University of Technology, Sydney

Level 3A Building 1
1 Broadway
New South Wales 2001
Web address: www.ipo.uts.edu.au
ADS contact phone: +61 (2) 9514 1538
ADS contact fax: +61 (2) 9514 1530
Relevant campuses: City, St Leonards, Kuring-gai.

Community and surrounds

The University of Technology, Sydney (UTS), like the city of Sydney, is dynamic, cosmopolitan, diverse, vibrant, multicultural and stimulating.

Sydney is one of the world's most beautiful and vibrant cities and is world famous for its spectacular harbour, beaches and unique opera house. The city offers a wide range of cultural experiences and boasts many theatres, museums, art galleries, cinemas, cafes, nightclubs and music venues. With Sydney's diverse population, there is always a multitude of ethnically diverse restaurants, clubs and festivals to choose from.

All of the three UTS campuses are based in Sydney with the largest on the edge of the Central Business District. Sydney is Australia's largest city and many national and international companies are based there. UTS capitalises on this by maintaining industry links that are second to none.

Sydney is one of the most multicultural cities in the world, with people from 180 countries speaking up to 140 languages. At UTS, 90 community languages are spoken in the homes of local students alone.

Climate

With 240 days of sunshine and blue skies each year, Sydney enjoys a subtropical climate. The average temperature in summer is about 16 to 24 degrees Celcius (but it can reach 40 degrees), and in winter 12 to 19 degrees. The wettest months are March and June.

Cost of living and accommodation

The cost of living in Sydney depends on lifestyle but is approximately $275 to $300 a week ($14,000 to $16,000 a year) for a single student including accommodation, food and transport.

UTS has a housing service that offers affordable apartment style accommodation from $145 a week. These furnished apartments are located close to the city campus. The housing service can also help students find a good place to live within the private market. Most students live in private accommodation in and around the city and within walking distance or a short train ride to the university.

The options for off campus accommodation include: share accommodation ($100 to $160 a week); homestay ($170 to $215 a week); renting a flatette ($100 to $200 a week); and renting a house or flat ($150 to $250 a week for one bedroom, plus $30 to $90 a week for each additional bedroom). Accommodation is less expensive further from the city centre.

Accommodation in suburbs north of Sydney Harbour is usually more expensive than accomodation in the western and southern suburbs. Popular suburbs where ADS students frequently find reasonable priced accommodation are Ashfield, Camperdown, Campsie, Chippendale, Marrickville, Redfern, Rockdale and Summer Hill. UTS City campus is right opposite Sydney’s Central Station, and is therefore easily accesible from any train line and many bus routes in Sydney.

Campus descriptions

UTS has three campuses. The biggest is the City campus on the edge of Sydney's central business district, close to shopping centres, cinema complexes, markets, cafes, restaurants and all the attractions of a major city. More than 22,000 students study on the City campus.

The Kuring-gai campus is about 15 kilometres north of the city centre, surrounded by bushland. About 4,000 students study at this campus in the areas of business, education, nursing, midwifery and health.

The St Leonards campus is a small campus located a few kilometres to the north of the city, over the Sydney Harbour Bridge, specialising in biological, biomedical and environmental sciences. About 500 students study at this campus, however it is envisaged that as of 2005, all science courses will be located at the city campus.

The UTS library offers online help and you can also reserve your books online. The IT Support Centre is open after hours and at the weekend. In addition, UTS has 24 multi-platform computer labs and 650 desktops for students, in multiple locations, across the campuses. Most of the UTS computer labs operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

International student population

UTS has a multicultural mix of more than 27,000 students. At the university in 2003, there were 5,094 international students from over 90 countries in the world. Of these about 2,228 were from East Asia, 597 from South Asia, 31 from Papua New Guinea and Pacific Islands, 29 from Africa, and 2,209 from countries that do not offer ADS scholarships.

UTS views the social and cultural diversity of its students and staff as a key strength. This diversity has created a vibrant and rich learning environment that prepares graduates for a borderless workplace.

Family and community services

To ensure student success, UTS offers comprehensive professional services sensitive to the needs of students from diverse backgrounds to support every aspect of student life. Support areas include housing, health, special needs and careers, through to financial assistance. Learning skills counsellors are available to assist with study and time management skills.

There are also over 90 active student clubs that range from cultural to religious to sporting and special interest.

In Sydney, there are many primary and secondary government schools (State, private and Catholic) in which students can enrol their children.

As Australia's largest city, Sydney has a huge range of industries and companies offering a variety of employment opportunities. Sydney has strong multi-lingual capabilities. There are several multi-lingual radio stations, newspapers and magazines. Ethnic organisations from many different cultures support the ethnic communities.

Childcare services

UTS has three childcare centres - two at Broadway and one at Kuring-gai. Fees vary from $36.75 per day ($160.65 per week) to $45.15 per day ($202.65 per week). For details about UTS childcare services visit www.childcare.uts.edu.au. ADS students are entitled to the Commonwealth Goverment childcare benefit.

Facilities for special needs

The UTS student services unit, the library and all faculties provide services for students who have disabilities or ongoing medical conditions. Rooms for students with disabilities, including wheelchair accessible rooms, are available in the university's student accommodation.

Foods for different cultures

There is no shortage of places to eat out and specialty grocery stores in the cosmopolitan city of Sydney. The UTS city campus is located five minutes walk away from China Town with its many eateries and Asian grocery stores as well as Paddy's Market which offers a wide range of fresh produce including Asian fruits and vegetables.

Many of Sydney's suburbs specialise in culturally diverse foods and cater for needs such as halal, kosher or strictly vegetarian food.

Religious facilities

Chaplains from various faiths, traditions and religious groups visit the university. Religious affiliations represented on campus include Anglican, Baptist, Buddhist, Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, Orthodox, Uniting Church and Salvation Army. There are two prayer rooms, with washing facilities. Spiritual centres of almost every culture, ethnic and religious identity can be found in Sydney.

Public transport

The central location of the city campus means it is very easy to get to by public transport. Free transport provided by UTS links all campuses.

From the airport: ADS students are met by a UTS representative on their arrival at Sydney airport and are taken to their temporary accommodation.

For other visitors, there is a direct train from the international airport to the city for around $10. Central railway station is near the City campus and all Sydney train lines connect at Central. Alternatively, there is an airport bus into the city for around $7.

Getting around: Sydney has an excellent public transport system (buses, ferries, light rail and trains) with regular services operating within the city’s underground rail network and throughout the suburbs. All campuses are easily accessible by public transport.

The St Leonards campus is about eight kilometres by bus away from the City campus and students can use the free university shuttle bus to get from one campus to the other. It is also close to the St Leonards train station.

The Kuring-gai campus is approximately 15 kilometres by bus away from the City campus and free university shuttle bus services operate from this campus to the other two campuses. There are also shuttle buses that connect to nearby railway services. The closest railway station is Lilyfield station.

Australian Government sponsored international students studying in NSW are entitled to transport concession fares on buses (upwards of 80 cents), trains (upwards of $1.10) and ferries (upwards of $2.20).

Train services from the city close at midnight. However, night buses are available after this time.