Degree: Bachelor of Computer Science (Cyber Security)
Who or what made you choose to study this?
While studying my previous degree, I came to realise that one of the most important parts of learning is genuinely enjoying the process and feeling a sense of progression as you build mastery. I found that this is crucial not only for success, but also maintaining a positive and healthy state of mind.
What drew me to Computer Science was the satisfaction of building programs and understanding the logical structure behind them. I enjoy seeing how individual parts of a program come together to create something functional from essentially nothing, where each part of function implementation becomes it’s own puzzle to solve, and together creating a holistic solution derived from its parts.
That process gives me a strong sense of accomplishment and continues to motivate me to study this field and continue building.
How did you find out about UQ?
I first became interested in UQ after being drawn to Brisbane as a city. From there, I began researching different universities around the area, in which I found out about QUT, Griffith and UQ as the three main universities in the area.
What kinds of things did you want to know when you were choosing what university to go to?
When I was choosing which university to attend, I wanted to get more than just the academic side of the degree, albeit important I wanted a university which offered different areas of an industry beyond classroom learning.
I was particularly interested in opportunities where hackathons, startup experiences, industry events and different avenues of working with my peers to create and trial new ideas. Which mattered to me as I wanted to develop practical skills and explore different career pathways, before deciding on my career path.
Why did you choose to study at UQ?
I chose to study at UQ because I wanted a university experience that offered more than just academic knowledge. While the quality of education was important to me, I also wanted a good balance of practical experience, opportunities to explore different career pathways, and meaningful connections with peers.
UQ stood out to me because of the range of opportunities available outside the classroom, including hackathons, startup programs, student societies, and industry-related events. I felt that UQ would allow me to grow not only as a student, but also as a person preparing for life beyond university.
What are your favourite facilities and resources available to you at UQ?
My favourite resources at UQ are the clubs, societies, and student-led opportunities available on campus. They provide a wide range of ways to meet people, from purely social events to career-focused activities and networking opportunities.
For me, the student body and club culture are some of the best parts of UQ. They create an environment where students can connect, explore their interests, and become involved in communities beyond their degree.
Have you been able to have practical experiences within your degree (e.g. work experience, industry projects etc.)? If so, please provide some highlights.
Yes, I have been able to gain practical experience through opportunities such as UQ Ventures, startup programs, and hackathons. These experiences have allowed me to work with other students to create software-driven solutions to real-world problems.
One highlight has been working in teams to take an idea from its early stages and develop it into something more substantial. I enjoyed collaborating with like-minded people to share, refine, and develop ideas while integrating different features and perspectives that I could not have achieved alone.
The greatest highlight in our projects were presenting a three-minute pitch to industry-expert judges to showcase our work, receive professional feedback and continue honing our public speaking, communicational and technological skills.
What’s been your favourite course so far and why?
My favourite course so far has been CSSE1001, Introduction to Software Engineering. It was a great introduction to programming and gave me a strong foundation in the fundamentals of software development, the logical structure behind code implementation, and how to break apart a large task into smaller pieces to develop a solution.
What made the course especially enjoyable was the teaching staff, who showed genuine passion for helping students understand programming concepts. As someone who had only briefly touched on coding before starting my degree, CSSE1001 gave me the confidence to begin building my own programs.
Highlights of your past year at UQ
One of the biggest highlights of my past year at UQ has been participating in hackathons and startup-related activities. These experiences gave me the opportunity to work with like-minded people, share ideas, and develop projects together.
I especially enjoyed seeing ideas slowly come into fruition through collaboration and problem-solving. Some of the people I met through these experiences are still people I talk to today, which made the experience valuable both personally and professionally.
If you could give one piece of advice to someone considering studying at UQ, what would that be?
My advice would be to not be afraid to talk to people and get involved. Join events, attend activities, and make the effort to meet others, even if it feels intimidating at first.
University is not only about the courses you study. It’s a journey which shapes your future whilst you step into adulthood. You may meet a future co-founder, a close friend, or someone who helps you see your future in a completely different way. Taking that first step can be scary, but in hindsight, you will often be glad that you did.
Have you participated in any internships / work? If so tell us a bit about it, what did you enjoy most about the experience?
No I have not participated in internships, whilst that may be the case I have had plenty of opportunities to employ skills that I have acquired throughout university and using it outside of the given assignments and exams.
What do you hope to do when you graduate?
When I graduate, I hope to work as a technical consultant, where I can help bridge the gap between businesses and their goals. I am interested in understanding the problems organisations face and providing software-driven solutions that help them operate more effectively and efficiently.
I enjoy both the technical and communication sides of problem-solving, so this pathway appeals to me because it combines technology, business understanding, and practical impact.
Are you a member of any student societies / participate in extra curricular activities? Tell us a bit about it.
I was part of the Brisbane Asian Student Association in 2023, where I made unforgettable memories and met people who had a meaningful impact on both my personal life and career direction. Through the friendships and conversations I had, I gained the confidence to reflect on my previous studies and make the decision to change degrees, which I am very happy that I did.
More recently, I have been involved in activities hosted by UQIES and UQ Ventures, particularly those related to startups, innovation, and building projects with other students. These experiences have helped me improve my programming skills, work better in teams, and explore my interest in creating practical solutions through technology.
