Warm VU welcome settles nerves

Naturally, Lashini Andradi was a bundle of nerves when she moved from her home country of Sri Lanka to study at Victoria University in Melbourne.

“I was very worried about moving away from all my family and friends,” Lashini says.

“But from the moment I arrived here all the staff, lecturers and of course my classmates have been so friendly and caring,” she says.

Even though I was anxious at the start, moving to Melbourne has been really amazing. It’s a fantastic city with a pleasant atmosphere.

Lashini is completing her Bachelor of Business (major in Event Management) at VU, having gained direct entry to the second year of the degree after studying the Diploma of Business (Enterprise) at College of English, Foundation and Pathways.

With similar course content to the first year of the bachelor degree, the one-year diploma provided Lashini with extra academic support and more hours in the classroom, thereby preparing her for the rigours of an Australian university degree.

The diploma is one of several courses offered by College of English, Foundation and Pathways – a specialist pathway college of VU that supports and prepares both international and Australian students to enter the second year of various VU degrees.

“My favourite unit of study in the diploma was economics because the lecturer was really friendly,” Lashini says.

“I also gained a good knowledge of English through the course, which has been very helpful for my degree because English is my second language.”

With future plans to continue at VU as a masters student, Lashini’s advice for other international students is to “come and see the difference”.

“VU provides amazing facilities and this is the main difference to my home country.

“My country is not well developed so they have fewer facilities than VU.”

Courses studied

• Diploma of Business (Enterprise)
• Bachelor of Business (major in Event Management)