Over 9,400 University of Melbourne Int’l Students Received Extra Support This Year

More than 9,400 international students pursuing studies at the University of Melbourne have benefited from expanded support services this year, the university has announced.

In a press release, the University of Melbourne said that more student support programs would commence in the second semester, Erudera.com reports.

It stressed that thanks to the Victorian Government International Education Resilience Fund, students, no matter in which country they are staying, can access different programs that help them in their studies and to connect with other members of the community.

Students will also be able to participate in home-country internships when semester two begins. According to the statement, they can undertake internships locally and then apply the gained knowledge in a “real-life setting.”

University of Melbourne Provost Nicola Phillips expressed delight that many students had access to support programs, adding that she is hopeful this will also continue during the second semester.

She said that the COVID-19 pandemic had an enormous impact on the university community, especially students studying offshore.

“These programs are designed to ensure all students have the opportunity to excel in their studies, connect with their peers and have access to the very best internships and industry programs to ensure they graduate well prepared for their chosen careers and to make a valuable contribution to society, no matter where in the world they are,” Phillips said.

Phillips further stressed that the university is committed to attracting and supporting students from different backgrounds so the latter can succeed in life.

“These programs are crucial to the Melbourne experience,” she emphasized.

As part of its efforts to support students, the university has established study hubs in Nanjing and Shenzhen, where students can meet with their peers and alumni.

Until now, more than 700 students visited these centers, attending nearly 50 events where they had the chance to engage with more than 40 alumni guest speakers.

The University of Melbourne also announced the four-week Melbourne Employability Accelerator (MEA), which is open to all domestic and international undergraduates in their first or second year of studies. Over 300 international students have already joined and applications for September are also open.

Part of the support is the counseling and psychological service available 24 hours a day for a week.

The university has also supported thousands of students to continue their studies at the institution by providing them with funded scholarships. Under the Melbourne Graduate Scholarships program, 1,200 international students in total have received grants worth $5000.

In December 2021, the Melbourne Welcome package was launched, supporting more than 6,600 students.