A life-long dream

Having completed a bachelor鈥檚 in business administration and with more than five years of experience in marketing and communications, Yen was ready for a new challenge.

鈥淚've always been fascinated by technology and innovation since I was young,鈥� she explains. 鈥淐onversations with friends who transitioned into IT inspired me to explore this path, particularly the role of a business analyst.鈥�

With an exciting new career path in her sights, she decided it was the perfect opportunity to pursue study abroad, a dream she鈥檇 had ever since she became aware of the wider world.

She says she was drawn to Australia because of the friendly people, as she has many close friends from here. When it was time to choose a university, she says UC鈥檚 dynamic and youthful energy made it particularly appealing.

鈥淎mong my top choices, UC stood out not only because I wanted to live in Canberra but also because the course structure perfectly aligned with my expectations,鈥� she adds.

鈥淭丑别 university provides clear and accessible information online, which saved me a lot of time during my application process. I was also impressed by UC鈥檚 strong graduate employment rate, as securing a job after graduation is my top priority.鈥�

Life in Canberra

鈥淭丑别re are many things I love about Canberra,鈥� says Yen.

鈥淭丑别 city is well-organised, the traffic is manageable, and the people are incredibly friendly.鈥�

She adds that she loves how each season has its own charm.

鈥淪pring brings beautiful blossoms, Autumn has a cosy, relaxing vibe, and Summer offers plenty of outdoor activities. I particularly enjoy visiting parks and lakes for walks, as being in nature feels like a gift.鈥�

Plus, while it鈥檚 a lot different from home, the city鈥檚 vibrant Vietnamese community has made it easy for her to connect with others and find new friends.

鈥淚鈥檝e joined a badminton group where we play once or twice a week鈥攊t鈥檚 a great way to stay active and feel part of a community,鈥� she says.

Plenty of support

Yen says there鈥檚 also lots of support and guidance available at UC to help international students find their feet.

鈥淭丑别 Student Mentor Program was incredibly helpful during my first semester. I joined as a Mentee and was fortunate to have Minh, a fellow Vietnamese student in the same course, as my Mentor.鈥�

With Minh鈥檚 guidance, Yen was able to quickly get to grips with her new environment. Now, she鈥檚 giving back by mentoring others.

She adds that the ASK (Academic Skills and Knowledge) Advisor team is a fantastic resource, especially for people from different educational backgrounds.

鈥淲hether it鈥檚 assignments, referencing, or general student life, they are always available at the library during weekdays.鈥�

But it鈥檚 not all about study!

鈥淚 also participate in social events and sports activities at UC, many of which are free for students.鈥�

Yen says the UC鈥檚 support services make it easy for students to maintain their wellbeing and enjoy their academic journeys.

鈥淲ith so many student services available, I鈥檝e had a smooth transition into both the university and Canberra community.鈥�

A perfect course

Now in her third semester, Yen says she loves that her course provides a solid foundational knowledge of IT, making it perfect for those new to the discipline.

鈥淭丑别 program is well-structured, balancing fundamental knowledge with industry-specific skills,鈥� she adds. She says the chance to specialise in a range of interest areas is another big plus.

UC also focuses on job-ready outcomes and preparing students to succeed in the workplace, which is why work-integrated learning is a key aspect of its science and technology degrees.

鈥淭丑别 most valuable thing I鈥檝e gained from this course is growing confidence鈥攏ot just in my technical abilities but in my readiness to adapt to the global job market.鈥�

Future in focus

鈥淎fter graduation, I plan to apply for a Graduate visa to gain hands-on work experience in Australia,鈥� Yen explains.

She says she鈥檚 working towards this by continuously improving her technical knowledge, communication skills, English proficiency, critical thinking, resilience and more.

鈥淚 love the peaceful environment and natural beauty of Canberra, so I will prioritise finding opportunities here.鈥�

For other international students, she recommends making the most of the support available.

鈥淒on鈥檛 hesitate to reach out and take advantage of the student support services at UC. They can make your journey much smoother and more enriching!鈥�