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Student Resource Guide 2008 Course and Unit information Other key publications
 

Monash in Europe

Monash has a centre in Europe; the Monash University Prato Centre, opened in September 2001. Monash is also a participating institution in the Group of Eight's Australia Centre Europe, based in Berlin. Additionally, Monash has 42 active partnerships with European universities, covering matters such as student exchange and cooperation in teaching and research.

These linkages open up attractive opportunities for you to spend time in Europe while gaining credit towards your Monash degree.

Further information

Monash University Prato Centre

The Monash University Prato Centre occupies the ground and first floors of an elegant 18th-century palace, the Palazzo Vaj, in the historic centre of the ancient Tuscan city of Prato in Italy. The centre is close to the European University Institute at Fiesole, as well as many other distinguished European and North American universities that conduct undergraduate and research programs in and around Florence. It is now the largest Australian academic institution of its kind in Europe. Monash's faculties of Art and Design, Arts, Business and Economics, and Law offer formal teaching programs at the Prato centre, and all faculties have held academic conferences at the centre since its opening.

About Prato

Prato is a thriving, modern industrial and commercial city of around 180,000 inhabitants, a growing percentage of who are immigrants from mainland China, the Indian sub-continent, and north and west Africa. The communal and provincial governments, progressive in outlook, are active in European Community affairs, and have welcomed the presence of an Australian academic institution in the heart of their city. Prato contains a number of celebrated medieval and Renaissance buildings, among them the early 15th-century palace of the famous `Merchant of Prato', Francesco Datini, but it is also a modern cultural centre. The avant-garde Teatro Metastasio is next door to the Monash centre, and the Luigi Pecci Museum of Contemporary Art is nearby.

Prato is 18 kilometres from Florence by road and rail, and it is 15 minutes by taxi from the Florence Airport at Peretola.

Centre facilities

The centre offers conference and teaching facilities, performance, studio and exhibition spaces, offices and a comfortable reading room with a small Australian reference collection.

Research student facilities

Higher degree by research candidates and honours students who wish to use Prato as a European base may apply to use shared office accommodation on a casual (daily) or longer term basis. For details visit http://www.mrgs.monash.edu.au/research/students/other.html

IT facilities

The Monash Centre in Prato is cabled throughout and has high-speed internet connections. The centre is equipped with data projection and slide and overhead projectors, as well as television and video equipment. Staff and students have access to personal computers and networked printing.

Recreational facilities

Palazzo Vaj boasts a large terrace in the midst of Prato's medieval towers, two caf_ areas and a reception room.

Programs

A number of undergraduate award units are offered intensively at the centre. To date, these have been offered by the faculties of Arts, Art and Design, Business and Economics, and Law. Details of units can be obtained from the relevant faculty. If you are interested in enrolling in units offered in Prato, you will need to discuss this with your course adviser.

Accommodation

There are a number of moderately priced hotels close to the Monash University Prato Centre.

Further information