Become more familiar with Australian culture and University life and gain confidence communicating in English, while making friends with other students through fun, virtual, peer-led activities.
What is Melbourne Talks?
Melbourne Talks is a free program for international students new to the University of Melbourne delivered by the Student Peer Leader Network in partnership with Academic Skills. There are two streams: one for undergraduate and graduate coursework students and one for graduate researchers.
For information on eligibility, dates and how to apply, select your level of study below.
Undergraduate and graduate coursework students
The program for undergraduate and graduate coursework students is designed to help you:
- Become familiar with Australian culture and University life
- Develop confidence communicating in English
- Network and form social connections with other students.
Program dates
- 8 August –2 September 2022 (Week 3 to Week 6 inclusive)
- 60 minutes per week, for four weeks
- Sessions will be held via Zoom and in-person
As this is a highly sought-after offering that attracts high number of applications, we ask you to commit to attending every session.
How to register
Registration for the Semester 2 program is now open until 31 July 2022. Register below to express your interest!
Graduate researchers
The program for graduate researchers is designed to help you:
- Transition smoothly into graduate research at the University of Melbourne
- Consider strategies and practical tools for a successful graduate candidature
- Become familiar with Australian culture and the graduate student life
- Develop confidence communicating in English in a social and academic context
- Network and form social connections with other graduate research students.
Program dates
- 8 August - 16 September (Week 3 – Week 8 inclusive)
- 60 minutes per week, for six weeks
- Sessions will be held via Zoom
You must be able to attend every session to be considered for the program. We look forward to receiving your application!
How to register
Registration for the Semester 2 program is now open until 31 July. Register below to express your interest!
Melbourne Talks Peer Leaders
Testimonials
I love it when we do activities together. Having a chance to speak up has really boosted my confidence and helped me get out of my comfort zone.
The program helped me develop initiative to talk to new people and participate in new activities like volunteering.
The tutors are so nice, warm and helpful. I enjoy talking to them and exchanging information with them.
The Aussie English session has equipped me with lots of local expressions I've never heard before.
I enjoyed everything: the games, group discussions, meeting new people from different cultures and making new friends.
Have questions?
If you have any questions about Melbourne Talks, email: melbourne-talks@unimelb.edu.au
About you as a University of Melbourne Research Student? I am a 3rd year PhD student from the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences. I am doing biomedical research at Murdoch Children’s Research Institute at Royal Children’s Hospital. My research is about making disease modelling for studying genetic cartilage disorders using stem cells and gene editing and use this model to understand the disease mechanisms.
What is one learning or an aspect you have enjoyed the most about Melbourne Talks? The opportunity to connect and learn from other students. Melbourne Talks provides a safe, no-judgement environment to share our experiences and learn from our peers. Everyone in this program, including the facilitators, is very welcoming, making us feel accepted, which is a good start for new students joining the University community.
If you could share one of your interests or passions, what would it be? I love travelling and board games. I also like gardening and play jigsaw puzzles during my free time, which I find these activities are relaxing.
About you as a University of Melbourne Research Student? I am a PhD candidate at the School of Culture and Communication. My research explores the formal possibilities and limitations of popular culture from a historical perspective in contemporary Iran by situating it in a global context. My thesis aims to offer a theory of ideology in which norm and transgression dialectically determine the shape of culture.
What is one learning or an aspect you have enjoyed the most about Melbourne Talks? Just the opportunity to be exposed to a range of diverse views and research interests by listening to my peers, and the sense of camaraderie that develops between us as we get to know each other more.
If you could share one of your interests or passions, what would it be? I play a little bit of blues on my guitar. I'm also a film buff and watch a lot of b&w films.