Official guides / Enrolment & course planning

Virtual Learning - brief exposure (Monash Malaysia)

Official source

Monash University Malaysia

Last checked: 25 Oct 2026 UTC

What this page covers

Learning technologies
Study online successfully

Page text

Text and tables taken from the official page, with collapsed sections opened, so it can be read and searched here. Images and forms are not copied, so open the original page when you need to apply or submit something.

Here is the scenario of an expected university enrolment: you enrol in the course of your choice, you meet with fellow students during orientation week, you attend lectures and you sit for exams. However, with the new norm, you are required to attend university virtually, which is unfamiliar to most of us. At Monash University Malaysia, a variety of learning activities are scheduled on your timetable, including tutorials, workshops, lectures and other class types. While learning online, you may be required to complete learning activities on your own, in small groups virtually, or with your whole class using Zoom.

Learning technologies

Moodle

essential for:

course content
assessment and study requirements
assignment uploads
contact information your tutors and lecturers
weekly requirements for your units
recordings you should watch
scheduled Zoom sessions/workshops

Zoom provides:

breakout rooms
screen sharing
polling
whiteboards
access via various gadgets (laptop/desktop/smartphone)
suitable as online classrooms, especially for large number of students.

MS Teams

essential for:

web meetings with video/audio
screen sharing and whiteboard
file sharing
a wide range of external web apps and tools
each Team can have multiple Channels, (for discussion boards, chat tools, wikis, documents, polling)

In-class polling

includes:

Testing concepts prior to learning checks
Emphasize on student participation
Collecting feedback on teaching delivery
Formative and summative assessment

Our academics are also continuously exploring and learning on new online teaching technologies to ensure a successful online learning experience for the students. Here are some examples of the software introduced by the academics in the online teaching and learning: Guroo, Nearpod, H5P, CATME

Technical support To learn more about our online learning and teaching technologies you can watch our quick start video guides or read on how to assess the student learning systems.

If you are experiencing technical issues while assessing your online tools, you can reach for support at our ServiceDesk.

Study online successfully

Learning online in the new norm can be challenging. Study at your pace, and try not to worry if things are taking a bit longer than usual. You can schedule your study by having small, manageable sessions (e.g. 40 minutes) so you can achieve specific tasks in those windows. Below are some links that you can refer to assist you in learning online better.

5 tips for effective online study – Monash Library Blog
Time management tips: How to get organised – Monash Library Blog
Managing your time: Quick study guide – Monash Research and Learning Online
Reading and note taking – Monash Research and Learning Online
Collaborating and communicating online – Monash Research and Learning Online

Study Support

Resources to study online

Student Advisory and Support

What is GPA at Monash?

All campuses

GPA is calculated on a 4.0 scale from your grades rather than your marks: High Distinction 4.0, Distinction 3.0, Credit 2.0, Pass 1.0, Near pass 0.7, Fail and Hurdle fail 0.3, Withdrawn fail 0.0. Some results, such as SFR and NE, are not counted. Your GPA is shown in WES and on your transcript. Malaysia also uses a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) with different values: High Distinction 4.0, Distinction 3.67, Credit 2.85, Pass 2.15, Near pass 1.7, Fail and Hurdle fail 1.15, Withdrawn fail 0.0. It is not on your academic record, so you request a CGPA letter.

How do I withdraw from a unit?

Australia: withdraw through WES while enrolment changes are open. Before the census date there is no fee and no record; after it, you keep the fee liability and the unit shows as a withdrawal. If you are on a student visa you have study load requirements to maintain: Monash's study load page says you can reduce your load only in compassionate or compelling circumstances, unless you are in your final year and will finish within the time on your CoE. Malaysia: after the census date a withdrawn unit shows as WD-LATE or WD-FAIL, and the date you withdraw can affect fee refunds and your academic record. The last day to withdraw without academic penalty is before the WD-LATE date ends; the dates are in Monash Malaysia's Principal Dates. With a Student Pass, going below 24 credit points a semester is an underload: it needs approval, it can never go below 18 credit points, and below 18 you have to apply for intermission.

How many hours can I work on a student visa?

The rules are each country's, not Monash's, and they are different. Australia: work rights for student visa holders are set by the Australian Government, and the cap has changed several times in recent years. Monash's page links to the current Department of Home Affairs conditions - always confirm the number there before relying on it. Malaysia: with a Student Pass you may work only during semester breaks or public holidays of more than seven days, and for no more than 20 hours a week, at restaurants, petrol kiosks, mini markets or hotels; the page lists jobs that are not allowed. Every job has to be approved by the Immigration Department: you apply through the International Student Pass office and must be there in person when the application is submitted.