Vice-Chancellor's Message

As you will discover, Monash is a dynamic and internationally recognised university with a long established tradition in providing excellence in education. It is highly regarded for its innovative approach to teaching, research and learning and our graduates are sought after by employers from Australia and overseas. Monash is one of the prestigious Group of Eight universities which are Australia's leading research universities.

The Monash community includes more than 55,000 students from over 130 countries, over 6,000 full-time staff and an extensive international network of more than 200,000 alumni.

Monash has 8 campuses, six in Australia, one in Malaysia and one in South Africa, as well as a centre in Europe in Prato, Italy.

Transition to university is an exciting step in your lives. You will be challenged by the large size of the university, the less directive methods of teaching and learning and the very large number of students from many different countries and cultures. Many of you will be living away from home for the first time. It is an exciting environment, but also one to which it takes some time to become accustomed. It is very important that you take the opportunity to get to know students from different backgrounds to your own. Participating fully in university life, not only in lecture theatres and tutorials, but also the broader aspects of university life will be most rewarding. At the beginning of the year, everyone will be in a similar situation so it is a great time to get to know other students.

Orientation Week will acquaint you with university life, help you find your way around campus, and give you an insight into the university's organisation. It will also introduce you to another side of higher education. Learning and study are an important part of the preparation for your future careers, but you should not overlook the opportunities Monash offers for other pursuits. The Sports and Recreational Centre and organizations like Clubs and Societies are there to help you get the most out of your time at Monash.

Please take this opportunity to immerse yourself in the exciting range of Orientation activities on offer.

It is my pleasure to welcome you to Monash and invite you to embark on a lifetime partnership with your university.

Professor Richard Larkins AO
Vice-Chancellor and President