School Profile
School Name: The University of Melbourne
Establishment Time: 1853 AD
Strength Subjects: Business, Medicine
Famous Alumni: Julia Gillard, Elizabeth Blackburn, Robert Menzies, Li Xiaoyun
Global Ranking: 26 (from US News Best Global Universities Ranking)
My study abroad experience is a treasure that I can savor for a long time. Especially after I returned to China, I still often recall my days in Melbourne. It feels like I'm still strolling around Federation Square.
Study
Study is naturally the main task of studying abroad. I still vividly remember what the professor said to us during the orientation: "Wish you all can make some difference here." I often wonder how I can become a better person during these two years of studying abroad.
The learning atmosphere at the University of Melbourne is excellent. Among Australian universities, the University of Melbourne has the strictest admission requirements. Therefore, many Chinese students here come from top universities in China. For business students, there are basically four courses each semester. The courses are usually divided into lectures and workshops. A lecture is when a professor gives a lesson, and a workshop is similar to a practice class. There are more workshops in accounting and finance courses.
Different from the Chinese education system that attaches great importance to final exams, Australian schools focus more on daily efforts. Almost every course has assignments in the forms of group presentations, case analyses, and course papers. From the beginning of the semester, there are various deadlines that last until the final exams. So, it's almost impossible to pass the final assessment by cramming at the last minute.
What's more, there is no such thing as a make-up exam in Australian schools. Once you fail a course, you have to pay a high tuition fee again to retake it. So, never think that choosing to study in Australia means you can enjoy the sunshine, beaches, red wine, and vineyards in the Southern Hemisphere without a care. You might accidentally end up contributing more bricks to building new campus facilities!
The University of Melbourne highly encourages students to adjust their study plans according to their actual situations, which is very considerate. For example, I have a friend who transferred to statistics because the mathematics major was too difficult, and another friend switched to information systems to obtain Permanent Residency (PR). If you find that you are more interested in academic research, you can even transfer from a taught master's program to a research master's program. The flexibility of the study plan is indeed a plus for choosing the University of Melbourne.
Life at Melbourne
Melbourne has topped the list of the world's most livable cities for many consecutive years, and there are good reasons for it. Apart from the weather, which is as unpredictable as a roller coaster and often gets criticized, life here is truly comfortable.
Especially for international students, since there is a large Chinese community, all kinds of Chinese cuisine from different regions of China are readily available. There's no need to worry about getting used to the food. To save money, many international students choose to cook by themselves. The numerous Asian and Chinese supermarkets in Melbourne provide great convenience for this. You can buy various domestic seasonings and ingredients at very affordable prices there. This is also a major advantage of studying in Australia.
Accommodation is probably the biggest living expense. The rents of apartments in the city center and near the school are extremely high. Even a very small student apartment can cost around 10,000 yuan per month. Therefore, sharing a two-bedroom apartment with friends is a relatively more economical and comfortable choice.
The real estate agency industry in Australia is well-developed, so renting through a regular real estate agency is relatively secure. Of course, some friends choose to live in the suburbs. The suburbs mainly consist of houses, and the rent is relatively cheap, but the transportation can be a bit inconvenient.
Experience
Study is not the only part of studying abroad. If it were just about learning knowledge, platforms like Coursera and Mooc already offer a wealth of learning resources. Therefore, the experience of studying abroad is equally important.
Compared with the intensive teaching within one year in the UK, most master's programs at the University of Melbourne last for two years, providing more time to gain different experiences.
The Australian Open and Formula 1 racing at the beginning of each year, various street performances by artists in Melbourne, skydiving on the Great Ocean Road, various activities and dances organized by the school, and earning living expenses through part-time jobs... These are all wonderful memories.
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