Matthew George Cope

Host University: Monash University
Year of Study Abroad: 2010-11

Where did you live? Would you recommend it?

In a flat in St. Kilda, would certainly recommend the area to anyone looking for a vibrant student atmosphere.

Which department(s) did you study in?

Arts

How does the workload/classes/teaching styles vary to Sheffield?

The teaching style is of a similarly high standard although the workload may be a little more with eight modules rather than six.

Class sizes were larger than in Sheffield which was a negative aspect as it was easier for people to sit and say nothing rather than actively participate.

What did you do for fun at the weekends and during the holidays?

Enjoyed the local bars and the cultural city of Melbourne. In the holidays I visited my family in Perth.

Did you join any societies or clubs?

No, it's not as easy to do as in Sheffield because I lived a little way from the campus itself.

Describe the University/City/things to do

Melbourne is a city of 4 million people so there are many things to do. I enjoyed going to St. Kilda beach to relax and swim or go into the city centre itself to visit museums and galleries especially the ACMI free galleries (Australian Centre for the Moving Image).

Could you give any travel or immigration tips?

Immigration is fairly strict but just read the tips online.

Could you give any advice or tips to a student preparing to go or tell them anything you wished you knew in advance?

Try and find a job to be organised for you before you go because Australia is a very expensive country and it is almost impossible to survive on UK-based loans/grants.

Would you say it is cheaper or more expensive to live than Sheffield?

Much more expensive, but as you can earn a lot in Australian dollars it evens out overall.