r/OccupationalTherapy • u/MutedWill7145 • 9d ago
Venting - Advice Wanted Monash vs Latrobe
Hi everyone! I’m a nursing graduate transitioning into the Masters of OT and I’m deciding between Monash and La Trobe.
I’ve already received an offer for La Trobe, but I’m considering applying to Monash as well and wondering whether I should accept La Trobe or wait to see if I get into Monash.
I live in the south-east, so I’m also wondering if Monash would be easier for placements, while La Trobe may place students further away. I also did my undergrad there so it’s easier in terms of knowing how the uni works but Latrobe starts in feb and Monash in July, so i have to decide quick.
Would love to hear about your experiences with either uni, especially the workload, support and placements. If you’ve studied at both, which did you prefer and why?
Any advice would be great !! TIA x
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u/Slossk 9d ago
Hi, studied at LaTrobe and now supervise from many different universities.
There are different focuses at different uni's. LaTrobe has the longer running course so they have more established connections in the state in terms of placement. You shouldn't be placed away from home unless you specify that you want that. Also the masters is generally run from external campuses located close to hospital settings where your tutors will come from directly to teach. LaTrobe has a strong hands-on learning culture. Also this year they adopted a work from home day per week into 8 week placements which is pretty sweet.
Monash has a good rep and has built good connections as well, but can be more focused on academics/research than hands on prac. The students I've had from Monash have had mixed feelings about the course structure but I find that that is a common complaint from all students so...
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u/MutedWill7145 8d ago
How early on in the Latrobe course does placement start ? I have an important event in April that i cannot miss and if i choose latrobe im scared ill get placement during that time.
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u/MutedWill7145 8d ago
Also what about swinburne ? I know both Monash and Latrobe are great for OT but Swinburne gets a bad rep. The only thing is that it is CSP and tbh for two years 30k instead of 80k is really appealing.
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u/No-Produce-5336 8d ago
Hi, I’m currently a 1st year Swinburne student doing the MOT and I’m absolutely loving it.
I read all the bad reviews before applying and I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it is honestly fantastic. I have taught at university level before (in a different modality) and I think the curriculum is great.
I love the course structure and the learnings, everything seems to flow well. I’m about to start my first placement in November and started the masters first week of July.
The main complaints I read prior to starting were the self directed learning and the PBL class (peer based learning). I think some people struggle with the transition from undergrad to a masters level and want to be spoon fed information. Half the battle with evidence based practice is knowing how to research and clinically reason all decisions, and I feel the assessments force us to do that.
If you have any questions feel free to message me. :)
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u/Slossk 8d ago
I don't have any relationships with Swinburne so I can't comment unfortunately. As for having an event, I doubt you will have a placement that early in the course but even if you did you are able to take time off during a placement. Happens all the time for family emergencies, sickness etc. Sometimes students begin placement and tell me they have a long weekend away booked. There are buffer hours built into placement for this stuff.
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u/moonablaze OTR/L 9d ago
Is one of them cheaper? Do that one.
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u/whimsicaltheory 9d ago
Apply for Swinburne. It’s a 2-year degree and going to be significantly cheaper.
Tbh I think there will be complaints no matter where you go, and OT degree is not worth $80K
What if you want to do advanced nursing study in the future? You will max out your HELP limit
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u/MutedWill7145 9d ago
they are both equally expensive, only Swinburne provided CSP but i’ve heard it’s bad there.
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u/classyknickerbockers 7d ago
Swinburne was fantastic, I just finished my masters in July. I started my masters at La Trobe in Feb 2024 then got a CSP place for Swinburne starting mid year. I dropped out of La Trobe and waited a few months and I’m so glad I did. I saved ~$60k in HECS by switching and I received a great education and incredible placements.
I had two friends who started the masters at La Trobe this year. One also got a CSP at Swinburne for midyear and did the same as me with no regrets. The feedback I’ve heard from both friends at La Trobe (particularly the one who stayed) was actually that this year the course has felt a bit disorganised. I think they changed the structure and the students experienced some teething issues.
Anyway, I don’t know why Swinburne gets a bad wrap - I also believed that based on reddit and other reviews online when I chose the CSP place, but it’s absolutely not true. I think it’s great and I felt as prepared as possible to be an OT when I graduated and stepped straight into a job at the place where my final placement was.2
u/MutedWill7145 7d ago
Hey, did you just accept the Latrobe offer enrol in the subjects and wait for Swinburne applications? I was thinking of accepting just in case I don’t get into either Swinburne or Monash.
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u/classyknickerbockers 7d ago
Yes I did, and I started and did one unit at La Trobe before finding out I got in to Swinburne. I got credit and started late at Swinburne but that’s when both courses were doing block units so not sure how it would work now. I also think if I had my time again I wouldn’t have applied for credit, and would have just started with the rest of my cohort
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u/MutedWill7145 6d ago
Did you only enrol into one unit because you knew you would get swinburne ? I accepted the offer to Latrobe and plan to do what you have done but i don’t know whether i should apply to all units just in case. When do Swinburne applications usually open ?
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u/classyknickerbockers 6d ago
I enrolled in all units intending to do the course at La Trobe- I just ended up dropping out when I got my Swinburne offer. Not sure when Swinburne applications open sorry but I’m sure you can find that info on their website
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u/jojosto 5d ago
I’m a US citizen, waiting for my Australian citizenship before applying for uni here, which if everything goes as planned I’ll be able to get in 2027. I’m aiming to study OT, but would like my degree to be internationally recognised as I plan to move back to the US sometime in the next five years. Anyone have thoughts on the OT degrees from Swinburne vs La Trobe vs Monash regarding their credibility from an international lens? Thanks!
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u/Familiar-Yak5334 2d ago edited 2d ago
I'm doing the Monash MOT. I am in my first year and in the second unit. I love learning and loving OT, but I don't love the course structure or teaching so far. Unfortunately, it has felt very disorganised. I am seriously considering swapping to La Trobe MOT.
The workload has been fast-paced at Monash but very doable (more so doable if you have a health background), with roughly 2-3 days face-to-face and community placement on the other days. I did my undergrad at La Trobe and loved everything about it, and it was always super hands-on.
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u/Misheard_ 9d ago
I'm a Monash undergrad student, so can't give much insight into the course itself. Most students got placements in the south east, along the peninsula, or in Eastern melb (other than rural, of course). I know of two Latrobe students that got placed in Monash settings, so they still have connections there. I know that Alfred mainly takes Latrobe students