rich arts scene, diverse neighborhoods, and numerous outdoor activities. I would recommend you to take weekend trips to iconic destinations like the Great Ocean Road, Grampians National Park, or the Yarra Valley. A visit to the State Library of Victoria and attending the weekly Wednesday night market is a must!
How much did you budget for your exchange? Was this enough? Were there any lessons learned that would help future students budget for their own exchange?
Didn’t really have a financial plan in place, but working part-time during the semesters and full-time during the summer period would certainly help in my opinion.
What are your most significant takeaways from your experience abroad?
I learnt how to adapt to a new learning environment and different approach to teaching. Like I mentioned earlier, Monash doesn’t implement the “traditional” lecturing style anymore. I also learnt how to live in a bigger city such as Melbourne, where the streets are always bustling, even on a normal working day!
Tags: 2023, Engineering, Report