Prior to my departure, I was actually pretty anxious because this semester exchange will be the first time I’m away from Singapore for THAT long.
To give you some context, I am a student majoring in Communication Studies @ Nanyang Technological University (NTU), and am planning to specialise in Advertising starting from my third year when I am back in Singapore.
As a student in Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information (WKWSCI) – that’s the name of my faculty in NTU – we are often encouraged by our professors to go for a semester exchange in our Y2S2 (year 2 semester 2) as we have to prepare for our professional internship’s interviews in the first semester of year 3. So, in my first year, I was frantically looking through the list of host universities available and I spotted RMIT! It ultimately became one of my three choices for host universities in my application form because of its prominence as a media school.
Afterwards, as I was the only person in my social circle going RMIT, I started looking for people who have been allocated the same school as well so we could start planning on accommodation and flight details. These people were Clara, Dong Ni and Jie Xin, who are also students in WKW too!!
Months of planning and settling our visas, finances etc. and we finally met on the 16th of Feb (our departure date!!) at Changi Airport. Honestly, we were a little awkward at first because we came from different groups of friends and had little interaction before this long departure together. However, we started warming up to one another (it was so easy because they are such sweet girls) and headed to our Airbnb together once we touched down in Melbourne!!
Oh, not to mention – RMIT provides chauffeur services for international/exchange students!! How cool is that?! And the best thing is – it’s of quality service and FOR FREE. That’s right – free AIRPORT PICKUP SERVICE in a sedan/whatever sleek car depending on your baggages and number of seats required KINDLY PROVIDED BY RMIT.
So, we took our sedans each and drove to our destination (our Airbnb) and we were just incredibly amazed at the service RMIT provides for their students :”) till now, I am still so happy I managed to avoid paying for Uber or the Skybus and could sit in such comfort because of the school’s generous offer.
My driver was also a really kinddddddd man who made sure I reached my DOORSTEP safely (and he also helped me with my luggages) before returning back to his car /grateful/
After settling down in our cozy home, we headed out to venture the neighbourhood and also to grab some essentials. Days then went past with us exploring the city, and before we knew it, orientation kickstarted on 20th of Feb!
Was part of Team Thongs and genuinely enjoyed the experience knowing people from different cultures and backgrounds hehe.
What marked the highlight of the orientation was actually the third day when students can choose which prominent places of Melbourne they would like to go with the school. The list included Great Ocean Road and Philip Island, which are monumental places of Melbourne but rather inaccessible for students who don’t drive (sadly, that’s the 4 of us HAHA). Also, the tour fares are (if i am not wrong….) 50% subsidised for RMIT students. That means going to Great freaking Ocean Road at half the price you see out there!! HOW MUCH WELFARE IS RMIT PLANNING TO GIVE?!?!
Of course, we chose to go Great Ocean Road and it was sooooo beautiful. Spam of many photos aheadddddd –
2 days later, we signed up for yet another RMIT Trip because everything was just so affordable and great (like so much cheaper than the tours you get from tour agencies because the school subsidises the tour fares and you get transport to and fro everywhere)!!! This time round, it was to Wilsons Promontory, one of my fave trips thus far :”)
If you are thinking that RMIT Trips only includes trips to monumental places, you’re wrong!! To help international/exchange students know more about the cafe cultures here or to simply make friends, RMIT Trips also hold trips to cafes, hidden places and laneways for brunches, lunch, and progressive dinners and all also at an affordable price.
We went for one brunch trip in Melbourne laneways and it was ah-mazing!! Ate all the fancy food and drank all the awesome drinks at the price of just $15 :”)
If you think that’s the end to RMIT’s welfare, you’re wrong!! RMIT also offers free lunches every Thursday noon for students (awesome burger pattys or hotdogs – and vegeterian options are also available!!!) and free breakfasts every Wednesday morning. PLUSSSSSSSSS…
There’s always RUSU/RMIT events going on with free food from external vendors and caterers and totally delicious :”)
Furthermore, you MUST attend an AFL if you’re in Australia and that’s what we did to tick this off our checklist with RMIT! If you sign up with RMIT Redbacks, they are constantly notifying you about the latest matches you can watch and also sick promotions like FREE AFL GAMES to watch.
The school’s campus store even reserves a free Essendon scarf for you if you register :”)
Okay so in case it was TLDR;
To summarise, RMIT is not just a university for you to study or to pursue your dreams in, but it is also a great place of welfare for the students. During my few months in Melbourne, the school and its organised trips have played a huge role in my semester exchange and I would highly recommend anyone who is intending to spend their exchange in Australia to consider RMIT if they are looking for a host university of warmth, convenience and great welfare!!!
Belynda's Journey in RMIT 