Making Melbourne a second home as an international student
Luv Golecha's passion for space science and travel drew him to the University of Melbourne from halfway across the world. Learn how he navigated the transition from his hometown in India to Melbourne and what he's gotten out of the Bachelor of Science so far.
Finding a university that aligned with his goals
Studying overseas had long been a dream for Indian-born Luv. When he began to seriously consider the move, he soon set his sights on the University of Melbourne.
“I only wanted to come to the best,” Luv explains.
“After researching and talking to relatives, I chose Melbourne because of the flexibility in the curriculum, the extensive array of subjects to choose from and top of-field staff.”
The Bachelor of Science offered Luv the freedom to choose from more than 40 majors encompassing the full range of science, technology, engineering, maths and biological sciences.
At Melbourne, Luv would be able to focus on his career from day one or take the time to explore his options and discover new passions along the way.
Like many international students in 2020, though, Luv’s plans to relocate to Australia were altered by the COVID-19 pandemic. While waiting for a visa, he decided to begin his degree 10,000km away in Ahmedabad.
“I quickly adjusted to the time difference and the professors were really great and helpful,” says Luv.
“Being surrounded by like-minded people made it easy to connect and socialise. Despite being online, I still made some good friends.”
For me, the most interesting thing has been connecting with students with similar or completely different fields – the viewpoints you receive, the new perspectives, and a lot of new experiences.
Once restrictions had lifted and Luv was able to travel to Melbourne, he soon discovered a home away home and set to work on pursuing his dreams of completing his studies and one day becoming an astronaut.
“You cannot achieve a dream without making sacrifices or doing something different from your competitors.”
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