Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
Oscar Olsen and Mie Caroline Holstad
(miecaroline@hotmail.com and oscaro81@hotmail.com)
MSC, 3 year fall.
Macquarie University is situated about 45 minutes by bus outside Sydney CBD. It is
surrounded by green fields and it is a big campus. Macquarie University kind of
reminded us of the University of Oslo at Blindern except from the green surroundings.
The university has about 25000 students including about 5100 international students.
The university has a number of different faculty divisions and both the economic
division and the business division have a good reputation in Australia. There are a
number of different courses to choose from. The University cannot be said to be a
typical graduate or undergraduate institution, it is more like an even mixture of both.
The Teaching situation
All courses are taught in English. This should not be a problem. The level of study at
Macquarie University depends on what kind of courses you choose. You have to work
during the whole semester; you will be given tests and essays as well a mid-semester
exams and finals. The workload is less at the end of the semester because of the
studying done during the semester, but all in all perhaps a bit heavier than NMH/BI.
The teaching is both practical and theoretical, perhaps a bit more practical. Of course
this again depends on which courses you choose. But the teaching is quite similar to
NMH/BI, except from some lectures being compulsory and the fact that you have to
attend tutorials once a week in each subject. In the tutorials the number of students is
normally ranging from 15 to 30. This makes the teaching more personal. Everything
you deliver you write your name on, so the lecturer knows who you are when he
marks your work. This of course can be both an advantage and a disadvantage… The
system is more like a college system.
Required Literature
The literature is also in English. The level of the literature is the same as on NMH/BI,
same kind of books. The literature is more used for a broad overview, but most exams
are based on the lecture notes as well as additional readings.
Exams
Multiple choice is a popular form when it comes to tests and exams. But also a load of
essays are given in almost every course, usually around 1500-3000 words. The
knowledge level to pass an exam depends on the type of course you choose.
Economic courses are usually harder to pass then for instance business courses.
Course name: Prerequisites Exam
English for Academic Purposes none Written test
Public Economics macro econ. Written exam
Human Resource Management none Multiple choice
Human Resource Management Planning none Written exam
All our courses were approved.
In English for Academic Purposes, EAP 100, we had different tests through the
semester and essays to deliver.
Public Economics is a core unit at Macquarie University. This unit is not
recommended to enroll in. It has a failure rate that is enormous, and it demands a load
of work! It is very interesting, but if you do choose it prepare for an enormous work
load. This course happened to be a course that did our stay in Australia less pleasant.
During the semester we were given 2 multiple choice exams, 20 questions, 20 minutes
each test. We also had to write one essay and to do a spreadsheet exercise. The exam
in this course was 3 hours, with 30 multiple choice questions, 10 short answers and
two essays (minimum 4 pages each and with a introduction, body and conclusion). It
was heavy!
Human Resource Management, BBA 250, is an interesting course. It seems heavy at
the start, but it is not. You have to play a simulation game during the semester, which
is great fun. You have to write a report and hold a presentation about the game
afterwards. In addition you have to approach an Australian company and do a survey
and write a report about the findings.. The exam is multiple choice 2 hours, 80
questions.
Human Resource Management Planning, BBA 217, is also a great course. It is quite
different than BBA 250, more theoretical. It includes some team work, report and
essay writing as well as the 3 hours written exam.
We did not have any enrolment problems. Both of the Business courses are very
popular, so it may be an advantage to choose these courses early in the enrolment
process. It is possible to change courses the two first weeks of the semester, so a lot of
students go to different lectures to find the courses they would like to enroll in.
The Library
The library is huge! It has everything you need. The access is easy and the people
who work here are very friendly. The reading area is in the library. The library has
several floors! It is recommended to bring a lap top if possible. There are many
computer labs, but the air is bad and the vacancy huge. The school does not have
internet access for laptops.
Practical Information on the School and the Exchange Experience
Information before we went
We communicated with the school via email before we arrived in Australia. However,
we did not receive an information package from the University. You have to be
independent and seek information. It is not like at NMH or BI, where you get all you
need on the web or by email.
Visa Procedure and travel experiences
The visa procedure was very simple. We got an electronic visa before we went. It did
cost about 1500 NOK. It is an advantage to order the tickets early. A lot of
backpackers and Norwegian students are leaving Norway in the summer/fall time.
Academic Calendar
We arrived in the beginning of July, two weeks before the introductory week. This
was a great time to arrive. A lot of apartments were available for rent and we got time
to settle. When university starts it is almost impossible to find an apartment available
for rent. The first weeks a lot of things are happening and the international students
get to know each other. There is a semester start meeting where you get informed
about everything from culture and language barriers that can be experienced to the
different arrangements. The staff at the international office is very friendly and
helpful. At an office called SAM, students at Macquarie, the students participated in
the reception of exchange students. These students have been at exchange and know
what kind of problems you might experience. They are very informative and helpful
as well!
Housing
As mentioned we did rent our own apartment. You may live at campus, but it is not
recommended as the university is situated in the middle of nowhere. A lot of young
Asian and American students live there. We lived in an area called Surrey Hills/
Darlinghurst, more specified near Oxford Street. This is a well known main street in
Sydney.
Social Activities
There are a lot of activities happening the first weeks. Exchange students are
important for the university. A lot of different activities from sports to chess clubs are
offered. There is also a gym and a student bar at campus.
Cultural and Social Effects from the Exchange Experience
The exchange experience was great. We do believe it is an advantage when applying
for future jobs. You get to know the culture and experience the country from another
perspective when you are living there. However, the cultural barriers were not that
huge. We will recommend others to study at Macquarie, Sydney is great fun!!!!!!