Monash University

Unique Study Opportunities

• Learn about the cultural, social, and political conditions that have shaped the development of the performing arts in Australia in the fall course The Performing Arts in Australia. 
• Analyze the relationship between language and culture, and how this relationship impacts one’s place and social mobility in society in the spring course Language, Culture and Power. 
• Explore the relationship between humans, cultures, and the corporation in the fall course The Inhuman Body in the Human World: Corporations and Contemporary Culture. 
• Examine the concept of Melbourne as the music city, and consider the industrial, cultural, and social relationships between cities and the music industries in the spring course Music Cities.

Language

Language Study: Optional

Foreign language study is available. Check the university course catalog.

Courses and Credit

REQUIREMENTS WHILE ABROAD

To successfully complete this program:

• Take a full-time course of study: 24 quarter/16 semester UC units each semester, which is equal to 24 Monash credits.
  • A 6 credit Monash course equals 6 quarter/4 semester UC units.
  • Because most Monash courses are worth 6 Monash credits, most UCEAP students will take 4 courses.
• You may take one course per semester for pass/no pass credit.

COURSE NUMBERS AND DIVISION 

Courses that begin with a 1 will earn lower-division UC credit. Courses that begin with a 2 or 3 will earn upper-division UC credit. 

RESTRICTIONS

You may not take courses that begin with a 4 or higher in any discipline. 

You can take courses across the Clayton and the Caulfield campuses. However, if you want to take courses at the Peninsula or Parkville campuses, you must take all of your courses at that campus.

Keep the following limitations in mind: 

• Some studio-based art/design courses may require a portfolio.
• Education courses are extremely limited.
• Engineering courses that begin with a 3 or higher are not available to UCEAP students.
• Medicine, surgery, nursing, and law courses are not available to UCEAP students.

RESEARCH

Students can conduct research by undertaking a science research project. For this option, students must either apply online or obtain permission from the course coordinator to join a project. If accepted, this research project may replace one course as part of the minimum program requirements. Research projects include:* 

• Biology in Action 
• Earth, Atmosphere, and Environment Research Project
• Physics and Astronomy Introductory Research
• Chemistry Project

*Computer Science projects 1 and 2 are not available to UCEAP students. 

Catalogs and Resources

• Monash University Handbook: Browse the full list of undergraduate offerings. 
  • To find courses, make sure that you click on "units", as that is what courses are called at Monash. Do not click on "courses" as that will only provide you with the list of degrees offered. 
  • Semester 1 is the spring term.
  • Semester 2 is the fall term.
• Monash's streamlined courses: View the list of pre-approved courses that UCEAP students are automatically eligible to take. 
• UCEAP Course Catalog: See a list of some courses students have taken on this program. This is not a current representation of course offerings on this program. Reference the above links to review recent course offerings.
• Campus Credit Abroad: Learn the types of credit (major, minor, general education, elective) students from your campus received at this location. If the course you want to take is not listed here, that does not mean you can't earn major, minor, general education or elective credit for it, as the database is not fully updated and does not list all courses, even if a UCEAP student has taken it before and has earned major credit for it. Let this database help you if it's able to, but don't let it deter you. It's ultimately up to your major advisor to determine the type of UC credit you'll earn for your classes abroad. 

Academic Culture

To help you acclimate to Australian campus life and culture, there are a few key differences and similarities with UC to be aware of:

• The Australian semester is longer and has a slower pace than the UC semester or quarter.
• Students address Australian lecturers and tutors informally by their first name.
• Similar to UC, the main forms of teaching are lectures (50-500+ students), tutorials (10-25 students), seminars (30+ students; half lecture, half tutorial), and labs/practicals.
• All lectures are recorded—beware of waiting until the last minute to watch them.
• In Australia, students are expected to be independent and show initiative. Instructors won't follow up with you if you miss classes or assignments.
• Assignments tend to require heavy research and critical analysis.
• You’ll need to use Australian English for assignments.

Grades

You will earn direct UC credit and grades for all coursework. Australian university grades are criterion-referenced rather than norm-referenced (i.e., curved). This means that your performance on an assignment will be compared to a predefined standard, not to the performance of your classmates. Your lecturer will advise you of this standard via a grading rubric.

Most assessment is due toward the end of the semester. In a semester, it's not uncommon to have your first assignment due in the sixth week and not receive any grades back until the eighth week. Finals may be very heavily weighted (40-80% of your final grade). There is usually a study week (called swot vac) between the last week of the semester and the start of the exam period.

UCEAP converts your Australian grades to UC grades. Fall grades are usually available in December. Spring grades are usually available in July.