When Nicholas McKenzie began studying the UTS Bachelor of Information Technology (Co-op) program, he didn’t see himself as a stereotypical ‘tech person’. But he quickly learned that his analytical mindset, problem-solving skills and love of puzzles were exactly what the IT industry values.
Industry placements that build real skills
The structure of the program was a huge selling point for Nicholas.
His first six-month industry placement turned into a further year of part-time work at the Reserve Bank of Australia, and by the end of it, Nicholas was leading discussions with senior managers, analysing organisational challenges and contributing to real business solutions. Nicholas has just started his second internship at Ansarada.
“I was quite nervous going into the Reserve Bank, especially only 6 months into uni. I was thinking to myself, I must be an expert on this and that, but my perspective quickly changed. I had the freedom to learn.”
Scholarship support that transformed Nicholas’ UTS experience
Receiving the BIT Co-op scholarship lifted a huge financial weight off Nicholas’ shoulders. Instead of juggling part-time jobs, he could now focus entirely on his studies, placements and building his tech career. Something he said made all the difference.
“When I got the call, I was so happy. It was the biggest relief because I worked hard at my HSC to hopefully get a scholarship. I was intending to work through uni, to support myself if I didn’t get any scholarship. But receiving it took that financial pressure off and meant I could fully focus on my studies and placements instead of juggling extra work.”
Discovering his path in the tech industry
Through his placement, Nicholas discovered a passion for the intersection of business and technology; how systems support strategy, how data informs decisions, and how emerging tech reshapes organisations.
That insight led him to major in Business Information Systems, leaning into subjects he never expected to enjoy, like finance.
“That’s the thing about tech,” he says. “There isn’t one pathway. There’s something for everyone; you just have to stay open.”
Nicholas sums up his journey simply:
“I started with no idea where I’d fit. Now I know exactly the kind of work I enjoy, the impact I want to make, and the skills I bring to the table.”
What began as uncertainty turned into direction. What started as curiosity turned into confidence.
And for Nicholas, that’s what studying IT at UTS has really been about, not just gaining technical skills, but discovering where he belongs in a rapidly evolving industry.
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Starting as a student in the BIT Co-op program, Dylan is a co-founder of a UpDoc; he’s also mentoring the next generation of tech-leaders.
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Pranshu from India completed a Master of Interaction Design (Extension) in 2022. He co-founded a startup, Memo Memory Rehabilitation (MEMORehab), where he served as Chief Technology Officer (CTO).
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Sana Aman graduated from UTS in 2018 with a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology and major in Programming. A year later, she was working as a Senior IT Risk Consultant at PwC Australia.
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Mohit Kumar from India completed his Master of Information Technology in Cybersecurity (MIT) in 2021 and currently works as a consultant in Cyber Incident Response for KPMG Australia.
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Starting as a student in the BIT Co-op program, Dylan is a co-founder of a UpDoc; he’s also mentoring the next generation of tech-leaders.
Webpage
Pranshu from India completed a Master of Interaction Design (Extension) in 2022. He co-founded a startup, Memo Memory Rehabilitation (MEMORehab), where he served as Chief Technology Officer (CTO).
Webpage
Sana Aman graduated from UTS in 2018 with a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology and major in Programming. A year later, she was working as a Senior IT Risk Consultant at PwC Australia.
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Mohit Kumar from India completed his Master of Information Technology in Cybersecurity (MIT) in 2021 and currently works as a consultant in Cyber Incident Response for KPMG Australia.