Get the most out of Orientation week

Well, you're officially a Swinburne student. Welcome. Wominjeka. 

On this page

Your Orientation dates

Your study group defines your Orientation dates

Higher Education

Semester 1, 2025: 24 – 28 February
 

Vocational Education

Check your email invite

UniLink and Foundation

Teaching Period 1, 2025: 21 February

ELICOS

Check your email invite

Don't know what study group you fit into? Here's a guide
  • Higher education: made up of undergraduate (bachelor or associate degrees), and postgraduate (graduate certificate, graduate diploma, masters degrees)
  • Vocational education: diploma or certificate that is not a Unilink course
  • Unilink and Foundation: Unilink or Foundation Year course
  • ELICOS: English language course

Step-by-step guide to Orientation

Select your study level to get direction.

Need help? Reach out to our friendly team at StudentHQ.

Note: ELICOS students should refer to their email invitation for further info.

Undergraduate study level

If you're enrolled in a bachelor or associate degrees, you're an undergraduate student.

Click on the following steps below to discover how to get the most out of Orientation. 

Your course induction is on your first day – an all-day event where you'll get everything you need to kick off your studies with confidence. It's essential to attend, so make sure you RSVP and save the date.

Remember to RSVP

Please RSVP to confirm your attendance. If you've enrolled, we'll also send you an email invite for your course induction. You can also RSVP from that email. 

Haven't received your email invite

If you have enrolled but haven't received your invite, please let us know. 

Contact us
Double-degree students may need to attend two course inductions

If you've enrolled in a double degree, you may need to attend two course inductions. So, double-check you're in the right place. 

International students welcome

If you're an international student, there's a special welcome and briefing just for you. It's where you'll get all the must-have information for starting your journey.

After your course induction, join us on campus on Friday 28 February for Discovery Day!

Starting uni can be intimidating, but there's no need to go it alone. There are plenty of ways to connect with people who have similar interests and backgrounds outside of your course. You can:

  • Check out all the student clubs on show
  • Find out how to get involved with volunteering opportunities
  • Discover the Multi Faith Centre
  • Learn more about the peer mentoring program
  • Explore the festivities at Discovery Day, including food, live music, activities, and plenty of opportunities to connect with new friends

Take a campus tour

This is your campus now. Get to know the place and make yourself at home by joining a campus tour during Orientation. Tours will depart every 15 minutes from John Street during your course induction, but if you miss out, don’t worry! Tours will also run on Discovery Day, Friday 28 February.

New student? Lunch is on us

If you’re beginning your studies with us this year, make sure you come to the Lunchtime Mingle for a meal on the house.

If you’re a returning student, don’t fret! Make sure you’re on campus for Welcome Back Week.

Need a guide? Check our campus map!

Struggling to find your way? The campus map will guide you to essential locations and hotspots on campus. 

Want to get stuck in early? Check out our popular Pre-Orientation Essentials Program. It offers you the chance to get ahead by giving you the skills and resources needed to succeed at uni. 

Can't join us in person? You can also access workshop recordings and resources from Canvas. 

  • Student Essentials

    Are you keen to learn about the support services available to you as a Swinburne student?

    Maybe you're looking for practical resources ahead of your studies.

    Catch up on the essentials! 

    Come to our pre-orientation essentials event held in the week before Orientation.

    Wed 19 February
    10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
    Advanced Technologies Centre (ATC), 101
    Free
    Register now (Student Essentials)

Postgraduate study level

If you're enrolled in a graduate certificate, graduate diploma or masters degree, you're a postgraduate student.

Click on the following steps below to discover how to get the most out of Orientation. 

Your course induction is on your first day – an all-day event where you'll get everything you need to kick off your studies with confidence. It's essential to attend, so make sure you RSVP and save the date.

Are you an international student?

If you're an international student, there's a special welcome and briefing just for you. It's where you'll get all the must-have information for starting your journey.

Your course induction is an excellent place to network with your peers and professors. Outside of your course, there are lots of ways to connect with others on campus who share your interests. Join us on campus on Friday 28 February for Discovery Day!

Be sure to check out:

  • Peer Mentoring services
  • Student clubs
  • Spiritual wellbeing at the Multi Faith Centre
  • Volunteering opportunities available on campus and in the community
  • All the other festivities happening on Discovery Day, including food, live music and plenty of opportunities to connect with new friends.

This is your campus – make yourself at home! If you’re new to Swinburne, take time during the day to go on a campus tour during Orientation. Tours will depart every 15 minutes from John Street during your course induction, but if you miss out, don’t worry! Tours will also run on Discovery Day, Friday 28 February.

All set? Let's go!

Vocational Education study level

If you're enrolled in a diploma or a certificate that is not postgraduate or a UniLink course, you're a vocational education student. 

Click on the following steps below to discover how to get the most out of Orientation. 

You’ll get inducted in your first week of classes, so make sure to be there. You’ll meet your teachers, learn more about your course and get answers to any burning questions you may have.

In the meantime, we have an online module available for you via Canvas, our learning management system. This module includes the 7 steps you should take to kick off your Swinburne journey and valuable info on the support services available to you.

Canvas uses the same username and password as your Swinburne student email, so make sure you set that up first.

Starting uni can be intimidating, but there's no need to go it alone. There are plenty of ways to connect with people who have similar interests and backgrounds outside of your course. If you’re studying at our Hawthorn campus, you can:

  • check out the student clubs showcased on John Street
  • find out how to get involved with volunteering opportunities
  • discover the Multi Faith centre
  • learn more about the peer mentoring program.
Take a campus tour

If Hawthorn is your campus, be sure to join a campus tour during Orientation. They depart every 15 minutes from John Street and are the best way to find all the best spots around uni.

We also have a campus map to help you find your way around.

Find out if your first class is on campus or online

You’ll be inducted into your course in your first class, so make sure you know whether you need to be on campus or dialing in via Canvas.

UniLink and Foundation Year study level

If you're enrolled in a UniLink diploma, UniLink Bridging Program or a Foundation Year course, you're on the right page.

Click on the following steps below to discover how to get the most out of Orientation. 

Your course induction is where you'll get all the info you need to kick off your studies with confidence. 

Starting uni can be intimidating, but there's no need to go it alone. There are plenty of ways to connect with people who have similar interests and backgrounds outside of your course.

Make sure you drop by our Student Hub in the TD building, Room TD140. This will be your help desk and meeting room, so head here first if you’re unsure about something.  

Check out the Hawthorn campus map

This is your campus now – make yourself at home! If you’re new to Swinburne, there will be an opportunity to explore the campus on a guided tour.

All set? Let's go!

Main events for Orientation

  • Students at Orientation with Swinburne mascot, Razor

    Discovery Day

    After attending your First Day, come back and join us on campus for a full day of festivities! Enjoy free food, live music, activities, and plenty of opportunities to re/connect with new friends. It’s the perfect way to wrap up your first week.

    When: Friday 28 February

    Where: Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn campus

    Time: 10.30am – 2.30pm

    • Orientation

    Campus tours

    Let us show you around our wonderful Hawthorn campus on a tour led by current Swinburne students.

    Mon 24 February to Fri 28 February
    11:00 AM to 2:30 PM
    Outside the Library on John St, Hawthorn campus
    Free
    Register now (Campus tours)
    • Orientation

    Welcome Back Week

    It's going to be a jam-packed three days.

    Join us for competitions, free food. giveaways and more!

    Mon 3 March to Wed 5 March
    11:30 AM to 2:30 PM
    Swinburne University of Technology - Hawthorn campus
    Free
    Register now (Welcome Back Week)
    • Orientation

    Clubs Day

    You'll find many club stalls around campus. And if you still can't find a club to join, you can create your own!

    Wed 5 March
    11:30 AM to 2:30 PM
    Swinburne University of Technology - Hawthorn campus
    Free
    Register now (Clubs Day)

Connect with Swinburne

Follow Swinburne on social networks to discover what's on outside the classroom.

Resources and support services

Contact us

If there’s something we haven’t covered here, or something you’re not sure of and would like to hear more about, feel free to get in touch with us at StudentHQ.

Contact StudentHQ