If you think moving day is chaotic, spare a thought for Federation University staff coordinating the moving days of about 500 students who will live and study on campus.
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For many students it's the first time they've lived independently and the FedUni residences will become home during their study year.
A mixture of students from Victoria, interstate and overseas will have moved on to site at Mt Helen and Ballarat before this week's O-Week orientation activities take place.
Among them is Alex Stewart who has moved from Warrnambool to take up a place in the Bachelor of Education studies course which he hopes will lead to a career in teaching students of any age from prep to year 10.
He moved in to his room at Mount Helen on Friday with a mixture of excitement and trepidation.
"It's been brilliant so far. The moving in part has been really fun and I had an entire convoy of family come to say goodbye," he said.
I just wanted to experience uni to the fullest extent, living on the university, being in uni, and because I didn't know who was coming to Ballarat or anyone in Ballarat, it seemed the best option. Plus there's a lot of perks that come with living on campus like the gym and pool, which are paid for in the rent so it was a really great option.
- Alex Stewart
"My room is a lot more spacious than what it looks. I've got my own little space I can enjoy, and if not there's the community areas where I can meet up with others."
For Alex there was never any choice but to move out of his parent's home on to campus.
"I just wanted to experience uni to the fullest extent, living on the university, being in uni, and because I didn't know who was coming to Ballarat or anyone in Ballarat, it seemed the best option. Plus there's a lot of perks that come with living on campus like the gym and pool, which are paid for in the rent so it was a really great option."
As it turns out, Alex knows a few other students from Warrnambool who are moving in to campus so he has a ready-made group of friends on tap, with plans to make many more.
"I thought I would be a lot more anxious than what I am," he said. "It's been a good move and I'm ready to take my own path."
The newcomers starting at Federation University this week also include a large contingent of international students.
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Across the university's four campuses there are almost 900 international students from as far afield as Austria, Cambodia, France, Kuwait, Norway and Saudi Arabia, including 402 taking up studies in Ballarat.
“Starting university is exciting for students but also a little nerve racking – that’s why we make sure they have the support and advice they need as they settle into campus life,” said FedUni vice chancellor Professor Helen Bartlett.
“Our international students bring different cultures and insights from around the world to our communities and we’re delighted to see such an increase in enrolments this year.”
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