University of Technology Sydney

UTS is way more relaxed than UNSW. The location is incredible—one train and a short walk, with tons of food options nearby. However, in comp sci you need to push yourself with personal projects and Leetcode; the curriculum alone won't get you ready. Overall, a solid choice if you want less stress and great city access.

As an international student, I found the compulsory orientation workshops really helpful. They helped me get to know the campus and make friends. I highly recommend attending if you want to settle in.

I went with Allianz for my OSHC because it was convenient. No problems so far, and their app comes in handy. If another provider doesn't have an app, it's not a big deal—just keep your information accessible.

I went with the university-provided Bupa health insurance. It was super easy – they handled everything and I just had to click pay. I can't speak for other providers, but you might find something cheaper with similar convenience.

As an international student at UTS, I can confirm that the health insurance requirements are standard for Australia. I chose Allianz and while there's no dental coverage (common here), my GP visits at University Health Services have been free, and X-rays were covered. I had an ER visit where I paid upfront, but filing a claim through the Allianz app was straightforward. Overall, the process has been smooth and I haven't had to pay much out-of-pocket.

Living at a UTS college has been amazing. The study support is incredible—weekly tutorials in most subjects are basically mandatory, and there are study spaces and peer groups everywhere. It's not like you don't study here; the focus on academics is intense but positive. Social events are great too, with formal dinners and an onsite bar. It's expensive—around $700-900 per week—but includes meals, cleaning, and all activities. Getting in is tough though, even with good grades and sports. Overall, it's a holistic experience that helped me make close friends and excel.

I don't get the complaints about a posh environment. I went to UTS before and it's pretty much the same. People might be exaggerating—your experience really depends on the social circle you join. Overall, it's fine.

The space subjects are heavily math, orbital mechanics, and coding, so mechatronics students tend to excel, but mechanical and aero students can also do well. They're incredibly time-consuming and self-driven, but rewarding if you enjoy the content. The assignments are notoriously hard—some of the toughest in uni. Space 1 involves simulating missions to Mars. Space 2 is harder with orbital perturbations. Space 3 is a group cubesat project. Career-wise, many end up in finance or defence since Australia's space industry is small, but a few work at startups like Space Machines Company.

I've seen the budget side and the fee structure is absurdly messy. Most taxpayer funding goes to research, not coursework. Honestly, I don't think international students are a net loss to taxpayers—it's more complex than that. Teaching could be better supported, but the university isn't as bad as some claim.

My grades came out way later than expected. There was a big hiccup on the staff side that delayed them for multiple students, not just me. It was pretty frustrating waiting so long without any updates.

IEP is a mandatory core subject for engineering students. It's everyone's first experience with group work, so naturally there are flaws and complaints. If you believe you were unfairly marked, there is an appeals process, but you must submit proper documentation. Otherwise, it's tough to get a re-mark. Overall, it's a necessary subject but frustrating due to group dynamics.

When I got my admission offer, I had to get student insurance for the visa, even though I already had a much better worldwide policy. I couldn't use it because it wasn't specifically student insurance, so I had to buy their Allianz policy. It's frustrating that my premium insurance didn't count, just because of the visa rules.

I had a TA for three units, and his work was consistently disappointing. He said the final exam in one unit had no coding, but it did. His answers were vague, he ignored some questions, and he responded poorly to students. He dominated the teaching forum, leaving no room for other tutors. I also heard he discriminated against some friends. The atmosphere wasn't great because of him.

The scholarship I received doesn't cover the high cost of living in Sydney. You still need to prove you can support yourself for the student visa, which is tough. It's a bit misleading since they make it sound like a full ride, but it's not.

I ended up doing all the work for my group project because one guy stopped showing up and the other two did nothing. The lab content itself seemed fun, but the teamwork ruined it. The course never came together like they said it would, and we still haven't received our lab report marks from week 5, which is pretty frustrating.

I bought the OSHC through the university, which is run by Allianz. It worked fine for doctor's appointments—I only had to pay $10-15. But then I needed a refund for medicine, and dealing with them has been awful. Not a single email was answered beyond the automatic reply. I even filled out the refund form on their app, and nothing happened. Their service is incredibly unreliable, so if you plan to use health insurance, I wouldn't recommend it.

The lecturers for this subject were the worst I've had at UTS. They cared more about enforcing policies than supporting students. I had to submit late due to surgery, and they treated me with cold indifference. I felt completely dismissed and disrespected. I'd warn anyone thinking of taking this subject—they don't seem to care about students at all.

The lecturers for Introduction to Project Engineering were the worst I’ve ever had at UTS. They seemed more focused on enforcing policies than supporting students. I had to submit late work due to surgery, and they showed no compassion, just coldness. They were inconsiderate and harsh. I felt completely dismissed. I’d warn others to think carefully before taking this subject.

The OSHC insurance through Allianz is a joke. It's supposed to replace Medicare for non-residents, but I spent thousands on blood tests and they stopped covering anything after that. Hospital stays? Forget it. They don't cover pre-existing conditions, and if you call, you never get a straight answer. I've given up and just avoid the doctor until I'm a resident. If you have health issues, don't come to Australia—you'll pay out of pocket for everything.

The staff here only do the bare minimum for students. That's why a lot of people choose to go to other universities.

The lecturers for Introduction to Project Engineering were the worst I've had at UTS. They cared more about enforcing policies than supporting students. I had to submit late due to surgery, but they showed zero compassion and treated me coldly. I felt completely dismissed. I'd strongly warn anyone thinking of taking this subject.