Student Report
Name of the University: Queensland University of Technology (QUT)
Exchange semester: Fall 2014
1. PRACTICAL INFORMATION
1.1 Before leaving Norway
1.2 Applying for visa
1.3 Travel
1.4 Housing
1.5 Costs
1.6 Culture and language
2. ABOUT THE SCHOOL
2.1 School description
2.2 Course registration
2.3 Academic calendar
2.4 Arrival
2.5 The International Office
2.6 Promoting BI and Norway
2.7 Social activities
3. ACADEMICS
3.1 In the classroom
3.2 Course materials, library and technology
3.3 Exams
3.4 Description of courses
1. PRACTICAL INFORMATION
1.1 Before leaving Norway
In the middle of February I got an email from BI with an offer to attend QUT which is one of
the schools in Brisbane. My first choice was QUT, much because of location, the reputation
of the school, as well as the weather.
After the accepting of the offer I got emails and good information from both BI and QUT. All
inquires were solved quickly.
Important things to do straight away are listed in an email from BI. This email was sent in the
end of April.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Preparation Note 1 : Your Visa
Preparation Note 2: Your Accommodation
Preparation Note 3: Your Insurance
Preparation Note 4: Your courses
1
1.2 Applying for a visa
After applying at QUT and have been accepted, you will receive a paper called Confirmation of
Enrolment (CoE), which is needed for applying for visa.
You can apply for visa at http://www.immi.gov.au (Australian Department of Immigration webpage).
On the webpage they say that this can take time, but I got my visa within 30 minutes. However I
recommend doing this as soon as possible. On this page you can also find a price estimator. Since I am
a Norwegian citizen I did not needed to take a medical check, as well as have special insurance (OSHC)
(same as for Swedish citizens). This is something you will get information about from both BI and QUT
if you are a citizen from another country than Norway.
1.3 Travel
I left Norway 4th of July and arrived Brisbane 6th of July. I flew from Oslo to Berlin. From Berlin to Abu
Dhabi. From Abu Dhabi to Singapore. And then to Brisbane.
QUT offers free pick up at the airport. This is something that you book before leaving Norway. The
Introduction Week starts in mid-July, and I recommend to arrive at least a week before to get settled,
and get to know the city before the introduction week.
I bought a one-way ticket. Highly recommended! At least a flexible return-ticket. When I first left
Norway I was pretty sure that I would be heading back to Norway at least no later than the beginning
of December. It ended with that I had my flight back the 22th of December, and if it was not for
Christmas Eve, I would have stayed longer.
1.4 Housing
QUT has its own accommodation office (Gardens Point X Block Level 3), and they are very helpful in
finding a place for you. I on the other hand, applied on Kelvin Grove student village. I did this in
late March, much because I did not know anyone that was going to Brisbane, and that I liked the
idea of knowing where to stay before I left Norway. At Kelvin Grove Student Village I paid 275
USD per week. That is pretty expensive compared to share houses and other places in Brisbane. But
in the student village you meet a lot of people, they have a free gym and a lot of events, which made
me feel that it was worth paying a little extra.
The student village is located 2 minutes from QUT Kelvin Grove Campus, which makes it a very
good location if that is the Campus you are going to attend. If it is QUT Gardens Point, QUT has a
free shuttle bus that departs every 10 minutes.
1.5 Costs
Costs as per month:
Rent
AUD$275 per week
Books
Food
Approximately AUD$300
You can also borrow books for free at the library. QUT has also a
secondhand bookstore where you can buy and sell your books. I sold mine
for AUD$140 when I was done at school.
AUD$200-350 a month
This really depends on your budget, where you shop and how often you eat
out. There are heaps of cute cafés and its multicultural cuisine is famous for
Brisbane. A lot of cheap supermarkets as Woolworth, Aldi and Coles.
There are also markets every weekend at a couple of locations in Brisbane.
Transport AUD$40
I lived near the shuttle bus that goes from Kelvin Grove to Gardens point.
The shuttle bus is free, which is why I didn’t use so much money on
transport. Before arriving Brisbane you should apply for a TTC-card. This
card gives you student discount on the transportation (approximately half
price). A general bus ride is ca 2-3 dollars. Traveling to Surfers Paradise,
Noosa etc the price with TTCC and a go card is around 16 dollars.
The go card can be used on buses, trains and ferries within entire
Queensland.
AUD$30
Cell
I used Vodaphone. I had a pre-paid service that included free texts to numbers
phone
all over the world, 500 dollars to call for and 1 GB internet per month.
Travel
Nightlife
AUD$500
I wanted to travel as much as possible, which is why I used a lot of money on
traveling. Even though a semester in Australia is pretty hard, you can still fit
in some traveling if you are focused during the week.
Brisbane is located in the middle of many of Australia’s “pearls”. Short trips
to amazing places such as Fraser Island, North Stradbroke Island, Byron Bay,
Surfers Paradise, Noosa, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast. Brisbane also have
short flights to other cities like Cairns (Great Barrier Reef), Sydney and
Canberra.
.AUD$200 a week
I went out at least two days a week which is reflected in the budget. Wine and
beer is about AUD$5-10 in a bar. Brisbane has a lot to offer regarding places
to go out. Everything from the “posh” environment in Fortitude Valley to
relaxed bar environment in East Brisbane. And not to forget Down Under Bar,
which is Brisbane’s answer to Horgans in Oslo.
A bottle of cheap wine in one of the liquor stores (BWS, Liquorland) would be
around AUD$ 4- 6. The common exchange student drinks “Goon” (5 liter
wine for AUD$12).
1.6 Culture and language
The first day I arrived, I learned that Australian accent was going to be a bit difficult in the beginning. I
moved in with 3 people from Australia (and one from Norway) which all of them were from smaller
places. They talked different than each other, and had many “Aussi”-specific words in their sentences.
Fortunately it took only a few weeks before I almost used the same words myself. So if you don’t get
the sentences straight away; don’t worry! It only takes a bit of time then you are in it.
QUT also offers language courses throughout the semester. This is a good opportunity if you are
unsecure. They also offer German courses, Chinese courses etc if you want to get even more challenged.
When arriving in Australia you will see the differences in the culture straight away. Here it is normal to
say thank you to the driver, be polite to everyone, when you ask random people for help, they will try to
help you the best they can, and when you are in a store, you have to make time to chat with the cashier.
2. ABOUT THE SCHOOL
2.1 School description
QUT is located in the middle of Brisbane Centrum. Only 5 minutes to walk to the shopping street, or 10
minutes to walk to South Bank (“the beach”).
The school is one of three bigger universities in Brisbane. There are approximately 45,000 students,
including 6,000 from overseas.
QUT consists of three campuses; Kelvin Grove, Caboolture and Gardens Point. The business faculty is
located at the Gardens Point campus, which is sited in the Botanic Garden. Botanic Garden offers many
seating spaces and offers free WIFI, which makes it a good place to take a break from the library, but
still gives an opportunity to do some studying.
The school is striving to be a university “for the real world”. This can be seen in the quality of their
lecturers, and as well as how reality close the assignments are to the real world.
Some of their staff has received international awards for their teaching initiatives, research
collaborations, and publications, including Nobel Peace Prize-winning scientist Dr. Richard Conant who
joined QUT in 2010.
Because of the percentage of people that are in a full time job, most of my classes were evening classes
from 6 to 9 p.m. Two of my classes did not have mandatory attendance, but one did. This is something
you will be informed about at the first lecture.
QUT uses marks given on a 7-point scale, 7 being a High Distinction grade and 4 the lowest passing
grade.
2.2 Course registration
First you have to get approval of your chosen courses from both BI and the university. Then you can
register for the courses online on the QUT Virtual webpage (information on how this is done is sent
by an email from QUT when the courses are approved). The following key dates:
- 9. December 2013 – 1. August 2014: Enrolment opens
- 19. May 2014: Expected release of timetable
- 2. June 2014: Enrolments/class registration
- 6. June 2014 and 4. July 2014: Final date for accepting applications from international
students
- 7. July 2014: On-time closing date for international student change of major applications. No
late applications accepted.
- 1. August 2014: Last date students can add units to their enrolment program without incurring
any penalty
- 4. August – 15. August 2014: Students are permitted to add units with payment of
AUD$50 penalty
- 15. August 2014: Census date (final date for cancellation of units without incurring financial
penalty; final date for cancellation of course with a partial refund (50%) of international
student tuition fee; withdrawal after this date will incur full fees)
Courses fill up quickly, so do not wait until last minute. And when you are register in the courses,
you should not wait too long to register for workshops and tutorials since the preferred times are
filled up quickly.
2.3 Academic calendar
Arrival date:
First day of the semester:
Last day of classes:
Examination period:
Any special
events/holidays:
Other:
6. July 2014
21. July 2014
24. October 2014
27. October – 14. November 2014
14. July – 18. July 2014: Orientation week
29. September – 3. October 2014: Mid-semester break
6. October 2014: Labour Day
22. September 2014: Final exam timetables released
1. December 2014: Release of semester results
2.4 Arrival
Before arriving Brisbane you get the program over the Introduction Week, and a link to where you
can sign up for the different events. This makes the first two weeks more organized when coming to
Brisbane. QUT also offers pick-up at the airport for free. Information regarding this will be sent to
you via email. The events you can attend are such as “New to Brisbane” where you get a quick input
how the life in Brisbane is probably going to be, as well as who to contact if you have some queries.
Other events are official welcomes, information sessions about sports clubs and committees, study
abroad information sessions, how to find work and accommodation etc.
In the introduction week QUT also offers a river cruise and an orientation camp at North Stradbroke
Island, which you have to book pre-departure.
There are also faculty-specific events. For business students they have the Business Mixer, and other
events where you can meet people with the same interest as you, as well as building a network.
2.5 The International Office
The office consists of a lot of people. They are situated in A-block which is the first block you see
when entering Gardens point. They are very helpful and always very polite and cheerful.
QUT have approximately 6000 foreign students each semester, which makes them very good in
helping, and have probably been exposed to a huge amount of issues that former students have had.
If you need help with anything, they will in most cases know who you should go to.
2.6 Promoting BI and Norway
I joined the NorSK student association, which is the single largest non-Australian student society in
Brisbane. It is highly recommended to join. Great events and you meet friends that you will have
forever. This mainly because a lot of the members are Norwegians. The association is for everyone.
They host parties like the largest pub-crawl in Brisbane, Halloween party, Facebook-party, Scavenger
hunt (super cool event) and other fun events during the semester. I also attended all the ANSA Brisbane
events where you meet other Norwegians, as well as people from other countries that want to attend
events like Mexican-party, quiz, barbecue etc.
2.7 Social activities
When you have accepted the offer from QUT, you will get an email with trips and events that QUT
offers to exchange students. The events are a trip named “Island dreaming” (highly recommended), and
a boat trip on the Brisbane River (also highly recommended).
Later in the semester you will get monthly events that QUT host through email. The trip to Noosa and
Surfers Paradise are recommended.
QUT uses much time in getting the exchange students social, and wants them to experience Australia.
But even though QUT helps a lot in meeting new friends, it is important to seek contact yourself as well.
The Australians are more open than the Norwegians which are something we should learn from. All of
my courses had group projects which made me be more open, and accepting regarding other peoples
opinion, cultural, and political diversities.
Brisbane also offers free barbeques, and pizza ovens which we often used.
QUT have student organizations like Frisbee club, a running club, a surfing club, a Dragon Boat
competition, dancing club etc. It is just yourself that sets the limits regarding how social you want to be.
There is always something to do in Brisbane.
3. ACADEMICS
3.1 In the classroom
Because of QUTs strive to be a “university of the real world”, the teaching style is more practiceoriented. It where used real companies, and guest lecturers where people that worked in the field that
was the topic in that lecture. The interaction with lecturers is very informal. They are using your firstname and want to have a normal conversation in class. The lecturers expect you to answer and discuss in
the lecture, which makes it important that you have read the lecture materials before attending class
(released on Blackboard each week). The lecturers also have office hours to help with assignments or
any other queries you might have.
3.2 Course materials, library and technology
All of my subjects used power points in the lectures, tutorials and workshops. We also got handed out
articles or access to them at Blackboard. The power points were very important regarding the final exam
because they showed what the lecturers thought were the most important out of the curriculum we had.
The library at QUT has a huge database and are lending out a lot of new and prescribed readings if it is
not available on Blackboard. QUT provides also databases that will help you write a good report if you
need some support.
The library has a very helpful staff if you do not find what you are looking for yourself. It extends over 7
floors which consist of a lot of work spaces. But in the central exam period I advise you to be early to get
a spot. At the second floor in the library they have an IT staff that are very helpful of you need help.
3.3 Exams
Exams were based on course materials, tutorials, and lectures. In detail, the classes were evaluated as
follows:
1)MGN447 Managing in a Globalised Economy
Assessment name: Case Study
Description: A case study which examines a number of issues in relation to managing in the global
economy. (Marks incorporate self and peer assessment of group processes.)
Length: 2,000 words
Summative or formative: Formative and Summative
Relates to objectives: Unit objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4 and AOL goals KS (1.1), CTA (2.1), PC (3.1) TW (4.1),
SEU (5.1).
Weight: 40
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Group
Due date: Week 11
Assessment name: Final Exam (Invigilated)
Description: Final Examination
Length: 2 hours + 10 minutes perusal
Summative or formative: Summative
Relates to objectives: Unit objectives: 1 and AOL goals (1.1), CTA (2.1).
Weight: 40
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Central Exam Period
Assessment name: Examination (Mid semester)
Description: A Multiple choice examination covering the early content of the unit (topics 1 to 6)
Length: 30mins + 10 minutes perusal
Summative or formative: Summative
Relates to objectives: Unit objectives: 1 and AOL goals (1.1), CTA (2.1).
Weight: 20
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: week 7
2.) AYN424 International Accounting
Assessment name: Final Exam
Description: The Final Examination will cover the material from weeks 1 to 13 and will consist of
theoretical questions and case studies.
Length/Duration: 2 hours + 10 minutes perusal
Formative or Summative: Summative
Relates to objectives: Unit objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4 and AOL goals: KS (1.1) CTA (2.1) PC (3.1) SEU (5.1)
Weight: 55
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Central Exam Period
Assessment name: Major Group Project
Description: This project will be based on the Harvard International Business Case Study entitled
Levendary Café: The China Challenge which will explore issues related to: international globalization and
corporate strategy; the relationship between cultural and environmental considerations and national
management and financial reporting practices; the impact of this management and accounting diversity on
corporate earnings, assets and important ratios and the progress of the Global Convergence Project for
International Financial Reporting Standards
Length/Duration: To be advised
Formative or Summative: Formative and Summative
Relates to objectives: Unit objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4 and AOL goals: KS (1.1) CTA (2.1) PC (3.1) TW (4.1)
SEU (5.1)
Weight: 25
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Group
Due date: Week 11
Assessment name: Presentation (Oral in Groups)
Description: Students will be assigned weekly readings and decision cases for their critical evaluation and
presentation of summaries and decision case responses at the weekly workshops in the form of, firstly, an
oral presentation which is marked out of 8%. Second, four weekly, in-class collections of workshop
answers from all students will be collected by your workshop leader. These in-class collections will
follow the presentation/class discussion. The highest three results out of the four collections submitted are
added together for a result out of 12%.Workshops will commence in week two of the semester, while
these presentations will start from week three and will run through to Week 13.
Length/Duration: To be advised
Formative or Summative: Formative and Summative
Relates to objectives: Unit objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4 and AOL goals: KS (1.1) CTA (2.1) PC (3.1) SEU (5.1)
Weight: 20
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Weekly from Wk 3
3.) EFN421 Financial Planning and Strategies
Assessment name: Mid-semester Examination
Description: All material covered from Weeks 1-4 is examinable.
Length/Duration: 1 hour + 10 minutes perusal
Formative or Summative: Formative and Summative
Relates to objectives: Unit objectives: 1, 2, 3, 5 and AOL goals: KS (1.1), (1.2) CTA (2.1), PC (3.1)
Weight: 20
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 7
Assessment name: Case Study & Presentation
Description: Topic will be chosen by examiner and discussed in class. The oral component of the
presentation will be assessed individually. There will be milestones for completion of this assessment item
required.
Due date: Week 9 for assignment receipt: all groups; and Individual assessment component due Weeks 9
and 10.
Length/Duration: 1,500 words
Formative or Summative: Formative and Summative
Relates to objectives: Unit objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and AOL goals: KS (1.1), (1.2) CTA (2.1), PC (3.1),
SEU (5.1)
Weight: 40
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Group with Individual Component
Due date: Weeks 9 and 10
Assessment name: End of Semester Examination
Description: All unit material will be examinable (take home examination).
Length/Duration: 2 hours + 15 minutes perusal
Due date: Week 12
Formative or Summative: Summative
Relates to objectives: Unit objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and AOL goals: KS (1.1), (1.2) CTA (2.1), PC (3.1),
SEU (5.1)
Weight: 40
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 12
3.4 Description of courses
Course code
Master/
& name
Bachelor
MGN447
Master
Managing in a
Globalised
Economy
Exam form
2-hours + 10
min
written exam
Prerequisites
None
Approved
as
Elective
Comments
None
Elective
A course regarding the
cultural differences that
affects the accounting. It was
a very interesting course,
which is highly relevant to
what I am studying. This was
the course with the most to
do. You get questions every
week (answers up to 2000
words) which is
recommended to do because
you don’t know when the
random submissions are.
Interesting course, but heavy
workload. It is a very
theoretical course.
2000 words
case study in
group
30 min + 10
min
Multiple
choice (mid
semester)
AYN424
International
accounting
Master
2-hours + 10
min
written exam
Oral
presentation in
group, four
submissions
random trough
the semester
Case study
in both
group and
individual
The academic level was ok. I
had no experience with this
kind of course except of
“Markedsføring” in my
Bachelor. Even though I
managed to do the course
pretty well. Most of the
course where theoretical, but
you also get a case study
where you are inserted into a
real company and have to
analyze it. The subject had
some parallels regarding what
I am studying, but I will
mainly recommend that
marketing students takes this
course.
EFN421
Financial
Planning and
Strategies
Master
1 hour + 10
min multiple
choice
None
1,500 case
study in
group with
an
individual
component
2 hours + 10
min take
home exam
Elective
A course where you learn
about how a family in
Australia can plan their
consumption and future. You
learn about a very different tax
system then we have I
Norway, which is very
interesting. The course can be
applied in both the business
world as well as to you
personally. This by see what
you need to think about to get
the economic life that you
want. The workload was ok
and the level was well fitted
for an economy student.
An interesting course which
was my favorite course at
QUT.
How will you sum up the exchange experience?
Australia is definitely one of my favorite countries in the world. Much thanks to the amazing people I
have met in the “country down under”. I have had an experience that has been even better than I ever
had hoped for before I left Norway. QUT has fulfilled all my expectations, given me research and
technological progression, made me more independent in finding the information myself, and given me
a better appreciation of new views on how the world works, and new ways of problem solving.
The total experience have made me more open to new cultures, made me challenge my openness
towards new people, and last but not least; made me enjoy life to the fullest!
Regarding my life and carrier I would be more confident when it comes in speaking business English,
make me be more open to new cultures, and has opened my eyes regarding possibilities to seek work
overseas in the future.
All in all; I had the best time ever in Brisbane. Both regarding school, but mostly social. It is a time I
will never forget, and will bring with me as an amazing memory the rest of my life.