Ryota Sumiyoshi - Japan, 18 May, 2023
I’m very glad I made the decision to come and study at QUT - it’s one of the best choices I’ve made. Living in Brisbane is more relaxed and easy-going atmosphere compared to my home country of Japan, which is quite busy and competitive. One way to settle into my new home country was to improve on my English. I decided to get to know local people to better understand the culture which made me feel more comfortable.
Starting at QUT
I started studying at the QUT College doing a Diploma in Business. I was one of the top three students and achieved a high GPA as I spent significant amount of time studying and working on assignments with my study buddies. After I finished my Diploma, I progressed into the second year of the Bachelor of Business. I enhanced my communication, cooperation, and problem-solving skills in the practical classes which helped me get into the professional work environment.
Why I chose QUT
I decided to come to QUT because of the location, its strong reputation and the mix of theory and practical learning. The classes are very multi-cultural and it’s great to make friends with people from all over the world. The tutors are very motivating, so students feel more proactive in class. I love the real-world case studies where we get to solve a problem for a business, a great learning experience. I believe that this is a very unique way of learning that not many other universities are offering.
I also completed a 10-week internship at a start-up marketing company where I developed my digital media marketing skills and had the opportunity to create social media posts and a few digital marketing campaigns, which gave me a good insight into the industry.
I love the study environment at QUT surrounded by greenery and the close proximity to the city centre. It’s also very accessible to get to classes as the campus isn’t too big. If I ever had any issues with finding my way or had any questions, I went to HiQ support services in the library, they are very helpful.
Meeting new friends
If you want to meet friends at university, you should join one of the many social clubs on campus. I joined the QUT football club where I made a lot of local friends. After two seasons I started playing more competitively at a semi-professional club in Queensland. I also play social soccer competitions on Sunday’s at QUT with international friends.
I just started working full-time at an Australian company, and also decided to return to studying at QUT in the Master of Information Technology to expand my capabilities for future job opportunities.
Get out of your comfort zone
My advice to future QUT students is to be determined with a proactive approach and take all the opportunities that come your way. Get out of your comfort zone and attend networking events and connect to as many people as possible, which can be beneficial for you in the future. It’s important to prioritise your studies but keep a balance of your university life and social time - that's the key to success and for your wellbeing.
Study our Diploma in Business like Ryota
