My name is Jaymie Etherington, and I've spent my whole life in one house, one school, and one city - Kuala Lumpur.
For 18 years, I lived in the same house and walked the same old hallways of ISKL. But growing up in an international school, everybody I knew was going abroad and seeking opportunities outside Malaysia, so I figured I'd do the same.
I was originally set on Canada and planning to go to the University of Toronto. But I was talking to my dad one day when he casually said, "Did you know you have Australian citizenship?"
That changed everything.
My dad is a British citizen, so I'd already been looking at schools in the UK. I'd also been looking at schools in LA and Amsterdam. But Australia had never really crossed my mind.
That conversation made my choice abundantly easier. But looking into Australia, I realized that it totally suited my lifestyle, and I fell in love with Sydney.
I love being outdoors and going on adventures, and moving to Australia took those passions to another level. The culture shock was crazy - everyone here is up at 5 am running, swimming, gymming. I could really picture myself in that environment.
Why UTS Over Other Sydney Universities
I get asked why I chose UTS a lot, actually. But I looked at all the business courses in Sydney from UNSW to USyd, and in my opinion, UTS has the best business courses for what I want to study.
UTS Business School is among the top 1% of business schools worldwide, with both AACSB and EQUIS accreditation. The Bachelor of Business program is actually the second most in-demand course in New South Wales.
I also have a friend's dad who is highly respected, and he talked it over with me and said, "Jaymie, I do believe that you were correct when looking at UTS." Now that it's my second year, I definitely think I made the right choice.
I'm actually doing a Bachelor's of Business, so a double major in finance and economics. It's a unique setup, but I believe that for my future career path, this double major gives me more options and opportunities.
The university is a huge support with degree planning, and it's very easy to set things up and get into programs. It's also right in the heart of the city - an 18-story building in downtown Sydney, which I loved.
How I Got Into UTS in Two Days
I used a third-party source for my application, an agent. It's really common in Malaysia and a lot easier. My agent has helped 15+ ISKL students get into universities, and since agents get commission from the university if you're admitted, they do their absolute best to get you in.
I applied in December 2023 and heard back in just two days, likely due to my citizenship. I obviously didn't experience the visa struggles, but my friends have said it's pretty straightforward.
There were also no essays, application fees, or extracurriculars needed. It was just grades. I submitted my IB scores, and they converted them to the ATAR system. My IB score was 29/45, so not the best - it was rough out of high school. But the whole process was polar opposite to US and Canada admissions, and that was a huge relief.
Although Australia didn't look at my extracurriculars, I did quite a few in high school. I did a lot of refugee work, teaching them English and setting up football games for them. Just imagine managing a bunch of little kids, and it's really chaotic, but also a lot of fun. I really enjoyed it.
I also represented the school through the STAR program. When families came in, I'd give tours to people and promote the school.
The Australian System: Why I Think It's the Best in the World
The first year was pretty difficult for me, because they do it really differently in Australia compared to the U.S and Canada. There, you have to choose a major right away, and kind of stick with it.
Australia is different. Here, you take the 6 core classes of the bachelor's degree. So since I'm studying business, I had to do a lot of core classes in marketing, finance, etc., before finally picking my major in my second year.
I think this is the best system in the world, because you're not stressed about committing to a major when you don't know what you're doing, or worried about whether you'll question your major after a year. Instead, you're exposed to everything and many experiences, so by the second year, you understand what you really like and enjoy.
What Sydney Actually Costs
One of the main problems here is the cost of living. For anybody going to Sydney or Melbourne, it's extremely expensive. I pay for groceries, and on a decent week, it's around $100 AUD.
Especially if you're a student, you have to budget really carefully. I spend about $4000 AUD per month on things like my phone, water, and electricity bills, but that's partly because I do lots of activities. In terms of tuition, UTS costs about $8400 AUD per semester (~$16,800 AUD/year).
The Sydney Housing Crisis
Earlier, I was living with an ISKL alumni family, and they were kind enough to let me stay with them at their house for a year. But the housing crisis in Sydney is genuinely insane. At one house, around 40 people were lining up for viewings. It's like, you make an offer, but then you get outbid by some random guy overseas.
When I tried to find a place, I met an agent through some close family friends. Luckily, he had an off-market place, so I went in and made an offer. I don't rent, though - I actually own the place.
Here, they don't have dorming - they have SCAPE. It's like a dorm company for all Australian universities. It's quite expensive (ranging from $459-$909 AUD per week depending on the location and room type), but it is indeed convenient, and they're usually near universities. It also has everything you need - gym, study hall, kitchens, etc.
The Job Market Reality
As for the job market, having Australian citizenship makes things 10 times easier. If you're an international student, you can only work a maximum of 48 hours per fortnight (two weeks) during term time, so working is difficult.
The job market in general is also really tough. I've applied to a lot of jobs, and it's hard. You pretty much have to know somebody working there and get a referral.
I've worked a couple of jobs since I moved here. I did a lot of tradesman work. Kind of like a probate, where when someone has passed away, you go into their house right after and move their stuff.
Some people contacted me and said they needed people, so I was like, sure, let's do it. The first job I ever did, the guy passed by the house. And you could walk into the room, and the smell was horrible; it was really, really crazy.
But it was in this insane mansion as well, such a crazy house. Apparently, the guy was a hermit, and he kind of just stayed in the house the whole time, so you can imagine the state of his house. It makes for some fun stories - it was the most interesting job I've ever done.
Culture Shock: 5 AM Runners and Direct Aussies
My first week in Sydney threw me deep into the water with all the Australians. I spent the week going out and doing tourist things, and the culture shock hit me hard. I realized instantly how different the culture and people are compared to Malaysia.
People here are very direct - they don't care, and they'll say whatever they think. Everybody is also a lot more extroverted. They'll even stop you to ask questions, even if they don't know you! It's pretty much the opposite to Malaysia, where people are more reserved and polite.
There's also a huge outdoors and active culture. Everyone wakes up at 5 am to go running, swimming, or gymming. People go to sleep very early here - I ask my friends to go out, and they're like "Oh, I've gotta be in bed by 11." Even Australians my age tend to be very disciplined with their routines.
The First Year Struggles
The first year was pretty difficult because the Australian system is so different. I started in criminology and felt lost, so halfway through I switched to business.
I only made one friend, and then I had some friendship troubles halfway through. I felt so lonely and overwhelmed with school. I was calling my mom a lot and honestly thought, "Maybe I should've gone to Canada."
There was also some identity confusion for me. It's like, what even is my identity? I look like a European, talk like an American accent, and act like a Malaysian. It's the most confusing thing ever.
After living in the same house and attending the same school for 18 years, coming to Australia was far from easy. I was an ISKL lifer and had been there since I was 3, so this was my first time being exposed to any other environment.
Adulting was weird, having to figure out all my responsibilities and become independent. I didn't struggle that much, but it was definitely a transition.
Second Year: Finding My People
My second year was a lot better socially. The first week, this guy James sat next to me, and he's the most Australian-looking dude you'll ever meet. I followed him on Instagram, and we had 50 mutuals. Small world? Maybe. I think it's just the international school website for you.
From there, I met his friends, and it just grew. Now I have a whole crew. I now have a solid friend group of 5 pure-bred Australian boys.
I'm a very introverted person, but almost everybody else is in the same boat and scared to meet people. It sounds cliché, but my only advice is to just talk to people. Orientation Week is critical - don't miss it.
If you go to orientation and sit next to someone, ask, "Hey, what's your name?" Get their Instagram. Meet their friends. It grows from there.
What UTS Is Actually Like
The academic workload is pretty good - IB prepared me really well. I go to school twice a week - Tuesday from 2 pm to 5 pm, and Thursday from 10 am to 8 pm. The rest of the time is weird because I feel like I'm doing nothing, even though I'm obviously trying to find a job.
The class structures are pretty different. They have seminars or lectures for 3 hours, and then tutorials for an hour. Lectures are huge, so it's more of individual learning.
The professors and classes are great - I have one that I hold dearly to my heart. He's a very Australian dude, and he acted like a mentor to me and others.
I joined the UTS Business Society because it was free. Clubs are usually advertised online, and it's easy to register, but you have to pay for some of them.
I also do a lot of volunteering here. Recently, I volunteered for the Sydney Breast Cancer Foundation. They have a 50/50 raffle at rugby games, where 50% of the money goes to charity, and 50% goes to whoever won the raffle. So I spent the game gathering donations.
UTS is very much a city school, with this huge, condensed campus. It's like this 18-story building downtown, so there's no student bubble. There isn't much of a campus or sports culture like in North America, but I'm not that involved in campus activities anyway.
The International School Advantage
There are definitely cultural differences between my purebred Australian friends and me. When it comes to trying and doing new things, they're very hesitant. Kind of like dinosaur nuggets and fried people - very reserved.
Both ISKL and Sydney are very diverse, so I've always been multicultural-minded. But I've met people here who don't know anything about Malaysia. I tell them where I'm from, and they say, "Malawi? Madagascar?" They've never been exposed to many cultures, and some live in this bubble. It's crazy, especially considering the big Malaysian community here.
Australian society can be pretty individualistic. More to themselves, not in a selfish way, though. Some Australians call it "tall poppy syndrome." It's basically when people think they're above everybody else, and it shows in the way they speak to and treat you. It's not everybody, but I've definitely experienced that.
People who go to international schools tend to have a higher chance of succeeding abroad because of their constant exposure to multicultural societies.
When you go into the workforce, your main skill is flexibility - you're willing to adapt to anything because you know all these different cultures. You've been surrounded by diversity your whole life.
I was at a bar recently, and someone tapped me on the shoulder like "Hey, you're Jaymie, right?" and my Australian friends were so confused. That's the infamous international school web - everybody is connected. You've gotta be there.
Bondi Beaches and Barefoot Restaurants
I absolutely love the beach culture in Sydney. You could be going to class, receive the email that it's cancelled, and your friend is immediately like, "Yo, let's go to Bondi."
So you'd go there and eat seafood on the beach, shirtless, with no shoes in a restaurant. Everyone is practically half-naked, as it's super laid back. I almost didn't believe I was in university.
There have been countless times where I've felt I made the right decision - I think I made the best decision of my life. My friends are great people and support me, and the culture suits my needs. And I get to go to the beach when I have a break on Wednesday - how many students can say that?
Looking Forward
Post-grad, I want to get into corporate finance in Australia 100%. I graduate in 2027, and plan to stay in Australia for maybe 2-3 years after graduation, and take it from there.
With Australia's beach lifestyle and active culture, as well as the friends I've made and the career opportunities, I could see myself staying here at least 2-3 years post-grad. It really suits my needs, and the culture is amazing.
I graduated in 2027 and plan to go into corporate finance. UTS has really good programs when it comes to graduate jobs. They help a lot, actually. Just recently, they had a career fair, and I've already gotten two emails from these people asking for my resume and transcript.
My Advice: Take the Leap
My advice to Malaysians looking to study in Australia: Just go. For everybody, don't be scared. At first, it might be scary and hard to find your crew. But I'm telling you, give it a couple of months, and you'll lose it.
If you're someone who loves the outdoors, being active, and doing activities with friends, Australia might be for you. It's a great way to get out of your comfort zone, and there's a good work-life balance. Be ready for the culture shock, but be reassured that there's a good Malaysian community here as well.
I wish I knew that uni may not be like the movies (so no constant parties), but you can go to class, hang with friends, maybe hit a bar - whatever suits you. It's a lot more chill and less "crazy college experience."
One thing I really want to emphasize is that exposing yourself to as many cultures as possible is the best way to grow. It's something I tell everybody in my life and everyone I meet.
By meeting people from all over the world and experiencing different cultures through traveling, you'll grow as a person tremendously.
Take the leap.
