FOR new Federation University students like Jake Gebert and Ku Say, moving into the university's residences will be the start of a whole new independent life.
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The pair, from Nhill, are among the around 300 new students who will this week move onto the Mount Helen campus as they start their new life and studies.
For the 19-year-old's, who moved into the residence on Friday, the chance to start a new independent life was something they had longed for.
"I decided to move in at the university as I'm pretty keen to meet some new people, rather than having my own house and trying to get into a community that way," Jake, who is studying exercise and sports science, said.
"It's also easier for me to be able to come to classes and get involved a lot more as well."
Ku, agreed saying that having access to classes was one of the major draws of the opportunity to move into the university.
Director of Campus Life Colin Marshall said just this weekend 300 students had moved across the weekend.
"We've obviously got many more than will start with us in the next weeks," he said.
"They are coming from not only across Victoria, but also Australia and many students from overseas as well."
Mr Marshall said the university was not likely to be greatly affected by the lack of Chinese students who remain quarantined due to the corona virus as many he said had stayed in Australia over the summer period.
"We expect that those students who did return may experience some delays," he said. "As an institution we don't have a large Chinese student base as opposed to a number who have a capital city base."
Mr Marshall said the university devoted the first weekend of the new year to first year students and giving them the tools to settle into their new surrounds.
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