Getting There via Public TransportTry the
PTV Journey Planner to find the best way to get to Clayton campus. The name of the (main) bus stop (the bus loop) at Clayton campus is 'Monash University/Wellington Road'.
It might also be worth getting familiar with
where all the buses stop in the bus loop.
Need to top up your myki? There's a top up machine located on one of the central islands in the bus loop (near stops D and M).
To and from the city: A large proportion of students (including myself) travel to Monash from the city via train. You want to take the Cranbourne/Pakenham line and alight at Huntingdale station.
When arriving at Huntingdale Station, exit down the ramp and turn left, and then left again (basically, follow the crowd
). Head up the stairs, and ahead will be the bus stop for the 601 (statistically the busiest bus stop in Melbourne!). This bus runs direct express to Clayton campus, with the ride taking around 6-10 minutes. The 601 does not run on weekends and some public holidays - if you need to get to Clayton campus on these days, take the 900 (to Rowville) or 630 (to Monash University). Note: The 601 still runs on Labor Day and Melbourne Cup Day (because they're not "university holidays"
).
To get back to Huntingdale Station from Clayton campus, simply board the 601 where you alighted. The 900 (to Caulfield) and 630 (to Elwood) also go past Huntingdale Station - you can pick up these buses from the two bus stops in front of the 601 stop.
Note when using buses: if the bus is busy, it's always polite to move where possible towards the back of the bus to stand to allow more people to board. This is especially true for the 601, which can get very busy during peak times.
Another note: Myki ticket inspectors patrol often (in the bus loop, on buses, and on trains), so be sure to touch on. They sometimes also check for concessions (see below for how to get one).
Intercampus Travel: There are free intercampus shuttle buses to and from Clayton to Peninsula and Caulfield campuses. Be sure to have your student ID with you (sometimes the driver checks). You can view the timetable via the 'Shuttle bus' tile on my.monash.
PTV Tertiary Student Concession: Getting one of these at uni is super easy. Once you've uploaded your photo or have had it taken on campus for your student ID, a pre-filled form should become available on WES after 24 hours. All you need to do is print it out, fill out some details, give it to your nearest station, and pay the $9 fee to receive your concession card
ParkingThe car parks around campus can get busy around 9-10 am (especially at the start of semester), so I recommend arriving earlier so that you aren't late to class. These are patrolled by parking inspectors, and the fines are enforceable by the Monash City Council, so please check the signs to ensure that you're parked in the right place.
Permit parking: The most popular option for students who drive to uni often. Students are eligible to apply for a
blue permit for either a half-year or full-year. Student blue permits allow you to park in blue permit bays on any campus (not only Clayton). Permits go on sale sometime in February, and sell out very quickly. Keep an eye out on
this page! Blue permit parking spaces are coloured blue on
this map. The best car parks for blue permits are SE4/5 and N1.
Car-pooling:
Car-poolers can park in any blue permit zone using the
Liftango app. It also has a system to match-up people heading to/from uni that live in your area.
Metered parking: There is also
metered parking available on campus. Monash has recently migrated to using the CellOPark smartphone app. You can also pay using your number plate at a parking meter. Please note that these meters no longer accept cash, and do not use tickets (your ticket will be associated with your number plate). Metered parking spaces are coloured pink on
this map. For on-campus parking ($2.40/hour; $12.00 all-day), the best car park is SE1/2/3. There is also cheaper ($1.00/hour; $5.00 all-day) off-campus parking at OC1 (corner Blackburn Rd/Wellington Rd), which tends to be less busy (but can still fill up). OC1 is ~15-20 minute walk away from campus.
Orientation WeekMSA Card: This is probably the most popular membership for (Clayton) students. The MSA is the (official) Monash Student Association, and is in charge of things such as running on campus events, and providing student support services. By becoming a member ($10-20 from memory), you'll get a
range of benefits. For those considering signing up for clubs and societies, the MSA membership also gives a $5 discount on club/society memberships (some work out to be free this way), so I would recommend getting your MSA membership before signing up for the clubs/societies. Membership also gives you access to a variety of
other rewards. The MSA membership signup line is probably the longest of all, so if you're on campus before O-week (e.g. for an enrolment session), the lines are pretty short/non-existent then, so I would do it then
You can also register
online and skip the queue.
You'll also need to have your student ID card before signing up for MSA and many clubs/societies, since your membership in these cases is a sticker on your card.
Prior to/during O-week, your faculty (the people in charge of your course) may hold an introductory/orientation session. Depending on the faculty, they could involve activities designed to introduce you to other students, and/or introduce you to the course itself.
Apart from this, O-week will involve a festival with heaps of club/society stalls for you to talk to members and sign up. Note not all clubs/societies will have a stall during O-week, but you can view the full list
here. There's also stalls for things such as on/off-campus residency, disability support services, etc. There'll also be heaps of free stuff, so take a look around! I would also recommend using this time to explore the Clayton campus, and perhaps find out where your classes are held so you don't get lost on your first day.
Getting AroundThe Clayton campus is designed like network of streets. Each building belongs to a street, and has a street number.
Click here for a map of the campus. You might feel really lost initially, but don't worry, you'll get used to it eventually! There's also a
StudentVIP Lost on Campus on the App and Google Play Stores. Haven't used it personally, but apparently its quite useful. I find I can get around fine using the standard map though.
If you're having trouble telling the buildings apart, most buildings should have a blue sign with a number sticking out the side. Otherwise, if you can find the entrance, there's usually a sign with the building number and name on there as well. Also, probably another thing to note is that the buildings are not always directly next to the main footpath - sometimes you might need to venture away from the main footpath a bit to find the actual building.
Food & DrinkProbably the most budget-friendly lunch you can have is one you have brought yourself. There are heaps of microwaves in the Campus Centre (especially next to the student lounge, right next to Boost Juice), as well as filtered cold/hot water taps. There are some microwaves on level 1, in a small room adjacent to the dining hall.
There are filtered water fountains located around campus.
Otherwise, there are heaps of different food options around campus.
Link to the Monash Food and Retail site.
Campus Centre has the biggest variety of food and drink options, with multiple fast food takeouts, cafes, and chain stores (e.g. Roll'd, Guzman y Gomez, Subway).
I recommend taking the time to look around campus and see what's available (for example, there's a Schnitz and a pizzeria on Sports Walk near the Sports Centre, and a cafe within the Sports Centre itself).
McDonald's, Clayton: Located along Dandenong Rd, right across the road from Clayton campus. To get there, you want to leave the bus loop/Monash College onto Wellington Rd and turn right (heading towards Huntingdale Station). Keep walking, cross Dandenong Rd, and you're there! (Note: You can get 20% off for purchases up to $20 with an MSA card)
Coffee: Don't drink coffee myself, but I'm a big fan of the
BorrowCup initiative they've got running at Monash Clayton. At eligible cafes, just ask for your hot beverage in a reusable "BorrowCup", which you can then return in dedicated bins dotted around campus.
Where can I go to study?The libraries are probably your best option (Note: Libraries have dedicated quiet zones - please take note of the signs and be respectful of others).
Otherwise, there's study spaces dotted all around the campus (have a look around!). The Learning and Teaching Building (next to the bus loop), first few levels of the Menzies building (tallest building on campus) for example, have common study spaces near the staircases. First year engineering students have a dedicated study space (in the New Horizons building), as well as Science students (Science Student Lounge). Other faculties may have similar areas for their students.
Computers: If you need to use a computer (free to use), there should be heaps in any of the Sir Louis Matheson, Hargrave-Andrews and Law Libraries. There are also various computer labs around campus. Some are dedicated to certain types of students (e.g. BusEco/Commerce students can use the computer labs on level 1 Menzies, provided there isn't a class going on). You can try find a lab
here. In most cases, I've found that I can find an available library computer (sometimes after a 5-10 min wait). Computers are first come first served. Matheson library is probably the busiest and the Law Library doesn't have that many computers, so I find it easiest to find a computer in the Hargrave-Andrews library (although the decor isn't as nice).
Log in using your username/password as normal. It might be a bit slow to log in (my max is 20 mins, but that's worse case). The desktop that loads is yours, so anything you save on there will be accessible when you log in on a different computer. There isn't a time limit to computer use, but please only sit at a computer if you're using it.
Other StuffThe Campus Centre houses a range of other services for students, including Monash Connect (go here for any admin-related matters), careers advice, a medical office, optometrist's office, pharmacy, post office, student travel centre, convenience store, piano rooms, and a more.