Sri Lankan students thriving at The University of Queensland
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Applications are now open for Semester 1, 2020 at The University of Queensland (UQ). New students will be welcomed to one of Australia’s leading teaching and research institutions where more than 53,000 students have chosen to take the first steps in their future success, including over 18,000 international students from 135 different countries.
Sri Lankan student Ramith Samayamanthree joined the thriving student community at UQ and studies dual programmes Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) and Bachelor of Economics. With the most highly awarded teachers in the country providing leading insight and guidance, Ramith chose to study at UQ for the transformative learning.
“There aren’t many universities like UQ around the world which grants the ability to pursue two very distinct degrees such as engineering and economics.UQs macro-focused academic curriculum has broadened my horizon and the way I look at the world.”
UQ is ranked among the world’s top universities as measured by several key independent rankings, with industry and extra-curricular opportunities available to students a key motivator for choosing UQ.
Field trips, industry placements and local and global internships are key components of UQ’s degree programmes, and enable students to gain experience from and form relationships with prospective employers. Ramith describes how he has become involved in extracurricular programmes across both economics and engineering to help boost his employability.
“I sincerely enjoy the presentations and lectures and the opportunity to engage in application-based learning such as through the Community Engagement Program under the Business, Economics and Law faculty and the Icarus Program in the Engineering, Architecture, and IT faculty.”
In 2018, there were74 Sri Lankan students enrolled at UQ. The most popular programmes for Sri Lankan students are in postgraduate coursework and research programmes, in fields ranging from economics, to engineering and science.
While Sri Lankan students are motivated by the university’s global reputation, the location of the university in Australia’s sunny South-East Queensland has proven a strong drawcard.
Upon arriving in Brisbane, the home of UQ’s St Lucia and Herston campuses, Ramith was surprised by how quickly the Australian capital city became home.
“My interest in Australia was strongly drawn towards the laid-back lifestyle and the vast opportunities available to international students.
Having lived in Brisbane for two years already and having travelled to around 16 countries, I have come to notice that “Brisbanites” are some of the friendliest people I have met and I feel welcomed here as if it’s my home away from home,” said Ramith.
Deshal Hemachandra is studying a Bachelor of Economics and is a member of the UQ Sri Lankan Association (UQSL). With over 220 clubs and societies at UQ, Deshal attributes the social aspect of student life integral to settling in and making new friends.
“I would encourage (future students) to join up to the various clubs and societies that operate at UQ as that would undoubtedly help them to settle in, develop skills and make new friends.”
Ramith echoed this sentiment, “My life at UQ has definitely helped me build some amazing friends and valuable networks which will definitely help me in the future.”
UQ providesscholarship opportunities for talented Sri Lankan students. Currently, a scholarship is available that will cover 50% of the cost of tuition fees for students interested in studying an undergraduate Bachelor of Economics, Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics (Honours) and Bachelor of Advanced Finance and Economics (Honours), or coursework masters programmes within UQ’s School of Economics.For details of available scholarship opportunities for international students please visit scholarships.uq.edu.au.
For more information about The University of Queensland, contact Edlocate on:T:0771-770361.