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 about twenty 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 col- leges covering more than eighteen hectares. The University also shares with the Vic- torian 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 Strathfield- saye Institute of Teaching and Research in Agriculture and Allied Sciences in Gipps- land, and certain properties in Parkville and Carlton. In January 1989 the neighbouring Melbourne College of Advanced Education (approximately 5,200 students of whom 3,300 are full-time) merged with the University's Faculty of Education to form an Institute of Education within the University.
Under the Melbourne University Act the University consists of a Council; the Profes- sors; 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 forty 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 graduates collectively comprise Convocation which may make submissions on University matters to the Council. Convocation elects a Standing Committee to advise Council. University legislation, as made by Council, is subject to approval or amend- ment by the Standing Committee prior to submission to the Governor as required in the Act.
The general academic administration of the University is conducted by the various faculties and the Graduate School of Business Administration and is supervised by the Academic Board.
The University Assembly, with members elected from and by the University com- munity, is a permanent consultative body and a major forum for continuing evalua- tion 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, Arts, Commerce, Dental Science, Education, Engineering, Forest Science, Law, Medicine and Surgery, Medical Science, Music, Music Education, Plan- ning and Design, Science, Science Education, Science in Optometry, Social Science in Information Management, Social Work, Surveying and Veterinary Science. In ad- dition, the following bachelor degree courses are available for graduate entry: Architec- ture, Building, Town and Regional Planning, Educational Studies, Letters and Social Work. Undergraduate and postgraduate diplomas are also available in a range of dis- ciplines as outlined on pages xxi-xxii.
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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 Agricultural Studies, Business Administration, Educa- tional Psychology, Engineering Science, Environmental Studies, Gynaecology and Ob- stetrics, Landscape Architecture, Management, 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 February and ends in Decem- ber, and includes two semesters, with some examinations at the end of the first semester, but with most being held at the end of the second semester.
The University is not primarily residential but there are eleven residential colleges.
One, the Graduate Union, provides accommodation for postgraduate students. As well there are four halls of residence including International House, which is intended to meet the needs of overseas students as well as Australian students, and Medley Hall which is near the University.
At its inception and for many years afterwards the University received grants from the Victorian Government, and 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 Government 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. The Federal Government introduced, from 1st January, 1989, the Higher Education Contribution Scheme, which applies to all students enrolling or re-enrolling in higher education courses from that date (though there are some exemptions includ- ing overseas students who are already paying the Overseas Student Charge, full fees or who are assisted under foreign aid programs). The Scheme consists of an annual charge (in 1989 $1,800 for a full-time equivalent course or $900 for each full-time semester) which each student is liable to pay towards the cost of his or her study. This charge may be paid at enrolment (with a 15 per cent discount) or deferred and paid through the taxation system. Students must also pay the University's Amenities and Services Fee to finance the activities of the Student Union and the Sports Union.
In size, the University grew slowly during its first 90 years from the original sixteen students in 1855 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 num- bers of ex-servicemen and women in the immediate postwar years and then by the in- creasing numbers of students completing secondary school courses. Enrolment figures have totalled about 16,000 in recent years, with some increases in graduate enrolments.
Further limited increases in both graduate and undergraduate numbers are likely in the future, particularly with developments of courses for overseas students. The Univer- sity's total student enrolment in 1989 is more than 22,000, of whom almost 6,000 are oart-time.
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 including the offices of Governor-General, State Governor and Prime Minister. Many graduates have gained fame in the arts and sciences and the profes- sions and politics including the awards of the Nobel Prize and admission to the Order of Merit. Since the first conferring ceremony in 1856, the University has awarded more than 112,000 degrees and diplomas.
As much information as possible about the University has been included in this Calen- dar [see also the notice on next page] and the Annual Report of Council. The Univer- sity of Melbourne Research, published annually, highlights research activities while the Research Report, a more detailed annual listing of the various research activities and the contributions made to science and the humanities by staff, research workers and students, is available on microfiche from the University's Office for Research. The iv
periodical University of Melbourne Gazette, produced for the Alumni Office, and Univer- sity News (ten issues per year) report on University activities and developments. The Prospectus is widely available for prospective students and the Student Diary is made available free to enrolling and re-enrolling students. During 1989 a new publication,
University of Melbourne Prospectus and Handbook is being produced to replace the Faculty Handbooks as a general guide to the University's courses. Detailed subject guides with textbook lists will be available from the respective Faculty offices. Copies of official University publications may be inspected in the University's Faculty offices, at any university in Australia and at the Association 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) 344 4000 Telex: UNIMEL AA 35185
Facsimile Telephone: (03) 344 5104 Telegrams and Cables: UNIMELB
