By ROBYN FREDERICK
The Easter break is over and it's time to kick off the doona and head back to campus.
Just in case you've spent so much time laughing at StalkerSpace memes, watching End Game and emailing Ramesh you've lost your bearings, we thought we'd help reacquaint you with Monash's largest campus.
Clayton. We get it. It's a big place.
Lucky for you, this article is a one-stop guide to the campus’s best study spots, cheap (but great) coffee and food options, as well as facilities and services available to you.
Best study spots
The study desks on the top floor are a popular choice among those who prefer a quieter studying environment.
Second year Monash student Onella Perera said the individual study desks behind the bookshelves were the quietest areas.
The library is open from 8am to midnight on weekdays, and from 1pm to 5pm on weekends.
For those needing to pull an all-nighter, the 24/7 study lab is the perfect location to get that last-minute assignment done. Located just across the Campus Centre, it can be accessed daily from 7am to 6pm, with student card swipe access at all other hours.
Bored with the indoors? A change in environment can sometimes enhance engagement with course material, or cure that writer’s block when doing an assignment.
The outdoor study area between the Learning and Teaching Building and the Menzies building is a great spot for those seeking a change. The study benches in this area are equipped with charging ports.
Best coffees and free food events
Coffee is essential for most university students.
Business student Esther Wee usually won’t go a morning without one.
“Caffeine is essential to kick-start my mornings,” Ms Wee said.
You can find coffee at The NESSO (Learning Teaching Building, ground floor) to help cure your sleep deprivation.
For non-coffee drinkers, The Den (Campus Centre, ground level) offers a variety of teas, including fresh fruit-infused teas and taro milk tea with pearls.
Singaporean student Navya Singh said there was a wide variety of foods available on campus.
“Found this place [that serves bubble tea] by chance towards the end of the semester. It is nice to have a piece of home on campus,” Ms Singh said.
Cheap meals on campus are lifesavers for those who spent too much money during their last trip to Chadstone Shopping Centre.
For those living on campus, Halls Café offers the cheapest meals, with main meals that sell for as little as $5.50 during the dinner special.
The café is open Sunday to Friday (closed on Saturday) for lunch and dinner.
For those who don’t live on campus but would like to indulge in some free food, Fusion South East Melbourne holds free pancake breakfasts every Tuesday, from 9.30am to 10.30am, during the semester.
These pancake breakfasts are held at the Religious Centre, beside the Campus Centre.
The Monash Student Association Breakfast Club (located in front of Sir John's) provides students with free breakfasts every Wednesday, from 8.30am to 10.00am.
Breakfast favourites such as bacon, eggs and juice will surely fuel you up for the rest of your day. They even have a vegan porridge option.
Another free food opportunity is the Free Food Mondays event, organised by the Monash Student Association.
As the name suggests, you can get free food every Monday 7.30pm – 8.00pm at Wholefoods (Campus Centre, level 1).
The early bird catches the worm, so be there early to ensure that you receive your portion.
Facilities and services
It is important to know who to approach for academic advice during the course of your studies.
The first people you should approach when faced with difficulties in your learning are your faculty staff – lecturers, tutors and unit coordinators.
The Monash libraries (both physical and online) are also a great help when researching information on the units you are taking.
Be sure to look out for special programs or drop-in sessions your faculty may offer you as enrichment to your lectures and tutorials.
If your query is an administrative one, look no further than Monash Connect.
You can lodge an online enquiry or call them directly if you are unable to go to their office in the Campus Centre.
Monash Connect can help you with issues such as basic course information, aid in locating misplaced items and assist with Monash ID card issuing and replacements.