Monash, the largest university in Australia, is aiming to have a campus on every continent by 2020.
Already it has six campuses in Australia and one in Malaysia. The South African version is based in Roodepoort, west of Johannesburg, and boasts brand-new facilities.
‘Innovation, internationalisation and engagement: these are the three key reasons behind the university’s decision to open a campus in South Africa and are the themes extended to the teaching and learning experience we offer here,” says Jennifer Smit, spokesperson for Monash South Africa.
Undergraduate courses in the arts, business and commerce, business systems, computing and information technology are on offer. Applicants must have a matric with university exemption and must further meet the entry requirements for the course of their choice. All the courses are accredited by the South African Qualifications Authority.
David Robinson, Monash University’s former vice-chancellor and president, would like to see student numbers grow to
10 000 by 2020. Currently, though, the university is attracting disappointing numbers, with only 170 students enrolling last year.
But Smit says having small numbers is an advantage as well. ‘Our global policy limits tutorial classes to a maximum of 25 people and our lecture theatres are generally smaller than most other universities in this country, making for superb access to staff and facilities,” she says.
A degree from Monash does not come cheap. Tuition fees range from R29 000 a year for a bachelor of arts to about R32 000 for a bachelor of computing. Students also have to buy textbooks and to cover their living and social expenses.
But the university is committed to providing higher education for all South Africans and provides bursaries for disadvantaged students. One in 10 students is offered a bursary.
Financially disadvantaged South African students in Grade 12 may apply for a Monash bursary. Applicants must meet university entrance requirements and course selection criteria. The distribution of bursaries is based on academic merit and the individual financial circumstances of applicants.
Smit says students who register at Monash South Africa have wonderful opportunities to see the world. They can study at other Monash campuses and centres abroad and can participate in student exchange programmes with other universities around the globe. Monash internationally has about 43 000 students, of whom 20% are from countries other than Australia.