Before starting my time at Swinburne University of Technology, I expected it to be fairly similar to Northeastern. Although both universities have a lot in common, there were many things that surprised me during the first few days and a couple of things that I am still getting used to.
Campus
The first main difference that I noticed between the two schools is the size of the campus. Swinburne is much smaller than Northeastern, and I can walk from one side of the main campus to the other in about five minutes. I really like the size of the school because although there are a lot of students, it feels more intimate with all the buildings being so close to each other. Around campus, there are many restaurants and cafes which are incredibly tempting during the breaks I have between classes. At the library, you can sometimes run into people from the student union walking around with free snacks to help boost students’ energy while studying. The student union also serves a typical Australian barbecue every Wednesday and daily breakfast for members of the union.
Class Structure
For all of the classes that I have here, I always have a lecture and a tutorial scheduled. Students attend the lecture, which is just like a lecture style class at Northeastern, and then attend the tutorial. The lectures are one to two hours long depending on the course, can have anywhere from about 50 to 200 students, and attendance tends to not be mandatory. Professors will have slides and will talk about the information while students take notes. A tutorial is sort of like a seminar class but works a bit differently. They always occur after the lecture because it is intended to build upon the information learned during the lecture. The class size ranges from 15 to 30 people, and the instructor is not the same professor as the one from the lecture. Some tutorials are one hour long while others last for two hours. This class period involves a lot of talking and interacting with other students, and due to this, attendance tends to be mandatory. We often have group discussions, small presentations, and engage in other group and individual activities. This time is a good opportunity to ask questions about the class or the material being taught because most of these inquiries are supposed to be directed towards the tutor, not the lecturer. I am taking four courses, and with 8 lectures/tutorials per week, I have 12 contact hours.
Homework and Forms of Assessment
For the courses that I am enrolled in, we have a fair amount of work to do outside of class. There are always readings to do in preparation for class, but it tends to be a very doable amount. Most of my classes require me to post on online discussion boards and this counts for a significant percentage of your grade. I also have three longer research essays due, a couple of presentations, tests, and group projects. In this aspect, the types of assessments are very similar to what I have had at Northeastern, and there is constant work due throughout the semester. One big difference that I noticed, however, is the grading system. At Swinburne University you can earn a “high distinction” if you get an 80% or above, a “distinction” if you get at least a 70%, a “credit” if you get at least a 60%, and you pass with a 50%. From speaking to professors and students here, a distinction is a very good grade and can be quite hard to earn. One tutor explained it to me that a high distinction essay is one that is at such a level of excellence that it could be submitted for revision to be published in a journal. That might be a slight exaggeration, but grading does seem to be different here compared to the U.S.
Cultural Aspects
One of the first things that I noticed at my school was the value placed in acknowledging Indigenous Australian people and their land. On the first day of classes, all of my lecturers read a statement which is found everywhere around the university: “We respectfully acknowledge the Wurundjeri People, and their Elders past and present, who are the Traditional Owners of the land on which Swinburne’s Australian campuses are located in Melbourne’s east and outer-east.” Asking some of my friends who go to other universities in Australia, this is something that not all universities do, so it could be a specific thing about Swinburne.
A smaller difference here is the way in which students are supposed to address lecturers and tutors. The communication can be very informal, even through email. I emailed one of my tutors addressing him as a professor and he answered by correcting me that he was not a professor and that I should just call him by his first name. Even the lecturers typically like to be called by their first name and have an informal relationship with students.
So far I have had a fairly smooth transition into the Australian educational system, but there are times that I still feel slightly lost. Coming from Northeastern, most students would not have a difficult experience transitioning.
