Yubo's journey to Australia with a UNSW College Diploma
Read how his studies led him from China to New Zealand and ultimately, to Australia.
Yubo Qiao first set foot in Australia in 2017 when he attended primary school in Brisbane. Here, he found a friendly and welcoming country and an environment “very suitable for studying”. While he returned to China and later New Zealand to continue his education, Australia had left a strong impression.
So, when it came time to explore options for university, Australia was at the top of the list – vibrant, developed, and home to more employment and lifestyle opportunities than his New Zealand hometown. And, he notes today, what better place to study than the institution ranked Australia’s #1 university in the QS World University Rankings (2027)?
After realising his New Zealand qualifications did not meet the eligibility criteria for his desired Bachelor of Science (Computer Science) at UNSW Sydney, Yubo discovered a UNSW College Diploma of Computer Science offered the best pathway to reach his dream.
Why Yubo chose UNSW College
The transition from high school to university studies can be daunting – Yubo found the College could perhaps offer “a better transition for international students... especially those who have never studied overseas before”.
From Study Club to Communication and Academic Literacy (CAL) courses, he found myriad avenues of support to help students like himself develop the academic skills needed to succeed and “make the transition to university much smoother”.
“I think UNSW College goes beyond the traditional model of university education, where learning can sometimes feel like it ends once the class is over. Instead, there are many academic and social activities outside the classroom, which give us more opportunities to meet other students, learn from each other, and become part of the community.”
Studying at UNSW might be his end goal, but UNSW College has provided a supported pathway to help him progress with confidence.
Yubo’s progress in and out of the classroom
Having studied mainly humanities subjects at school, Yubo was starting from “almost zero” in computer science understanding. As such, the combination of lectures, tutorials and labs in his Diploma of Computer Science has been instrumental in building a strong foundation of understanding.
“I really like the way the courses at UNSW College are designed. Instead of putting students straight into highly challenging courses, the College allows us to progress step by step,” he says.
“Labs are particularly valuable to me. They usually involve two important elements. One is working together with other students to solve a problem, and the other is presenting our solution. This means that I am not only learning how to write code, but also how to explain the logic behind my code clearly to other people. I think this helps bridge the gap between understanding something in theory and actually being able to apply and communicate it in practice.”
Just as valuable are the skills he’s gained in time management and planning his studies independently.
“At UNSW College, I have much more responsibility for organising both my academic work and my daily life. When I was studying in New Zealand, my school usually provided a more structured study plan. After moving to Sydney, I found that the academic workload became more demanding, so I realised that I needed to manage my time more effectively.”
Now, Yubo’s typical schedule includes attending classes in the morning, studying in the library in the afternoon, and returning home in the evening to rest. He even finds time for stand-up comedy – performing some casual talk shows around Sydney. Having moved to Sydney, with its “larger population and more vibrant and developed city”, Yubo is keen to make the most of his time outside of his studies, too. His biggest piece of advice to other students is to also find a healthy balance between studies and everyday life.
“Your happiness and wellbeing should always come first. Studying and work come after that. If you ever feel tired or overwhelmed, put down your laptop and your textbooks for a while. Go for a walk by the beach, look at the ocean, listen to the waves, and feel the sea breeze. Sometimes, giving yourself a moment to slow down is just as important as working hard.”
Looking to the future
As a Regional Merit Scholarship awardee, Yubo has already been recognised as a student who goes beyond the classroom to make an impact. He feels a great sense of responsibility – both culturally and personally – to do his best and make the most of this opportunity.
“The scholarship is not only supporting my studies, it is also motivating me to keep moving forward.”
And onwards he’s progressing – in an era of rapid AI development and adoption, Yubo is keen to make an impact in the cyber and cloud security field. He currently has his eyes set on a Bachelor of Science (Computer Science) at UNSW Sydney majoring in cyber security, with plans to later kickstart his career in Hong Kong.
To him, the scholarship at UNSW College represents the idea that “life does not have to follow a predetermined path”.
“It encourages me, while I am still young, to explore paths that fewer people choose and to take a path that may be difficult, but that I believe is right for me.
I would not describe myself as the student with the best grades, but perhaps I am someone who is willing to be brave, work hard and challenge myself.”
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