Antti Nikkanen
Getting connected and having a discussion with people from a wide variety of backgrounds has really...
How did you find accommodation in Sydney?
I lived in a hostel for the first weeks while I was looking for permanent accommodation. I ran around going to inspections and finally found a place pretty close to the uni. After six months I then moved to Yura residence for my second semester, and I have enjoyed living there. If you get a room in a residence for your first semester, it should really make your first weeks easier.
Tell me about your first weeks starting at UTS
During the first few weeks I met a lot of people during Orientation and when the classes started I met my classmates and made great friends pretty quickly. The social aspect of university life was also a big part of UTS so I wasn’t too worried about meeting people. It was quite easy to make friends because everyone was in the same situation.
Did you have a job when studying?
UTS has a StudentJobs@UTS program and a job board notifying you of large firms that are looking for part-time and full-time employees which should help to get started with job hunting. I found my job through the job board. One other thing I would highly recommend to anyone who is willing to work is to attend the orientation week’s job hunting advice sessions! I can’t stress this enough, because unfortunately I had friends who didn’t go and ended up working without proper employment contracts.
What was your favourite place to hang out or study at around campus?
I enjoyed killing my time at the cafes and restaurants in Darling Harbour. I did most of my studying there as well. When I was free usually I got together with friends at the pub for sporting events – pretty normal student life I guess – but UTS residences also offer great common areas with pool and table tennis facilities as well as a BBQ.
What have you enjoyed most about your time at UTS?
Getting connected and having a discussion with people from a wide variety of backgrounds has really given me a new perspective on life and my professional career. At UTS you’re able to learn how to be comfortable with making friends from different countries and continents as well as being able to pick up the best parts of Australian lifestyle.
In addition, with my studies everything went exactly as I had planned and for this reason, I have to give UTS credit for the flexibility. Back in Europe universities are more complex to deal with due to the excessive bureaucracy.
Do you have any other tips for international students?
Study-wise I keep telling everyone the same thing: at UTS, lecturers normally want to hear what you know, in a clear and convincing format. In many other universities and schools they usually test what you don’t know! So remember when you are struggling to memorise notes that you don’t have to. Understanding concepts, thinking by yourself and presenting your ideas clearly is the key to success at UTS.
