Monash University

Monash University was established in 1958 and named after Sir John Monash, the civil engineer who commanded Australian forces in the First World War. It has grown into one of Australia's largest universities, with around 86,000 students. The main campus is at Clayton, about 20 kilometres south-east of Melbourne's city centre, and there are further Victorian campuses at Caulfield, Peninsula and Parkville, along with campuses in Malaysia and Indonesia and a teaching centre in Prato, Italy. Monash is a member of the Group of Eight.

The University is strong in medicine, pharmacy, public health, engineering, information technology and law. The Australian Synchrotron stands beside the Clayton campus, and the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and the nearby Monash Medical Centre link teaching with clinical research. The Faculty of Law teaches undergraduates at Clayton and runs its postgraduate programme from Monash Law Chambers in the city, while public health is taught from the Alfred Centre on St Kilda Road.

Clayton is a self-contained suburban campus with its own shops, sports centre, residential halls and a busy campus centre. The Monash Student Association runs clubs, events and advocacy services, and buses link the campus to Clayton and Huntingdale stations, from where trains reach the city in about half an hour. The surrounding suburbs have large Indian, Sri Lankan and Chinese communities, so familiar food and groceries are easy to find.

Because teaching is spread across several sites, international students should check where their classes are held before choosing accommodation: postgraduate law is in the city and public health is on St Kilda Road, while undergraduate computing and law are at Clayton. Monash College offers foundation and diploma programmes for students who do not yet meet direct entry. You will need a student visa (subclass 500), Overseas Student Health Cover and evidence of funds, and Monash's semesters begin in late February and late July.