Interview: A 2023 UQ Master of Commerce Student

📍 Interviewee background

Kiera

Bachelor's: Soochow University

Major: Economics

GPA: 3.5 / 4.0

Admitted to:

Australia

UQ - Master of Commerce (Applied Finance)

UK

Bristol - MSc in Finance and Investment

Glasgow - MSc International Corporate Finance and Banking

Manchester - MSc Development Finance

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📍 The MCom has 3 majors

UQ's Master of Commerce has 3 majors, such as Information Systems and Professional Accounting; I chose Applied Finance. In the first semester, everyone takes the same core courses regardless of major: Finance, Accounting, Information System for Management and Economics for Commerce. These courses look basic, but they're really helpful when you've just started and aren't yet used to how classes work at the school. In class, the cases we mainly analyzed were Australian listed companies, and we also studied how regulations currently being rolled out affect the economy. The professors build a scenario into every assignment, so even with simple concepts, actually applying them in an analysis still takes a lot of time. It's honestly not easy. In the second semester you go deeper into your major, which for me is Applied Finance, with courses like Financial Risk Management and International Financial Management. You can only take 4 courses a semester, but that loading is already pretty heavy.

📍 Both theory and practice

Overall I'd say our program is busy. I'm not sure about other programs, but most people working toward an assignment deadline often need 1~2 weeks to finish it, and if several assignments are due at once you may even have to pull all-nighters. Our courses combine theory and practice: professors cover the theory roughly in class, and the assignments analyze Australia's actual economic conditions and real companies. I don't know whether it's done the same way in Taiwan, and since I haven't started working yet, I can't say whether it will be useful on the job.

📍 What UQ is like～

The campus is huge and the library has lots of seats, but for some reason the library is always full, so I think the study atmosphere is pretty good. The school also holds lots of events for students~ And the weather in Brisbane is amazing, so bad weather never makes you not want to go to class~

📍 Friendly, animal-loving, barefoot?

Australians are really friendly. When you're out shopping or having fun, they're happy to chat with you for a bit. I also think Australians really care about wildlife, so you see all kinds of animals wandering around the streets. That said, I really hate Australia's bin chickens: they swoop right down and snatch food from people. Australians also don't like wearing shoes or carrying umbrellas; when it rains, they just get wet. People on the street do wear shoes, but everyone says Australians don't like wearing them.

📍 Which bank should you open an account with?

Most international students open an account with Commonwealth Bank. You can open it online while still in Taiwan, then verify your identity at a branch once you get to Australia, and you're set~ But it gets really busy at the start of the semester. Back then I had to book an appointment a week out to open the account. Later my relative (a local) recommended ANZ, and after that I used ANZ for everything in Australia. Besides a regular account, I also opened ANZ PLUS, ANZ's digital bank, where all the banking services are digital and the interest is higher than a regular account.

📍 Off-campus student housing: Scape

There are usually very few on-campus dorms, so most people live in student housing first and then rent a place outside. That's because landlords usually ask for your rental history in Australia, and if you don't live in student housing first, you have nothing to show them~~~~ Renting outside is much better value than student housing. I currently live at Scape, and I think the facilities are pretty complete overall, and they hold lots of events. It's just that the price has gone up ridiculously. But most student housing is really expensive now, so it probably doesn't matter much which one you pick~

📍 The August festival

Every August, Brisbane holds EKKA Holiday, an agricultural fair where you can see lots of cute little animals like sheep, chicks, dogs and more. Besides some rides, there are lots of great shows at night, and it ends with fireworks. The famous Strawberry Sundaes always have long lines; they're really delicious and a must-try.

📍 The Brisbane Festival in September

In September there are fireworks along the whole Brisbane River. It's lively and spectacular, with aerobatic flying displays and helicopter exhibits by the Australian Defence Force, plus lots of music performances and great parties.

📍 A few words for everyone

Studying abroad really resets your mindset and the pace of your life, and you learn a lot of new things. Mindset: compared with before, I'm more willing to listen to different opinions and to accept people who are different from me. Pace of life: I've started learning to live slowly, unlike in Taiwan, where every day was packed with things and I rushed through each one. So if you get the chance, definitely take the opportunity to go on exchange or study abroad.

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