When Vanvatey Leav had completed her studies at Western International School in Phnom Penh, she was ready for the next big step – leaving her home in Cambodia to study in Australia. She considered her options carefully, and her parents gave her all the help they could. She says, “I sought a lot of advice from my parents and friends, and my dad really helped me. We considered how I enjoyed accounting and business subjects in high school, and I chose to study business. Then we compared the big universities. I ended up choosing the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) because of recommendations from friends, the location, the campus, all those things. The whole vibe of it just felt better for me.” UTS also has impressive rankings, having earned a place in the world’s top one percent of universities. It’s Australia’s top ranking young university[i] and ranks 90th in the world’s top 100[ii].
Pathway to UTS
Like many international students, Vanvatey (known to her friends as ‘Tey’) began with a Diploma of Business from UTS College, the pathway to UTS. “UTS College is a really good place to start,” she says. “At first, I was a bit shy. I could speak English, but the course helped me learn to speak up and socialise, to build connections and make friends. Some of those friends are now studying with me at UTS, and hanging out with them makes everything more fun and enjoyable.” She also appreciated the support she received at UTS College. “The classes were small so the tutors could focus on individuals,” she says, “and the teachers were always approachable and helpful. They answered all my questions and helped me through assignments. I never felt scared to ask about anything.”
A different way of learning
Tey says the College helped her handle the challenges of studying abroad. “Everything was new for me. Changing from high school to university was a lot, let alone moving from Cambodia to Australia,” she says. Learning.Connected, the UTS College learning model, made a big difference. “I thought we were going to have lectures and tutorials, but they have a different way of learning at UTS College,” she says. “There are no lectures. You do some reading before the tutorials, discuss it all in class, and then post tutorial you reflect in your own time on what you studied. It was better that way for me, better than sitting in a 2-hour lecture.” She found it easy to adapt to this style of learning. “You just check online for what’s next, do the readings, watch the videos, and make sure you get advice when you need it. Just ask the tutors or the student success advisers. I used HELPS too, for referencing my assignments. We didn’t use references and citations in my high school.”
By the time she completed her diploma, Tey had adapted so successfully to her new environment that she won the Outstanding Graduate Prize. This is a cash prize awarded to the graduating student with the highest grade-point average (GPA) in their diploma group.
An easy transition
Now in second year of her Bachelor of Business, Tey is thriving at UTS. She enjoys the practical approach to learning. “Last semester I had a course called ‘The Financial System’. It gave us hands-on experience of how the financial world works and how it looks,” she says. “I also look forward to doing my internship next year and all the experiences and opportunities that come with that.” She says the transition from UTS College to UTS wasn’t hard. “When I was doing my diploma, we had access to the facilities at UTS,” she says, “but it’s great to be on campus. I love studying in the UTS library. It’s beautiful and all the resources are great.”
Tey’s major is accounting, with sub-majors in finance and economics. For now, she thinks she’ll work in accounting when she completes her degree but has an open mind. She says, “The more I learn about finance, the more interested I am. I could change my mind in the future.”
Thriving in Sydney
Although she hasn’t joined yet, Tey’s interested in the many clubs and societies at UTS. “I have a couple in mind. My friends and I were looking at a volunteering club called The Big Lift,” she says, “and I’m enjoying Sydney. When my uni friends and my Cambodian friends get together, we like to go to Centennial Park, or to Kirribilli. It’s pretty there.”
Tey also enjoys relaxing at home. “A lot of Netflix, YouTube, Korean dramas – and I like music. At home I played piano, ukulele, and a bit of guitar, but I don’t have any instruments here. I still enjoy singing though. Mostly pop music and R&B. I’m a bit obsessed with Taylor Swift,” she says.
Looking back, Tey’s confident she made the right decision. She says, “UTS College really can fast-track you into second year of your degree and it really guarantees you a place*.” She has some tips for students who are starting out. “If you want to do well, it helps to commit and know what you want,” she says. “And don’t be afraid to approach people. I was at first, but it’s how you build connections. Just try to start a conversation. You don’t know where it might lead.”
* For international students guaranteed entry to UTS is based on no more than two subject failures and depends on the course you choose.
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[i] Times Higher Education Young University Rankings 2022
[ii] QS World Rankings 2024