Exchange Report

The application process was the same as for any other master’s exchange: you submit a one-page CV and a motivational letter explaining why you are an ideal candidate for the program, as well as outlining your goals, motivations, and course interests. I felt that the most important part was clearly explaining why you want to go to Sydney and UTS specifically, and what makes you stand out. After being nominated, you receive numerous emails from UTS that clearly explain everything you need to do, including how to purchase your health insurance (I used Medibank), apply for your visa, enrol in courses, and apply for housing (if you plan to live in student accommodation). For your travels, I recommend checking whether airlines offer student discounts. I flew with Qatar Airways and Air India, for example, and both offered them. From Sydney Airport, it is very easy to get to the city by train or by Uber, especially if you are travelling with more than two people.

In the first semester, I lived in student housing called Yura Mudang. For the second semester, I moved to a shared apartment, as Yura only offers 6-month leases. Since I knew I wasn’t going to stay until July, I didn’t want to deal with finding someone to take over my lease. For Yura, UTS provided all the necessary information and application details (timeline, links, requirements). They offer studios as well as 2- or 6-person shared apartments, usually mixed-gender. It is very competitive, so if you want to live there, make sure to apply as soon as the application window opens and indicate your room preferences. My experience there was good overall. The location is excellent - it’s right next to UTS, Central Station, and close to the CBD. I never felt unsafe. I also met most of my friends there, as they organise many social events at the beginning. However, I ended up in a 6-person share, which can be quite intense at times, especially if your flatmates are not very clean. That said, the fortnightly cleaning service for common areas made it manageable. At around $360 per week, it is also one of the more affordable options. In the second semester, I looked for flats on Flatmates (a platform I would recommend to avoid scams). In general, the housing market in Sydney is very fast-paced. It doesn’t make sense to look for an apartment months in advance, as landlords usually expect you to attend inspections within a few days and move in shortly after - sometimes within days. The search can be quite intense, as there are not many affordable flats with acceptable standards (many places under $400 per week have issues like mould, cockroaches, or poor cleanliness). After viewing eight apartments in one day, I got lucky and found a shared apartment in Darling Point for $380 per week. The location - between the CBD and the beach - was great and felt even safer, but the commute to UTS took about 35 minutes. If you find a place you like, I’d recommend deciding quickly (possibly even on the spot), as there are usually many people viewing the property in a short period of time before someone takes it.

The UTS campus consists of several different buildings for various faculties, all within walking distance. Some buildings (e.g. the library) are quite modern, while others are rather outdated and lack sufficient outlets, among other things. The campus offers a gym, a small store, a food court, several cafés, and a nice outdoor area for lunch breaks, among many other facilities. The academic culture is quite different from WU, and especially from SIMC. While it is relatively easy to get good grades, group work can be quite challenging, as some team members may not speak English well or may not know how to approach tasks effectively. Be prepared to do the majority of the work, as motivation and ambition tend to be lower than at WU or SIMC. In the Project Management sub-major, each course follows the same structure: a pre-workshop assignment, followed by a four-day intensive workshop from 9:00 to 18:00, including lectures, guest speakers, group work, and assignments, and finally a post-workshop essay. I did not have any exams. Regarding course selection, it is important to note that the Project Management sub-major is not part of the Business School, but rather the Design, Architecture & Building faculty. As a result, most students come from backgrounds such as property management, architecture, project management, or engineering, which is reflected in the course content and examples. This is something to consider when choosing between the two sub-majors. Overall, I found the Project Management courses I took (Principles; HR & Stakeholder Management; Organisational Project Management; Negotiation & Conflict Management; Risk, Procurement & Quality Management; Advanced Risk Management) to be quite easy. However, they were also very repetitive, and in some cases I did not learn much that was new. I would recommend Principles, Organisational Project Management, and Negotiation & Conflict Management, as the other courses mainly expand on content already covered in Principles.

Auslandsbeihilfe

Life in Australia, and especially in Sydney, is amazing! There are so many things to do that even after 9 months there, I still have so much I’d like to explore on my bucket list. You can probably do most of the things you can think of there: from exploring the many beaches to hiking in the Blue Mountains, enjoying plays at the Opera House, shopping, going to outdoor cinemas, boat parties, etc. In general, everybody lives a very active lifestyle - think 5 a.m. run clubs, countless coastal walks, sports classes, numerous sports clubs, and more. There are also many social clubs that organise events to connect people. For example, I went to a weekly sunrise dip with coffee afterwards, as well as some parties organised by these clubs. I also did reformer Pilates, went to the gym, joined a run club, and played social volleyball a couple of times. You definitely won’t get bored. Public transport (train, ferry, metro, tram, buses) is also pretty good - comparable to Vienna, I’d say. I also never felt unsafe at any point. Of course, there are areas I would avoid at night if I were alone, but in general, there is no need to worry.

I had the best time of my life during my exchange in Sydney. Everything about it was just perfect: the city, the lifestyle, the people, the travel opportunities, and so much more. Additionally, it was really cool to experience studying at UTS and being part of the MBA program. I'd do it all over again if I could.