After coming to Melbourne to study a Master of Education, Mia Zhang became an Education Consultant, helping prospective students from China find their own pathway to study in Australia.
Pathway to postgrad
Mia’s undergraduate degree was a Bachelor of Engineering with a major in Food Quality and Safety. After graduating, though, she began working as a course consultant and realised how much she enjoyed supporting students and helping them achieve their goals.
I wanted to develop a deeper understanding of education and broaden my career opportunities in the field.
She chose to study her Master of Education at the University of Melbourne due to the University’s strong academic reputation, both overall and within the education discipline.
Student experience
From her first semester, Mia felt supported to succeed, with lecturers going above and beyond to help students meet their full potential.
“Having never written an academic essay before, I found it quite challenging at first,” Mia admits. “One of my lecturers arranged one-on-one sessions with each student, patiently explaining how to find academic sources, use them appropriately, and correct referencing errors in our assignments.”
What impressed me most was how approachable and supportive the lecturer was, and how willing they were to guide students from the very beginning.
In her final year, she benefitted from the course’s flexibility, which allowed her to choose between a research pathway or a coursework capstone component.
“I initially enrolled in the research pathway and completed the first two weeks before realising that my strengths and passions were better suited to the practical pathway. Through that experience, I discovered that I truly enjoy working with people, communicating, sharing knowledge, and learning about each person's unique story.”
It helped me gain a much clearer understanding of my strengths and the career direction I wanted to pursue.
“The academic experience, guidance from lecturers, and exposure to different perspectives helped me better understand my strengths and future career direction, which has continued to influence my professional development after graduation.”
Melbourne life
The city of Melbourne also played a part in making Mia’s study experience a positive one.
Melbourne offers a great balance of high-quality education, a multicultural environment and diverse career opportunities.
“What I particularly value about Melbourne is how welcoming and inclusive it is for people from different cultural backgrounds.”
Mia’s affection for Melbourne grew, and she came to see it not just as a study destination, but as a place where she might like to build a career and life.
“Over time, Melbourne became more than just a place where I studied. I built my career here and continue to live and work here today.”
Career journey
After graduating, she was offered a job with the Australian branch of Beijing New Oriental Education & Technology Group as an Education Consultant. In this role, she helps to guide and support Chinese prospective students who want to study in Australia.
“A typical day in my role as an Education Consultant involves meeting with students, understanding their academic backgrounds and career goals, and recommending suitable study pathways in Australia. I also assist with university applications, communicate with universities and other education providers, and support students throughout the application process.”
For many students, studying overseas is a major life decision, and I hope to make their journey less stressful by helping them understand their options and make decisions that are right for them.
“My studies in education prepared me for this role by helping me develop a deeper understanding of students’ individual needs, learning experiences and educational pathways. The critical thinking and communication skills I developed during my degree have also helped me analyse students’ situations and provide more thoughtful and personalised advice.”
Mia’s advice to anyone considering a Master of Education is to remember that education goes beyond a classroom setting.
“I came to understand that education is much broader than the classroom or academic achievement. It is about recognising individual differences, creating inclusive learning environments, and supporting people to reach their potential.”
That also means that people from all different professional backgrounds can succeed in this field.
“You do not necessarily need to have a traditional education background to build a career in the field. My own journey began with a Bachelor of Engineering in Food Quality and Safety, so studying education was a significant change for me,” Mia says.
Education is ultimately about people, and being able to listen, understand and support others is just as important as academic knowledge.
**Note: In addition to the research option and the capstone component option in the final year of the Master of Education, there is now an option to complete an overseas travel capstone.
Learn more
Master of Education Explore all our courses