GENERAL INTRODUCTION
The University of Melbourne was established by an Act of the Victorian Parliament in 1853. The foundation stone of the first University building was laid in 1854 on the present University site of nineteen hectares in the northern part of the City of Melbourne.
Adjacent to the University site, under separate grants and titles, are the recreation grounds of almost six and a half hectares and the lands of the affiliated residential colleges covering more than eighteen hectares.
The University also shares with the Victorian Minister of Agriculture the ownership of the Veterinary Precinct of one and a half hectares;
and has interests in other external properties such as the Agriculture Field Station at Mt Derrimut, Veterinary Clinical Centre at Werribee, the Mcllwraith Centre at Mt Martha and certain properties in Parkville and Carlton. The State College of Victoria (Melbourne) which is adia- cent to the University is not part of the University site. Maps of the main grounds and adjoining areas appear on the inside covers.
Under the Melbourne University Act the University consists of a Council; the Professors; other members of the academic staff, members of faculties and boards of studies; graduates; diplomates; undergraduates and members of the general staff designated by Council. A Council of up to thirty-nine members representing the Victorian Government, certain community interests, the graduates, the academic staff, the graduate students, the undergraduates, the affiliated colleges and the general staff is responsible for the, conduct of University affairs. The general academic administration of the University is conducted by Faculties and Boards of Studies and supervised by the Professorial Board (Academic Board).
The University Council has established a University Assembly with members elected from and by the University community. The Assembly is intended to be a permanent consultative body and a major forum for continuing evaluation by the University community of the University's aims and achievements, and to provide for open discussion on matters of general concern to that community.
The University offers bachelor degree courses in Agricultural Science, Animal Science, Applied Science, Architecture, Arts, Building, Commerce, Dental Science, Education (postgraduate), Engineering, Forest Science, Law, Medicine and Surgery, Medical Science, Music, Music Education, Science, Science in Optometry, Science (Education), Social Work, Survey- ing, Town and Regional Planning, Veterinary Science and postgraduate diploma courses in Agricultural Extension, Audiology, Computing Studies, Criminology, Education, French Studies, Geography, various medical specialties and Public Policy.
In most disciplines in which there is a degree of bachelor, degrees of master and doctor and the degree of Doctor of Philosophy are available.
There are also courses leading to masters' degrees in Business Adminis- tration, Building Science, Educational Psychology, Engineering Science, Environmental Studies, Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Landscape Archi- tecture, Surveying Science, Urban Planning, and Veterinary Studies.
The length of bachelor degree courses varies from three to six years of full-time study. The academic year begins in March and ends in Decem- ber, and includes three teaching terms and an examination term.
The University is not primarily residential but there are eleven affiliated residential colleges. One, the Graduate Union, provides accom- modation for postgraduate students. As well there are four halls of residence including International House, which is intended to meet the needs of overseas students, and Medley Hall which is near the University.
At its inception and for many years afterwards the University re- ceived grants from the Victorian Government, income from fees and benefactions. Since the Second World War the Australian Government has provided increasing financial support. From the beginning of 1974, with the agreement of the Victorian Government, the Australian Govern- ment assumed responsibility for the governmental financial support of this and other universities and at the same time provided funds to enable tuition fees to be abolished.
In size, the University grew slowly during its first 90 years from the original sixteen students in 1854 to 4,000 in 1945. This growth was accelerated after the Second World War when the University faced increasing demands on its facilities, first by large numbers of ex-service- men and women in the immediate postwar years and then by the in- creasing numbers of students completing secondary school courses.
Today, with a student enrolment of about 16,000 the University is near to the maximum number of students for its limited grounds.
Undergraduate enrolment has been strictly limited by the application of quotas but the University has been directing attention to the development of its postgraduate and research schools. The establishment of the new Victorian universities, Monash, La Trobe and Deakin, and the growth of the Victoria Institute of Colleges have helped to meet the demand for undergraduate admission.
The academic reputation of the University of Melbourne has long been recognized throughout the world, its graduates and former students have achieved distinction in many fields. Three have become Governors- General of Australia; one has been appointed Governor of the State of Victoria; three have been Australian Prime Ministers; two have been awarded the Nobel Prize; two admitted to the Order of Merit and many others have gained fame in the professions, in the sciences, in politics and in the arts. Since the first conferring ceremony in 1856, the University has awarded more than 81,000 degrees and diplomas.
As much information as possible about the University has been in- cluded in this Calendar which is in two volumes. The second part consists of the Annual Report of Council with accompanying appendices.
The details of subjects included in particular courses are published in the appropriate Faculty Handbook. The Research Report, published annually, contains information of the various research activities and the contribu- tions made to science and literature by staff, research workers and students. The periodical, University of Melbourne Gazette, reports on University activities and developments. The Student Information Booklet is made available free to enrolling students. Copies of University publi- cations may be obtained from the Melbourne University Bookroom, or they may be inspected at any university in Australia and at the Associa- tion of Commonwealth Universities in London.
ADDRESS
All general correspondence directed to the University should be addressed to the Registrar, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia.
Telephone: (03) 3451844
Telex: UNIMELB AA 30 815 Telegrams and Cables: UNIMELB
