Starting My CS Degree at UNSW: First Semester Reflections
Starting university is one of those milestones that feels both enormous and surprisingly natural once you're in it. In February 2025, I enrolled in a Bachelor of Science (Computer Science, Cyber Security) with a Minor in Finance at the University of New South Wales — one of Australia's leading technical universities. A few months in, here are my honest reflections.
Why UNSW and Why Cyber Security?
The decision to focus on Cyber Security wasn't a sudden one. Throughout high school, I participated in the National Computer Science School's (NCSS) cyber security stream, led a team of 15 students through real-world vulnerability testing challenges, and spent my spare time tinkering with IoT security projects at home. By the time the HSC was done, the path felt clear.
UNSW stood out for its strong ties to industry, its active student societies, and the rigour of its computer science curriculum. The Faculty of Engineering's reputation for producing job-ready graduates — not just theory-focused ones — aligned with how I learn best: by building things.
The Academic Experience
The transition from high school study habits to university-level coursework is real. The volume isn't necessarily overwhelming, but the expectation of self-direction is a significant shift. Lectures cover the theory; making it stick is entirely on you.
Highlights from first semester:
- Diving deep into algorithms and data structures — genuinely challenging in the best way
- Getting hands-on with low-level systems programming (understanding what's happening under the hood is humbling and fascinating)
- Engaging with foundational cyber security principles, including threat modelling and secure software design
The Minor in Finance is proving to be an unexpectedly natural complement. Understanding financial markets isn't entirely separate from technology — fintech, algorithmic trading, and data analysis are increasingly where the two worlds meet, and I'm enjoying sitting at that intersection.
Getting Involved: Societies and Community
University isn't just about lectures. One of the best decisions I made early on was joining the UNSW Artificial Intelligence Society as a Subcommittee Member in the Events Portfolio. Being part of organising and attending AI-focused events has introduced me to students and industry professionals I wouldn't otherwise have encountered.
I'm also an active member of:
- Computer Science Engineering Society (CSESOC) — a massive community of CS students and one of UNSW's most active societies
- Security Society — focused on CTF competitions, guest speakers, and practical security skills
These aren't just resume line items. The people I've met through these societies have already influenced how I think about problems and what I want to build next.
Balancing Study and Work
Alongside my degree, I've continued working as a Technician at Lanrex — deploying and managing enterprise IT infrastructure for clients. It's been genuinely valuable to have a job that directly reinforces what I'm studying. When a lecture covers network architecture, I'm also configuring networks in practice. When we discuss remote device management, I'm doing exactly that with N-able at work.
This kind of parallel application is something I'd encourage any CS student to seek out. There's a meaningful difference between understanding a concept and having deployed it under real constraints with real consequences.
What's Next
Semester one has been a foundation-building exercise. Semester two promises deeper dives into cyber security, more complex programming challenges, and more opportunities to contribute to the societies I've joined.
I'm also continuing to develop personal projects alongside my studies — from financial dashboard tools to IoT experiments — because building things is still the best way I know how to learn.
If you're considering a CS degree and wondering whether to pair it with a security or finance focus, my honest answer is: both have been worth it so far. The combination opens doors that either alone wouldn't.