EXCHANGE REPORT
Marco Hornstein
University of Technology Sydney
Spring Semester 2015/2016 (European Fall Semester)
1. Academic Information
1.1 General information about the host university
The University of Technology Sydney (UTS), which was founded according to Wikipedia 2015 in its current form in 1988, was ranked 4th in Australia in the CWTS Leiden Ranking 2015 and in the 301st–400th bracket
in the 2015 Academic Ranking of World Universities. UTS is ranked in
the top 250 universities by the Times Higher Education World University
Rankings and 28th on the Times Higher Education list of "100 most international universities in the
world". UTS ranked 9th in Australia at 218th in the 2015-2016 QS World University Rankings.
It counts 37,673 students (2013), of which 25,164 undergraduates and 12,509 postgraduates. 2015 it
welcomed around 550 exchange students.
As of 2016 the university will consist of three campuses, closing down the remote Kuring-gai campus.
The remaining ones are: Haymarket, Broadway and Chippendale, all three located in the CBD, the city
center of Sydney. All the courses I took during the exchange semester were hold in the center, which
is also home to the student residences. The university offers modern, self-catering accommodation in
five buildings named Yura Mudang, Gumal Ngurang, Geegal, Bulga Ngurra, and Blackfriars.
The university counts nine faculties: Arts and Social Sciences, Business, Design, Architecture and
Building, Engineering and Information Technology, Graduate School of Health, Health, Law and Science.
Notable are the various activities and societies the university is offering, including various sports
clubs and even an internal gym.
1.2 Teaching situation
All courses are taught in English and teaching is very similar to the USI’s master courses. Thus, one
shouldn’t have problems following and participating in classes. Plus, an IELTS overall score of 6.5 with
a writing score not lower than 6.5, I reckon, is necessary for the application.
In order to keep classes small, all student will be split in groups in the beginning of the semester. This
is different to USI, as one course is offered only at a certain time and date. At UTS it’s necessary to
select your preferred hour allocation in order to organize your time schedule. Therefore, you can
choose when to attend which course.
Classes are structured in a practical and theoretical way. Most courses contain besides the theoretical lecture also a practical tutorial or workshop, in which e.g. case studies are discussed.
In order to fulfill the 30 ECTS workload, one has to take four courses a 7.5 ECTS (6 credit points). In
comparison to the courses taught at USI, it might seem little. In fact, lectures require only 12 hours a
week of your time, which is basically nothing. But the group projects are different than the ones we
are used to, being conducted throughout the entire semester and requiring therefore way more
time.
The relationship between professors and students are very familiar. Once, when handing in a group
report personally, the professor asked me how I liked Australia so far and was interested in finding
out as much as possible about my traveling plans. Another professor sent the entire class emails for
internship placements and in order to let us know that he wishes us a merry Christmas.
1.3 Course description
21811 Global Strategic Management
“This subject provides an understanding of the contemporary international business environment and
how business can formulate appropriate organisational strategies. A variety of strategic options
available to organisations is explored. Emphasis is placed on the inevitability of changes in the global
environment and on the need for strategic management in this changing environment in Asia, Europe
and the United States.”
6 credit points (7.5 ECTS). Business Faculty
Type of exams: One in class mid-term exam (30%) about the case studies and theory discussed during
the course, one group assignment with presentation (30%), and one individual essay (40%) about the
nature and drivers of global strategies of a real company.
Especially the final essay, but obviously also the entire course, replaced the implementation of strategy focus of the USI course Business Dynamics.
24738 Strategic International Marketing
“The marketing of goods and services across cultures and in different international environments
poses some unique challenges. This subject provides an integrated managerial and strategic approach that places international issues within a broader general marketing management context and
addresses the need for international marketers not only to understand customer needs and behaviours but also how to use these insights to develop strategies for competing effectively in the marketplace. Organised around a strategic marketing framework, this subject develops advanced knowledge
and practical competencies to develop and implement an effective international marketing strategy.”
6 credit points (7.5 ECTS). Business Faculty
Type of exams: One mid-term exam (30%) during the official exam period one week before spring
break about the case studies and theory discussed during the course, one group project with presentation (30%) about a marketing plan for a real company, and the final exam (40%) about the case
studies discussed in class, the techniques used in the project report and the application of the theory.
Even though, it was the toughest subject this semester, it was my favorite one. It’s not about the
theory but about the application of the theory. The project requires a lot of time but is definitely
worth it if working with an interesting company and a great team. Plus, working and designing the
project for a real company gives you the necessary drive in order to not being lazy and conduct a
well-established report.
Prerequisite: 24734 Marketing Management or 24746 Marketing, which are equivalent to the USI
course Strategic Marketing. Especially the group project, where we had to launch a product in a new
and untested market, replaced the decision making part of the USI course Business Analytics. In fact,
for this project we did not only have to come up with a marketing analysis but also with a financial
and environmental one.
79708 Contemporary Business Law
“This subject provides students with an understanding of the legal system and a knowledge of a
range of legal topics that are of practical relevance to business law. It provides timely information on
recent developments in areas including commercial contracts and trade practices legislation, consumer protection, business structures and intellectual property.”
6 credit points (7.5 ECTS). Law Faculty
Type of exams: group assignment with presentation (40%) and final open book exam (60%) consisting
of 60 multiple choice questions.
Replaced the USI course Managerial Economics 3. Anti-trust policy has been discussed during the
trade law lecture. Well, not discussed but rather addressed. There were just too many topics and too
little time. Some topics were highly irrelevant, as they were interesting only for local students due to
the different juridical system in Australia.
24710 Buyer Behaviour
“This subject focuses on the issues relating to the understanding of customer behavior and on the application of such understanding to marketing practice. Topics include: individual determinants such as
perception, learning and memory, motivation, personality and attitudes, as well as environmental
influences such as culture and cross-cultural issues, social influences, social class, and situational influences, and the decision-making process.”
6 credit points (7.5 ECTS). Business Faculty
Type of exams: mid-term exam (30%) where you had to analyze three out of four proposed advertisements, a group project with presentation (30%) for a real company presented in class, and the
final exam (40%) based on Adidas, Nike and Under Armour case studies.
The course was very theory oriented, while the tutorial and the exam challenged you with asking only about the application of the theory. Thus, it was my second favorite. Especially, recent topics and
well-known companies made it interesting.
Chosen as elective. USI course Consumer Behavior.
1.4 Other
The university provides a library with study and meeting spaces, meeting rooms that you can book
online, PC rooms, sports hall, gym, bars and cafés, locations for events (The Loft and The Underground), and a lot more.
2. Practical Information
2.1 Information before leaving
I’ve always wanted to experience how studying in a real English speaking environment feels like. Having had a look at the partner universities in America, Australia and the UK, my range of choice shrank
down to University of Southampton, UK, Virginia Tech, USA, University of Technology Sydney and
University of Western Australia, both in Australia. I’ve already been to the UK before, so it was nothing new and yet I wanted something exciting and unknown. With a population of around 40,000,
Blacksburg, the hometown of Virginia Tech, is even smaller than Lugano and as I prefer bigger cities,
my first choice was Sydney, which I don’t regret.
Brochures of the University of Technology of Sydney, where all relevant information could be found,
were distributed at the international student fair at USI.
The application forms was only the official one of USI, which states the following admission criteria:
- registered in a degree program at USI
- have obtained the required number of credits as defined in the Faculty's Study Regulations
- be in good academic standings
- be reasonably proficient in the language of the host country (some partner universities require an official certificate).
In fact, an overall score of 6.5 in the IELTS was required with a writing score not lower than 6.5. Furthermore, the CoE (Certificate of Enrollment) is needed from the partner university in order to request the necessary student visa. The time requirement for filling the registration form is not really
high, moreover a lot of patience is required as the entire process moves pretty slowly.
2.2 Travel
Obviously, you need to fly to Sydney. The sooner you book your flight the less you have to pay. Upon
arrival the free airport shuttle bus provided by UTS brings international students to their student
dorm or another place in the city center. In order to get around in the city, the Opal card can help
you saving money. Once you have collected 8 trips, with at least one hour in between each trip, you
can travel for free the rest of the week. On Sundays, you can drive as much and far as you want, as
you pay only $2.50 for the entire day and network of New South Wales. At UTS Housing you can also
rent bikes.
2.3 Arrival
Before lectures start there is on entire week of orientation, where brochures are handed out and
there are courses for everything you need to know. Plus, a lot of social activities take place: Speed
friending, introductory sessions for exchange students, welcome cocktails, gatherings and other
events.
Lectures start with an introduction, but immediately after follows the theory.
Orientation week starts on a Monday, so it’s advisory to arrive at around Friday in order to get rid of
the jetlag. The flight will take you two days, due to the 22 hours flight, the stay where you have to
change flights, and the eight hours of time difference during the European summer or ten hours during the European winter.
2.4 Housing
Once you’ve applied for the exchange at UTS, you will receive some emails from the international
office. One of them tells you about the UTS Housing. (https://www.facebook.com/UTSHousing)
On the UTS page (http://www.uts.edu.au/current-students/support/accommodation/uts-housingservice) you can find the registration form, where you have to choose the preferred option. In the
email from the international office was written (or maybe somewhere online) that exchange students have a guaranteed spot in one of the UTS dorms. (Yura Mudang, Gumal Ngurang, Geegal, Bulga
Ngurra, and Blackfriars) All of them are located in the city center next to the campus. Although, everything seems to be very close, walking to classes can take you up to 15 minutes.
I lived in Gumal in an 8-share and it was the best choice ever. It’s close to the university, there are a
lot of special events only for housing residents, it has a rooftop with a veggie garden, barbecue and a
work out area with a punching bag, and pc labs with a printer. It doesn’t provide as many facilities as
Yura, but in Gumal you get to know people immediately, as the atmosphere is more familiar and you
just live in one big family, even though there are eight floors.
The only issues you will encounter are the rules of a student dorm. For example no partying and alcohol after ten during the week and after eleven on weekends. And if you move from the common
area to your flat in order to continue partying, the security will just kick you out.
2.5 Costs
ANZ Bank: Student cost of living calculator
http://movingtoaustralia.anz.com/global/en/living-in-australia/?sourcecode_1=BTH000
The most important expenses were on one hand of course the cost of living: food and accommodation. If you are used to buy groceries in Switzerland, you will find the prices cheaper in Australia. Alcohol and tobacco goods are more expensive in comparison. For cheap cigarettes you have to spend
around $26, and for $25 you already get three bottles of cheap 20% vodka next to the Broadway
shops. Thus, it might be the perfect opportunity to quit smoking. For accommodation I paid around
$250 a week.
The other part of important expenses were traveling and partying. Those were so high, that I didn’t
keep track of them. I don’t want to know how much money I’ve spent in traveling and alcohol during
my exchange.
However, there are a lot of options to keep it cheap:
- The club Ivy is free on Thursdays for students
- Sidebar never charges entry. If you receive the VIP card, you pay only $5 instead of $8 for a
drink. (VIP cards are handed out at the end of Surf Camp Australia)
- $100 off student discount for Surf Camp Australia
- Always ask for student discounts. Even though, you are not entitled to concession fares, people normally don’t ask for the concession ID and accept your student ID.
- $10 for a steak at Cargo Bar from Mon-Wed
- $1 for a hotdog at Soda Factory from Mon-Wed
- $4 for a drink at Century Bar
- Cheap veggies and fruit at Paddy’s Market on Sunday afternoon
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Ace rental cars (http://www.acerentacar.com/): one of the cheapest options for renting a
car, as they don’t charge for U25 and no one-way fee. Other operators charge up to $300 for
the one-way fee.
When traveling get the Wikicamp app. It shows you camp grounds where you can camp for
free.
UTS Housing provides a free store in Yura, where all UTS Housing residents can leave their
stuff once they move out and others can grab it for free.
2.6 International Relations Office
There is one office for all the international students located in Building 1, but only one desk for exchange students with short opening hours. However, communication is rather done via email. All
contact persons present themselves at the introductory session for exchange students.
2.7 Social Activities
There are special activities for exchange students in the beginning, but barely during the semester.
The RNs (resident networkers) organize a lot of activities during the semester for UTS Housing residents. In fact, if you live in UTS Housing you get to know other people immediately. Most of them are
exchange students. Otherwise it is harder to get to know other people. Local students prefer working
with local students, as exchange students only need to pass exams and don’t need the high distinction. If you integrate yourself and work hard for your team, local students can be nice too.
2.8 Language
The spoken and tuition language is, of course, English. As the master at USI is taught in English as
well, there shouldn’t be any problems. A proof of good language skill is required in form of the IELTS
or TOEFL test. As already stated previously, an overall IELTS score of 6.5 is needed in order to get accepted for the exchange.
2.9 Other
I would definitely recommend this experience. There is no why, you have to go there and experience
it for yourself in order to understand it. You won’t regret your choice
I’m at disposal for other students, so that they can contact me for more information:
[email protected]
View from the Gumal rooftop
My room in Gumal
With the roommates
Fireworks in Darling Harbor, NSW
Surfcamp, Seven Mile Beach, NSW
Opera House, Sydney, NSW
Three Sisters, Blue Mountains, NSW
Barbecue at Yura Level 8 on Christmas Day
Cairns, Queensland
Fraser Island, Queensland
Brisbane, Queensland
War Memorial, Canberra, Capital Territory
Twelve Apostles, Victoria
Uluru, Ayer’s Rock, Northern Territory