Victoria University

Block Model success

VU became the first and only Australian university to teach first year undergraduate students in Block Model – with stellar results. International student pass rates have increased by 5.3% compared with 2017, with students achieving high distinctions rising by nearly five percentage points between 2017 and 2018, from 20.3% to 25%, and distinctions rising from 21.6% to 27.7%.

VU’s Australian-first Block Model pedagogy has now received one of the Victorian Government’s highest honours for excellence, the Victorian International Education Award (VIEA). It has also been recognised with an award for innovation from the International Education Association of Australia (IEAA). The IEAA also recognised the university’s new First Year College during the annual conference – which was attended by over 1,600 educational and government officials.

The Block Model of teaching (where students complete one unit at a time) provides students with small-size classrooms, assessment results within three days and workshops for leadership development.

Following its successful results, the Block Model will be introduced across all undergraduate and postgraduate programmes (by coursework) by 2020.

Global rankings for VU engineering and computer science

According to the Times Higher Education World University Subject Rankings 2019, Victoria University is among the world’s best universities in the subjects of engineering and technology – ranking in the 126-150 band - and computer science – ranking in the 151-175 band.

VU sends 21 students to NASA

In December 2018, VU sent 21 students from across disciplines on the trip of a lifetime to America’s space agency, NASA, and to Silicon Valley, the home of Google. VU is the first Australian university to embark on a NASA study mission, where students have been exposed to cutting-edge science and technology.

VU enjoys an international reputation for excellence in teaching and research in a variety of fields, including engineering, business, education, information systems, and sport.

Block model teaching

The International Education Association of Australia (IEAA) awarded the university an IEAA Excellence Award in 2018 and recognised VU’s Block Model of teaching and its new First Year College, which is designed to support students to transition successfully to the rigours of university study. VU’s Australia-first pedagogy also received an award for innovation from the International Education Association of Australia.

The team

VU education is supported by a specialist academic workforce and world-class researchers. Its focus is on the many links between learning, teaching, study, disciplines, work and innovation. The team works on these links to enhance the student experience.

The team offers support with:

• Technology-enhanced learning
• Curriculum design
• Teaching and learning policy issues

Quality of education

• Programmes are created in line with the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) level.
• VU's programmes align with professional accrediting bodies to permit successful students into professional bodies, fields, or industry which may have accreditation requirements or standards.
• The VU Quality and Standards Framework guarantee high standards and quality in teaching and learning.

Study areas offered across VU’s colleges include…

Arts

VU rates 5 stars in the 2018 Good Universities Guide for skills development in areas including social work, humanities, and culture and social sciences.

Business

Some of the nation’s most progressive business programmes are offered at VU. The MBA offered by VU rates Tier 1 by CEO Magazine 2018.

Computers & IT

VU’s computer science discipline benefits from industry connections with global brands such as Amazon, SAP, Cisco, IBM, Microsoft, and Inspur. The discipline ranks in the 151-175 band globally by the THE 2019 subject rankings.

Education

VU’s education discipline ranks at 251-300 in the world according to the THE 2019 subject rankings. VU is one of the only universities in Australia to offer a Bachelor of Education (P-12), allowing gradates to teach at any school level.

Engineering & Science

VU achieved 5 stars in science and mathematics in the Good Universities Guide, 2018 for learner engagement. With state-of-the-art laboratories and cutting-edge programmes, VU was ranked in the 151-175 band for technology and engineering subjects in the 2019 THE subject rankings.

Health & Biomedicine

VU offers study options in areas including nursing, dermal sciences, and paramedicine. Its courses are accredited by reputable organisations including the Australia Psychology Accreditation Council. According to the Good Universities Guide 2018, VU health graduates achieve above national average employment outcomes and above average median starting salaries (A$64,700 versus A$59,000).

Law & Justice

VU provides a range of programmes for legal administration, legal practice, management or specialist roles, and its Law School is based in the heart of Melbourne’s legal precinct. Students have the opportunity to participate in local and international mooting competitions, including VU’s very own Kirby Moot Competition – the largest of its kind in Australia.

Sports & Exercise Science

The University is the nation’s largest provider of teaching programmes in the areas of sport and exercise science. VU offers students opportunities to learn at the workplace with more than 300 employers in the sport industry.

Trades

VU offers a range of study options in hospitality, building and construction, beauty, and more through Victoria Polytechnic.

Academic requirements

Undergraduate programmes

Students applying for a bachelor (undergraduate) degree must possess a secondary school qualification – that is equivalent to the Year 12 certificate in Australia.

Additionally, students are advised to check for other international requirements, including English language requirments, for their respective programmes.

Postgraduate programmes

Students looking to enrol into any of the postgraduate programmes must have completed an undergraduate programme – that is equivalent to a bachelor honours degree, a bachelor degree or a graduate diploma by Australian standards.

English language requirements

Entry into undergraduate or postgraduate programmes requires students to have completed any one of the following exams that tests their English language proficiency:

Undergraduate programmes

1. TOEFL Internet: 67 (overall score) with minimum section scores of:
   • Reading: 15
   • Listening: 12
   • Writing: 21
   • Speaking: 18
2. IELTS: 6.0 (overall score) with a minimum of 6.0 for each band.
3. VU English: Level 5 in English for Academic Purposes.
4. Pearson Test of English (PTE): 50-57 (overall score) with a minimum score of 50 in each section.
5. University of Cambridge – Advanced (CAE): 169 (overall score) with no band lesser than 169.

Postgraduate programmes

1. TOEFL Internet: 79 (overall score) with minimum section scores of:
   • Reading: 18
   • Listening: 19
   • Writing: 22
   • Speaking: 19
2. IELTS: 6.5 (overall score) with a minimum of 6.0 for each band.
3. VU English: Level 6 in English for Academic Purposes.
4. Pearson Test of English (PTE): 58-64 (overall score) with a minimum score of 50 in each section.
5. University of Cambridge – Advanced (CAE): 176 (overall score) with no band less than 169.

VU also has a number of different country-specific entry requirements.

Some of the facilities students will benefit from across the University’s campuses include…

Sports facilities

At this leading sports university, students will enjoy working out. Its personal trainers are experienced and certified professionals. They can help students strengthen, tone and much more.

The University’s health and fitness centres provide:

• A 25m swimming pool
• Indoor sports courts
• Gyms situated in various campuses with fitness classes
• Tennis courts
• An athletics track

Creative arts facilities

Students enjoy access to several creative arts spaces and services, including:

• Kindred Studios, which was ranked by Lonely Planet in recent years to be one of the world’s top 10 co-working spaces in the world. It offers students dedicated spaces for performance, recording, and music rehearsal, as well as a wide range of equipment.
• Its media production precinct includes a television studio with a green screen for visual effects, a radio studio, post-production labs and backstage hair, makeup and costume facilities.

Other general on-campus services and facilities include:

• Bookshop
• University library
• Cafeterias and restaurants
• Student support services

Accommodation

The University provides a 500-bed, luxury residency in Footscray, that is situated less than 7km from the district of central business and adjacent to the Footscray Park campus. UniLodge @ VU offers fully-furnished studio, six-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments starting from A$193 per week.

The other features of the accommodation include:

• dining rooms, gourmet kitchens, and TV lounges
• rooftop garden and barista café
• high-tech study rooms
• pool table, table tennis, half-court basketball court, and foosball
• cinema room with BluRay, cable TV, PlayStation, and Xbox.

The complex is managed by VU in collaboration with UniLodge, a major provider of student accommodation which has over 50 properties across New Zealand and Australia.

In 2019, students also have the added advantage of guaranteed accommodation at UniLodge @ VU. Visit the website for more details about guaranteed accommodation at UniLodge.

Some of the scholarships on offer at VU include…

VU College Diploma Merit Scholarship

The VU College Diploma Merit Scholarship rewards international student achievement in information technology, business (enterprise) or engineering. This scholarship requires no application and students are assessed on first semester completion at the VU College in Melbourne (with a distinction in each unit in of their diploma).

Value: $A2,000 grant (for the second semester of their diploma)

VU International Postgraduate Research Scholarship

This is for international students who have achieved excellent academic qualifications and are looking to participate in programmes of postgraduate research.

The VU International Postgraduate Research Scholarship is based on academic achievement.

Value: A$27,600 per year (for the year 2019)

There is also more general and country-specific scholarship information for international students.