Luke Gilbert, 8 February, 2023
Moving cities, switching courses, and making friends while studying a double degree. Luke Gilbert has achieved a lot.
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Why did you choose QUT for uni?
Since I was little I’ve had this passion to pursue my education further and go to university. I’ve always been interested in the fields of law and mental health. I knew if wanted to practice in these areas, university would be my best option.
I didn’t grow up in Brisbane but I figured that QUT’s city campus would give me the opportunity to explore—and both campuses are easily accessible in terms of transport. Also QUT is a great university in terms of the experience, placements, and services that are available to all students.
What was it like moving to Brisbane for study?
In 2019, I moved from my regional town of Bundaberg to Brisbane to start my degree. It was a very big step. I had just turned 17, so moving here alone was scary and a very daunting experience. It was difficult, I had no friends or family living here and, at first, I felt very isolated and alone. I knew that it was up to me to make new friends and connections.
I also knew that I would need to financially support myself with a job while I studied. This would ensure I could keep my head above water, so I could continue to live in Brisbane and pursue my dream career. I feel like this has made me stronger and a more resilient person. It has been eye-opening, and I have had to become very independent.
What helped you most when you first started uni?
Orientation helped me transition from high school to university. It provided an opportunity to navigate around the campus, meet new friends within my course, and attend multiple workshops to brush up on certain skills. I felt like my nerves reduced significantly from attending orientation week and allowed me to see a familiar, friendly face once class started.
Compared to high school, I found university different as there was a lot of time management and self-directed learning. That said, there are a lot of support services available for example academic writing, research and referencing. Additionally, the lecturers and clinical supervisor are easily contactable via email and in-person meeting can be arranged when required.
How did you make friends and connections at uni?
I love the social aspect of the QUT campus life. Coming to classes in person has allowed me to develop friendships with other people, and we always socialise and hang around on campus. I am part of QUT Connect which has allowed me to work at many events throughout the semester and work with other students.
Being a Connector has been a joyful experience as I have been able to give back the knowledge I have gained while being a student. QUT has so many things on offer as well which are really suited to anyone, so the inclusion and diversity of things of offer make uni life so much more fun.
How do you balance your finances while studying at uni?
I have worked multiple jobs throughout my degree. I found it important to find a workplace that was flexible around my class timetables and was very supportive when I required time off during peak exam period to study.
I also found meal prepping for lunch helped tremendously to reduce spending money and being caught up during peak lunch hour at the food court, especially when I need to rush between classes.
Another tip, using the free shuttle buses that run between campuses is extremely helpful. I live in the city so not having to pay a bus fare is great and the buses arrive every 15 minutes.
It was also reassuring to know that there are a bunch of financial support services and scholarships available if I was to experience any financial hardship.
A QUT Equity Scholarship helped me tremendously to better transition to university life by taking the stress and weight off my shoulders to be able to purchase necessary uniforms and textbook required for my course. It allowed me to better focus on my studies.
Why did you switch courses?
I was originally studying a double degree with business and law and changed last year to psychology and law. I made this change because I have always wanted to help others. I chose law because helping people access to justice is way of giving back to the community. I also chose psychology because I’m passionate about helping people speak up about their mental health. I’m interested in learning about disorders and using that knowledge to empower people feels like I am making a difference.
What are the advantages of a double degree?
I chose to study a double degree because I was interested in both study areas. As a law degree is 4 years and the double degree with psychology was 5.5 years, it was a no brainer to me to stay back the extra 1.5 years and come out with two degrees instead of one. I also knew that these two degrees intertwine very well with each other.
I believe that having this double degree will be super beneficial for me in the future. Combining both law and psychology will give me many more job opportunities.
I really enjoy studying the double degree because of the variety it offers. In a semester where I am completing two law and two psychology subjects, I’m able to switch focus between law to psychology subjects when I want something different.
Any other tips for students thinking about uni?
If you’re in high school and not sure what you would like study, I highly recommend attending open days to see what courses are offered and speak with current students about their personal experience with the degree.
Making friends at uni is always a nerve-wracking experience, however, there are many opportunities to meet like-minded people through clubs and volunteering. More often than not, the person next to you in class may also feel the same way, so just saying hi and introduce yourself could make the biggest difference.
