In addition to its range of on-campus courses, the School of Humanities and Social Sciences also conducts an extensive distance education program via the Monash Distance Education Centre. Monash's commitment to distance education means that the same opportunities can be offered to students who cannot attend on-campus lecture programs because of work, family commitments or location.
The aim of the distance education program is to provide students with the necessary resources to complete a major part of their coursework off-campus. This involves the provision of (a) course material especially designed for independent study; (b) opportunities for effective lecturer-student and student-student interaction; (c) access to any necessary facilities, eg library, computers, audiovisual material and so forth.
Monash Distance Education Centre's admissions policy is sufficiently flexible to accommodate applicants with a variety of academic and work experience backgrounds. In general, courses are open to applicants who have passed the Victorian Certificate of Education including English, or who hold comparable academic qualifications.
Applications are also invited from mature-age people (twenty-three years and over) who, although they may not hold the required academic qualifications, can demonstrate that they might reasonably be expected to successfully complete the course they are applying for. This would include evidence of academic studies, work or vocational training after leaving school, together with a personal statement/resume and employer references attesting to the applicant's general maturity and motivation (ie references must accompany applications made on the basis of mature-age entry). Mature-age applicants are required to undertake the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) if they do not possess tertiary entrance requirements.
A number of on-campus weekend and vacation schools are organised for distance education students to supplement and enrich the basic coursework they do off-campus. The Bulletin provides students with details of their weekend school timetable. The Bulletin also keeps distance education students up-to-date with university matters.
It is important to note that for some courses there are mandatory attendance requirements, and for some subjects, eg psychology and social welfare, a certain amount of required practical work. Where this is so, the requirement is specified in the course description. If in doubt, contact student administration or the distance education centre for specific information.
Attendance at these schools is highly recommended and distance education students are encouraged to make as much use of them as their circumstances allow. They add a valuable dimension to the study experience by providing opportunities for interaction with lecturers and fellow students, and provide access to study facilities such as the library and the computer rooms.
Cafeteria facilities are available and child care services and social functions are provided by the student union. There may be limited on-campus accommodation available to distance education students during weekend and vacation schools.
If you decide to apply for enrolment in 1997, the sooner you act the better. Quotas operate on courses and some individual subjects. Instructions included with application forms tell you quite clearly the steps to follow to complete an application.
New applicants for distance education should lodge applications, complete with evidence of entry qualifications, with student administration by 20 September 1996. It will only be possible to consider late applications if quota places remain.
The 1996 Monash Distance Education booklet gives details of courses and subjects available by distance education. To obtain a free copy write to Student Administration, Monash University Gippsland campus, Switchback Road, Churchill 3842, or telephone Student Administration on (051) 226 287 or (03) 9902 6287, or the Distance Education Centre on (051) 226 274 or (03) 9902 6274.
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