So you know all the facts about studying a Bachelor of Information Systems at UNSW, but you’re looking for what people really think?
Well, you’re in the right place!
We chatted with Josiah and Shu Tian, who are both studying Information Systems at UNSW, to tell us all about it!
Let’s dive in!
Why should you study an Information Systems degree at UNSW?
Top 3 Pros of an Information Systems Degree
Top 3 Cons of an Information Systems Degree
Mistakes You Shouldn’t Make
Things to Know Before Starting UNSW Information Systems
What Makes this Degree Different
Motivations for Studying UNSW Information Systems
Potential Career Paths
Why should you study an Information Systems degree at UNSW?
An Information Systems degree combines the tech and business world together, preparing you for a tech-driven workforce. The degree is specialised to equip you with essential information technology (IT) skills like programming and core business concepts!
Top 3 Pros of an Information Systems degree
#1: Workforce Ready
One of the biggest advantages of an Information Systems degree at UNSW is the focus it has on preparing students for the workforce. If you’re looking for a degree that equips you to tackle the big and daunting world of full-time work, then this is one to look into!
“The industry focus of the degree gave me a lot of confidence that when I stepped out into the workforce I would be able to use what I learned effectively. UNSW has a really good reputation in their Business School in terms of making sure that their students are competent and work-ready,” Josiah says.
#2: Job Direction and Stability
As technology continues to play a bigger and bigger role in our everyday lives, studying a degree that prepares you for a tech-driven industry offers a sense of security and stability! Whilst Information Systems offers a range of future careers, its specialisation means that you have a good idea of what you’ll do after you graduate.
As we chatted about career prospects and job direction, Josiah tells us, “The aspect of technology in InfoSys was really appealing to me. There’s a sense of stability in knowing that tech will be a huge part of the future with its rapidly growing industry.”
#3: Practical and Applicable
The practical nature of Information Systems means that you’ll be learning concepts and skills, such as coding and critical thinking, that will not only prepare you for a job in technology, but also develop practical knowledge.
“You always feel like you’re learning things that are applicable to the real world, which you won’t necessarily get in other degrees. It’s a very hands-on, practical degree with a good mix of technical and theory subjects,” Josiah says.
Top 3 Cons of an Information Systems degree
#1: Learning Curve
One of the downsides to Information Systems is the learning curve to tackle at the start as you’re launched into learning a bunch of new content and skills.
“I wasn’t prepared for the amount of programming and coding involved in Information Systems. It’s challenging and there’s a lot of it, so it can be a big learning curve at the start if you aren’t familiar with coding at all,” Shu Tian explains.
#2: Content Heavy Units
The load of learning content can be difficult, and even more so when certain units pile on an excess of concepts to memorise.
“The very ‘grindy’ units are one of my least favourite things. The amount of content you need to learn can be very difficult to digest. I think there’s an aspect of that for every degree, and once you get past it you can move on to the more interesting parts of Information Systems,” Josiah reveals.
#3: Lots of Group Assessments
As we chatted about the nature of assessments in Information Systems, Shu Tian explains to us the downside of how courses are examined. “Almost every unit of InfoSys has some sort of group work task, and sometimes it’s worth half of the total marks for the course,” she says.
“I personally didn’t mind how much group work there was, but it was challenging to constantly meet lots of different people and have to learn how to work well together. I’ve been lucky that the people I’ve worked with have all pulled their weight, but it can be frustrating if you end up having to do all the work,” she adds.
Any regrets?
“I wouldn’t say I have any regrets specific to the course. I think you always have doubts going into uni, whether it’s the right path for you or not. But as a whole I have no regrets with what I chose to study, I like it and as I progressed more and more through it I realised its value and how much I enjoyed it,” Josiah tells us.
What do you wish you had known before starting Information Systems at UNSW?
Both Josiah and Shu Tian agree that knowing how important it is to manage their time well was something they would have wanted to know before studying Information Systems. While every degree has an aspect of practicing good time management, the heavy content load of this particular degree meant that learning independently and prioritising well was a huge part of studying Information Systems.
“How to plan and plan well, how to allocate tasks and prioritise things. Most units are fairly self-guided and you need to be aware of what you need to do. Knowing how to spend the right time and energy is something I wished someone showed me how to do at the start of my degree, but I think it’s something that you eventually learn by yourself,” Josiah says.
What makes this degree different from the ones offered at other universities?
UNSW’s global reputation, ranked 2nd for Business Studies and 5th for Computer Science and Information Systems in Australia, backs up the positive and supportive experience Shu Tian has had.
“UNSW’s Business School was what convinced me to study Commerce and InfoSys there instead of other unis because I had heard of their reputation and how they support their students to be ready for the workforce,” Shu Tian explains.
With support programs such as Peer Mentoring and Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS), the UNSW Business School has provided an engaging and supportive environment for its many students.
What inspired you to choose Information Systems at UNSW?
Josiah, who was studying IT before, tells us why he decided to make the switch to Information Systems. “When I was doing a pure IT degree before, it was very monotonous and you were always working towards much of the same things. But in Information Systems there’s a good mix of business and technological concepts and a whole range of future careers available to pursue,” he says.
Shu Tian adds, “One of the biggest things for me was how it was future-oriented and inferred some sort of career stability, as InfoSys has both technological and business aspects to it.”
What are the possible career paths?
In an increasingly tech-driven world, Information Systems graduates are in high demand, with career prospects ranging from IT development to consulting.
Some careers include:
-
- Information System Consultant
- Information System Architect
- Management Consultant
- Network Developer
- Technical Manager
We hope that hearing about Josiah and Shu Tian’s experience helps you to figure out what to do after high school!
Millicent Tai hopes to one day become a full-time teacher and is currently studying a Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Science at UNSW. She enjoys tutoring students at Art of Smart in English and Maths and has loved reading and writing for as long as she can remember. In her spare time, you can find her avidly reading Christian biographies or fishing in Animal Crossing.
