Victoria University Helps Students from 49 Nationalities Feel Connected and Confident Before Arrival

Building Connections Before Day One

Every cycle, Victoria University welcomes new students across several intakes. However, as soon as students receive their offer, they are immediately invited into the Goin' Community, giving them the opportunity to connect with future classmates heading to Australia long before arriving on campus.

Because students begin joining as soon as they receive their offers, the community quickly gains momentum, creating more opportunities for conversations, friendships, and peer support. By the time they arrive, many students already recognise familiar names and faces. This makes the transition into university life feel less daunting and more exciting.

"I feel very lucky to study at VU and also very excited to connect with my classmates. This community has assisted me a lot. I have already communicated with some of my future classmates." -  Ifte from Bangladesh

A Community That Reflects the Student Body

With students representing 49 nationalities, the community reflects the diversity of Victoria University's student population.

Students can join a wide range of channels to build their network and access support, including communities based on nationality, accommodation, sports, part-time jobs, and shared interests.

One of the most active parts of the community is the nationality channels, where students from the same home country can find one another, share advice, answer questions, and support each other throughout the journey to Australia. Whether they're looking for a roommate, practical advice from current students, or simply hoping to connect with others from their home country, there is already a place for them to begin.

As each intake progresses, the community continues to grow, creating even more opportunities for conversations, friendships, and peer support.

"Our community helps us adapt to the new environment more easily. Connecting with other students helps international students learn about accommodation, the city, and the education system before they arrive." - Anushka from Nepal

A Network That Brings Students Together

On average, each student is connected with nine other students before arriving on campus in Melbourne, Australia. Imagine starting university already recognising nine familiar faces. These are people you've chatted with, asked questions, or even made plans to meet during your first week.

Importantly, these friendships extend well beyond students' immediate circles.

• 48% of friendships are between students from different nationalities.
• 80% of friendships are between students from different study programmes.

Students aren't only connecting with people who share the same background or course. They're building diverse networks that reflect the wider university community, helping to create a stronger sense of belonging before they even arrive on campus.

"Having the opportunity to meet future classmates beforehand helps reduce anxiety, build friendships early, and create a support system even before arriving in a new country." - Adeniran from Nigeria

Confidence Before Arrival

Victoria University also measures how students feel about their decision to enrol through the Goin' Score, a sentiment analysis tool that tracks students' self-reported likelihood of commencing their studies.

The results show that 78.6% of students report a high probability of starting at Victoria University.

While many factors influence a student's enrolment decision, these findings suggest that giving students the opportunity to build friendships, ask questions, and become part of a community before arrival can strengthen their confidence as they prepare to begin university. This is further reflected in what students say they value most, including opportunities to connect with other students, support with enrolment, pre-semester events, welcome webinars, and accommodation guidance.

"Connecting with students before moving abroad makes us feel less nervous and more confident. It helps with friendships, accommodation tips, study advice, and adjusting to a new country much easier." -  Ratul from Bangladesh

"Being able to connect with students who are going to the same university beforehand definitely makes the transition much easier and helps me feel more confident before arriving." -  Prashamsa from Nepal

What Students Say

The numbers highlight the impact of early community-building. The students themselves explain why those connections matter.

"As an international student, connecting with others before starting university would help me make friends, get useful advice, and feel more prepared and less anxious about moving abroad. It makes the whole experience much more enjoyable." - Joy from Kenya

"...our community has been very useful for making friends. I'm so nervous about making friends because I'm shy, but it connects me with people easily. I also have to think about my sentences, so even if I can't speak English well, I can communicate with them!" - Nina from Japan

"As someone who didn't know anyone at my future campus, I really needed this community to make friends and not feel alone in the first days upon arrival." - James from Solomon Islands

“Being able to establish a network and swap college-specific information while still in being our home countries is a huge advantage, it turns the move abroad into a much more organized and welcoming experience. It’s a fantastic place for hitting the ground running with a solid community already in place.” - Erandi from Sri Lanka

Building Belonging Before Arrival in Australia

The transition to university is about much more than enrolment. It's about helping students feel that they already belong before they arrive. By inviting students into the Goin' Community as soon as they receive their offer, Victoria University gives them the opportunity to build friendships, find support, and become part of the university community from day one.

For many students, arriving on campus is no longer the first time they meet their peers. It's simply the first time they meet them in person. By helping students build friendships and confidence before arrival, Victoria University is creating a stronger foundation for the journey ahead.