Interview with a 2023 UQ Student

📍 About the interviewee

Ann

National Chung Hsing University

Admitted to:

UQ - Master of Information Technology

Adelaide - Master of Computing and Innovation

Melbourne - Master of Agricultural Sciences

——

📍 UQ IT has three tracks

I'm currently in the Master of Information Technology at the University of Queensland (UQ). The coursework splits into three tracks: data science, design (web and interactive devices), and software engineering. Since you don't pick a major, the foundation courses in all three are required, which makes it a better fit for people who want to study IT but aren't sure yet which direction suits them. After the foundation courses, students plan their own electives, so I'd suggest checking the department's program page first. Right now the data science courses are richer than the other two tracks, with a more complete structure and solid foundational training. Web and interactive design requires teaching yourself a lot of practical tools first (Figma, the design software, for example), and I didn't find the software engineering projects very practical.

📍 Switching fields? Self-study pays off!

Studying on your own and previewing the material is the best preparation. You get ahead, and you also understand better what the field or major actually covers, so you can check whether you're interested. Before coming to UQ I taught myself Python, SQL and front-end web development (HTML/CSS/JS), and I happened to use all of them in my first semester. I'm really glad I learned them beforehand: classes here move fast, there are a lot of students, and tutors can hardly meet every student's needs, so learning ahead helps a lot. The Master of IT also requires Discrete Mathematic, and I've heard quite a few students fail it. If you're thinking of studying a computing-related program at UQ, you'll probably take this course too, so I'd suggest getting a head start on it.

📍 Managing money, pushing through hard times: easy to get in, hard to graduate

Money-wise, suddenly having no job and burning through my savings every day often left me feeling insecure, and I'm still working on getting used to that. Also, while getting into a master's program in Australia is easy, graduating isn't. I often feel that even though I want to study IT, I don't really have the knack or talent for it, and that gets me down a lot.

📍 Housing: Unilodge Park Central

I first lived at Unilodge Park Central, which is pretty good. It has a music room, a cinema, table tennis, a BBQ area and study rooms, it's close to UQ, the neighborhood has everything you need, and getting into the city is easy. But the staff are pretty unhelpful: they often lose mail, and when I moved out they charged me about AUD $40 extra in cleaning fees (I had already paid an AUD $119 cleaning fee before that; I later heard many others were overcharged too but paid to avoid trouble, since the alternative was going to court...). Also, my room had windows, but none of them could open, and I heard noise was a big problem in other rooms (I was lucky nobody lived upstairs). I'd recommend living in student housing at first and then finding another place, because student apartments cost a lot more than regular apartments outside, and living outside also teaches you life skills like dealing with bills.

📍 Friendly Australians

People will strike up a chat with you anytime, anywhere: shopping, asking a question, riding transit, or just standing on the platform waiting for a train. Australians seem more outgoing and like talking to people, but I'm not much of a talker, so at first I'd sometimes run out of words and not know how to respond. Still, people here are very friendly, and I've never had anyone turn rude because of it. Over time you figure out how to handle it. Also, drivers here are very considerate of pedestrians, which took me a while to get used to XD

📍 What to know about opening a bank account

I opened accounts with nab + HSBC + ANZ

nab -> a bigger, more established bank, no account fees

HSBC -> 2% back on debit card purchases (only for single purchases under 100, not including 100; not sure if this still exists)

ANZ -> sign-up bonus (complete the required tasks to get AUD 50; I think it's now 30)

Tip: don't open too many at the start. For banks with sign-up bonuses, ask people you know first and open one after they have an account.

📍 Sunglasses: a necessity & a fashion item

You can buy almost everything here that you can get in Taiwan. There's Daiso, IKEA and lots of Asian supermarkets, though Brisbane has no MUJI, and MUJI Australia doesn't sell everything online. If I had to name one must-have item, it'd be sunglasses XD There are sooo many sunny days here (and don't worry about looking weird, because everyone wears them). If you want prescription sunglasses, I'd suggest getting them made in Taiwan, or buying them at Sunglass Hut in Australia, which often has sales.

📍 Volunteering to build your résumé

Besides the many clubs that show up on Market Day, the university holds a Career Expo and a Volunteer Expo, which give students more ways to build their résumés. At the Volunteer Expo I applied to join TED x UQ (yes, the TEDx that runs talks). There was an interview, and my English wasn't great then, but I still got in without trouble. Maybe because it's volunteering, I felt less pressure, and the members were all very friendly. I often feel I don't speak specifically or in enough detail, but they can always understand and work out what I mean. Besides giving me the chance to work with many locals, this volunteer experience greatly improved my English communication.

📍 The easygoing life in Brisbane

I really love Brisbane's weather. It rarely rains, the climate is dry, and it's not crowded since the population is small (you rarely need a reservation to eat out on weekends). It's very comfortable to live in, and people here are pretty friendly. I like going around New Farm, South Bank and James Street, which are great for a weekend stroll and some shopping, and now and then you can take the Ferry to get around. Most of the time, living here feels relaxed and easy.

Assembly label: a clothing store with great quality that also sells small items. You often see students carrying their canvas tote bags, and I love the scent of their candles.

Elka: another clothing store with great quality, especially fall and winter coats. For about NT$5,000 you can get a really nice coat, and if that feels too pricey you can wait for a sale.

📍 A few words for you

I really like Brisbane, and I think it's a great place to study abroad. People here are friendly to newcomers and quite patient with those whose English isn't that good. It is a bit plainer than big cities like Sydney and Melbourne, but the weather is good and the population density is relatively low, so it's genuinely comfortable to live in, and most of the time I've been pretty happy. That said, during finals and when major assignments are due, the pressure gets intense, at a level I never experienced studying or working in Taiwan.

[OfferLand partner study-abroad consultant]

🙋🏻‍♂️Harry, independent UK & Australia consultant

👉🏻 Click to consult 👈🏻

Want to study in the UK but save on agency fees? Want to study in Australia but save on application fees?

Want to apply on your own but still have someone to help?

✔ A consultant who really looks after students: efficient + fast replies!

✔ Best of all, [no agency fees]; only certain specific services carry a fee! Any charges are disclosed in advance

✔ Helps you plan your study-abroad timeline, watch the application details, run an admission-chance analysis and apply to universities strategically, with tailored document coaching, plus follow-up help with (off-campus) housing, visas and pre-departure services