Monash Student Association (MSA)

Name

Monash Student Association (MSA)

Legal name

Monash Student Association

Website

https://msa.monash.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Clayton

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. MSA+ Membership Fees: Premium membership program offering exclusive merchandise (backpack, wall planner, hoodie, water bottle), $5 off club memberships, discounts on campus, and cheaper event tickets. Generates revenue while incentivizing student engagement.
2. Venue Operations: MSA operates staffed outlets including Sir John's student bar, Wholefoods cafe and restaurant, Uniride bike shop, and SURLY student library. Catering services for campus events generate additional revenue.
3. Club Membership Fees: MSA supports, funds, and resources over 100 clubs on campus. Individual clubs may charge membership fees, with MSA+ members receiving $5 discounts. Revenue supports club operations and MSA services.
4. Catering Services: MSA Catering employs and trains students to deliver catering services on campus. Income is returned directly into MSA for student services, providing employment and hospitality training while fostering community.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

MSA is the peak representative body for undergraduate students at Monash Clayton campus, founded in 1961. It delivers independent advocacy and welfare services (including free travel passes, gadget lending, food programs), runs the MSA+ premium membership program, supports over 100 affiliated clubs and societies, and operates on-campus outlets such as Sir John's student bar, Wholefoods café, Uniride bike shop, and SURLY recreational library. MSA also produces student media (Radio Monash, Lot's Wife magazine) and student theatre (MUST).

Product overview

Monash Student Association (MSA) operates as a comprehensive student services organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs. The core membership program MSA+ provides exclusive benefits and discounts. Student support services include advocacy, welfare programs (Free Travel Pass, free food), and gadget/equipment lending. MSA operates multiple hospitality and retail outlets including Sir John's Bar, Wholefoods, Uniride Bike Shop, and SURLY library. Cultural and recreational offerings include over 100 Clubs & Societies, Radio Monash, Lot's Wife magazine, and Monash Uni Student Theatre (MUST). The organization provides catering services and leadership/volunteer opportunities for students.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MSA+ Premium membership program offering exclusive merchandise (backpack, wall planner, hoodie, water bottle), $5 off club memberships, on- and off-campus discounts, and cheaper event tickets for Monash Clayton undergraduate students.
• Clubs & Societies Network of over 100 student-run clubs and societies spanning academic, cultural, social welfare, spiritual, political, and special interest categories, funded and resourced by MSA for undergraduate students.
• Student Advocacy & Support (SAS) Independent, confidential, non-legal advocacy and referral service for Clayton, Parkville, and Gippsland-enrolled undergraduate students covering academic integrity matters, special consideration applications, academic progress concerns, and complaints against the University.
• MSA Gadget Library Loanable equipment service offering laptops, chargers, power banks, headphones, cameras, microphones, calculators, and umbrellas with 1-day standard loans or 2-day loans for MSA+ members.
• Free Travel Pass Program Welfare program partnered with PTV to issue 7-day travel passes for students experiencing financial hardship, valid on all Victoria public transport including metropolitan zones 1 and 2, regional town and intertown buses, and V/Line coaches and trains.
• Welfare Programs Welfare initiatives including free food, free groceries, and related hardship support services for Monash Clayton students.
• Radio Monash Student-run radio station providing broadcasting and media experience opportunities for Monash students under MSA.
• Lot's Wife Student Magazine Long-standing student magazine serving as a platform for student journalism, creative writing, and campus discourse.
• Monash Uni Student Theatre (MUST) Student theatre department of MSA run by professional theatre makers, producing diverse theatrical productions including new text-based pieces, devised work, adaptations, festivals, and exhibitions for students and the wider community.
• Uniride Bike Shop Bike shop on the Clayton campus providing cycling services, repairs, and support for students, operated by MSA.
• Sir John's Bar Student bar on the Clayton campus providing a social venue and catering services for the campus community, operated by MSA.
• Wholefoods Café & Restaurant Café and restaurant on the Clayton campus offering food services to students and staff, operated by MSA.
• SURLY (Student Union Recreational Library) Student recreational library on Level 1 of Campus Centre providing book loans, study spaces, gadget library services, and serving as the Free Travel Pass collection point.
• MSA Catering Professional catering service operated by MSA that employs and trains students to deliver catering on campus, with proceeds supporting student services.
• Leadership & Volunteering Programs offering student leadership opportunities and volunteer positions across various MSA departments and initiatives.
• MUISS (International Students Support) Dedicated support services and community programs for international students at Monash University, including cultural connection and travel assistance.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100 clubs supported on campus
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• PTV (Public Transport Victoria)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 February 2025MSA has partnered with PTV to become an eligible issuer of 7-Day Travel Passes. This partnership helps alleviate cost of living pressures by providing students experiencing financial hardship with free statewide travel on trains, buses, and trams for 7 days. Passes can be used on all PTV contracted services including metropolitan services (zone 1 and 2), regional town and intertown buses, and V/Line coaches and trains (economy class).

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• University of Melbourne Student Union (UMSU): UMSU is the peak representative body for University of Melbourne students, operating advocacy, welfare, clubs, media, and outlet services in the same way MSA does for Monash. It is the closest peer by mission, structure, and service mix in the Melbourne market.
• Deakin University Student Association (DUSA): DUSA is the student association for Deakin University, providing advocacy, clubs, welfare, and events across multiple campuses. It mirrors MSA's structure and offers a useful comparison point for multi-campus student association operations.
• RMIT Student Union (RMITSU): RMITSU represents RMIT University students with comparable services including advocacy, clubs, welfare programs, and on-campus outlets. It is a directly comparable Victorian student union operating under a similar operating model.
• La Trobe University Student Association (LUSA): LUSA is the student association at La Trobe University, providing advocacy, clubs, and welfare programs. Comparable to MSA as a Victorian student union with a comparable representative-body mission.
• Victoria University Student Union (VUSU): VUSU represents Victoria University students with advocacy, events, and welfare services. It is a directly comparable Victorian student union serving a similar metropolitan Melbourne student base.
• Australian National University Students' Association (ANUSA): ANUSA is the representative student association for ANU, offering advocacy, welfare, clubs, and SSAF-funded services. It is a directly comparable peer at a major Group of Eight Australian university with a similar service portfolio.

Broad incumbents

• National Union of Students (Australia): NUS is the national peak body for Australian student associations and represents MSA's interests federally. It is comparable as the umbrella organization of which MSA is effectively a member, with broader scope across all Australian universities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/MSA.Clayton
• Instagraminstagram.com/msa.clayton
• TikToktiktok.com/@msa.clayton

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Monash Student Association (MSA)