Pros and Cons of a Bachelor of Information Systems at UTS

Now that you know what to expect when studying a Bachelor of Information Systems at UTS, how about the great and not so great things about the degree?

We’ve asked Taylor, a Bachelor of Information Systems and Bachelor of Business student at UTS, to give us some further advice on this course.  

Let’s dive in! 

Why should you study an Information Systems degree at UTS?

Top 3 Pros of an Information Systems Degree

Top 3 Cons of an Information Systems Degree

Things to Know Before Starting UTS Information Systems

What Makes this Degree Different

Motivations for Studying UTS Information Systems

Potential Career Paths

Why should you study an Information Systems degree at UTS? 

The Tech and Information Technology industry is the top place to be for both innovation and financial growth. As our world moves exponentially onto virtual platforms, there’ll be a high demand for tech-savvy people to manage, streamline and help the modern lifestyle. 

By studying a Bachelor of Information Systems at UTS, you’ll do just that by learning about the use and design of IT-enabled services, data and information. UTS is one of the best universities to study this degree — it ranks #7 in Australia for Computer Science and Information Systems. 

Top 3 Pros of an Information Systems degree

#1: The faculty and staff

As a university that prides itself on innovation and technology, the Engineering and IT faculty is quite prioritised at UTS. Many of the staff not only teach the content but also, go out of their way to make classes interesting and valuable to the students. 

Taylor says that the staff: “have made it [the course] really interesting, informative and engaging.” This is even despite the fact that the Bachelor of Information Systems at UTS had commenced in 2020 with online sessions.

Of course, being a core part of the class dynamic, having great tutors is an essential part of enjoying and excelling in your degree! 

#2: It’s fun and challenging

No one really knows what the next big thing in technology will be — this makes a Bachelor of Information Systems always interesting and forward-thinking. 

Taylor says that one of the best parts of the course is “learning and researching different topics that I didn’t even know existed.”

#3: The course structure 

No matter your knowledge before entering a Bachelor of Information Systems at UTS, you will be able to digest the unit content and relate it to the larger picture of what Information Systems is. 

But, this doesn’t mean that the first-year units are just simple preliminary courses. For Taylor, who has had a big interest in technology since her high school, she says, “The introductory first year courses have used my past knowledge to be able to build on bigger concepts.”

Top 3 Cons of an Information Systems degree

#1: Some unit content is out of date 

Unfortunately, as some of the unit content overlaps with older degrees, some of the unit content can be out of touch with what is current in the world of technology. 

“Programming Fundamentals uses lectures from more than 5 years ago,” Taylor says. Though, there is always an end-of-semester student feedback survey, where students can write their concerns about this.  

#2: Not much guidance 

“It [the course] is very much self-driven and up to the individual,” Taylor says.

When studying a Bachelor of Information Systems at UTS, what you get out of the degree really depends on what you make of it. The course has less guidance and direction from the tutor, especially in certain assessments.

Students have to learn to manage their time well to achieve great marks, especially since 6 to 8 hours of studying is required each week just to get on top of their readings, assessments and revisions. 

“It is a very different environment to what I have been brought up in,” Taylor adds. So, commencing students should definitely brace themselves for this. 

#3: Workload is quite heavy

Studying a Bachelor of Information Systems at UTS requires dedication. At a minimum, students spend 6 to 8 hours per week studying for upcoming classes, revising content and working on their assessments.

The course content is quite mathematical and you either know the answer or not — so, if you’re not on top of your study, then achieving high marks is more difficult to attain! 

What do you wish you had known before starting Information Systems at UTS? 

Of course, studying a Bachelor of Information Systems can open a graduate to a large range of career paths. However, knowing which one is the right path for you requires asking industry professionals and your own gut feeling — this can be daunting for someone at the start of the degree who hasn’t yet learned much about Information Systems! 

The degree jumps straight into coursework without much focus on career paths. “I think it would be good to have a better idea about what the course has to offer as well as the options later on and career paths,” says Taylor. 

Taylor recommends speaking to people during the Orientation Week, to know what you’re signing up for when studying the course. 

What makes this degree different from the ones offered at other universities? 

The flexibility of a Bachelor of Information Systems at UTS was one of the key reasons why Taylor studies the program. 

“I was choosing between this [degree] and Commerce and Computing at Sydney University but I preferred the degree structure at UTS,” Taylor says.

Core subjects are studied for the first three semesters before choosing your specialisation, which gives students time to think about what area of Information Systems they’d like to focus on. In addition, focusing on a specialisation definitely provides students a sharper skillset in their future career. 

What inspired you to choose Information Systems at UTS?

“I studied Information Processing Technology in Year 9 and found it very interesting. I’ve also had a big interest in technology growing up, mixed with business, so it seemed like a perfect degree for me,” Taylor says. 

If you’re also interested in a career in technology, this degree is definitely a course you should consider! 

What are the possible career paths?

At the end of this degree, graduates can diversify into many industry sectors such as energy, transport, smart cities, health and business. It also depends on your specialisation and interest at the completion of your degree.

However, a few common career options are:

• • Business Analyst
  • Business Process Modeller
  • Smart Infrastructure Professional
  • Supply Chain Modeller
  • Digital Transformation Analyst 
  • Information Systems Analyst/Designer

Lynn Chen is a Content Writer at Art of Smart Education and is a Communication student at UTS with a major in Creative Writing. Lynn’s articles have been published in Vertigo, The Comma, and Shut Up and Go. In her spare time, she also writes poetry.