Hear from current MBA student Aman about his UTS experience in the middle of a pandemic.
Are you curious about how to motivate yourself to study in the middle of lockdown? We sat down with MBA student Aman to hear about his experience studying at UTS during two lockdowns, and how to make the most of it.
Tell us a bit about yourself
My name is Aman, and I completed my undergraduate degree in commerce in India. After doing my undergrad, I worked for four years in a corporate setting in sales and marketing and felt like doing my masters was the natural next step. I started my Master of Business Administration in 2020 at the start of the pandemic, and am majoring in marketing.
What has been the most challenging aspect of shifting your studies online?
The fact there is no proper interaction in terms of being in classroom/on-campus setting. I also found it difficult to get used to the technology at the start of lockdown, but I became familiar to it by the middle of semester.
What has been the most rewarding aspect of studying virtually?
Studying virtually allows me to be very flexible, and I can balance my work and university better. It is also good for making a new norm for uploading work and assignments online, and I have found that it’s an easier system because you can do it on the go.
How has UTS supported your studies during lockdown?
The timetabling has been very flexible, and you could choose lots of times for your classes. Another way is the fact that the library and lots of resources you can use there that helps, like access to books. Financial assistance helped: I took an industry loan that UTS offered, and it helped me out while I focused on my studies. Every service is accessible online too, like HELPS, Careers and the Library. They all support our studies during this hard time which is amazing.
What are your tips for students who are studying virtually in lockdown?
Engage! Engaging with your class is one of the most important things to make the university experience better. If you’re keeping your camera off or not contributing in class or trying to network with other people, it robs you of the university experience, and also your learning. The important thing is to not get disheartened and engage even though you’re online!
Want to find access to academic support? Chat to UTS HELPS, by sending them an email to helps@uts.edu.au.