Student Profile: Joel Chan Ee Chin, 20

BEng Mechanical Engineering, University of New South Wales, First year

Pre-u course AUSMAT at KBU International College

The most important thing I learned from my pre-u course was that passion is the key to liking what you do.

Choosing my pre-u course

The main reason I chose AUSMAT was to further my studies in Australia; as a sponsored student, we are told what pre-u course to enrol in. However, if I were to choose a pre-u course, my main consideration would be the career or interest that I will be pursuing, and this should be weighed against the financial aspect.

The subjects I took

English as a Second Language/Dialect(EALD); physics; calculus, applicable mathematics;  chemistry.

The best and worst bits

The best part was the learning process. For example, we had to work in a group to produce a short documentary for our EALD assignment. The topic that we chose was tattoos and the production process was an enjoyable experience.

I do think AUSMAT can be a challenging programme, but it will definitely help students in university later.

The most challenging aspect of my course

In my opinion, the most challenging part of this course is to maintain a good track record. Throughout the course, there’ll be assignments and assessments that will be counted in your final marks. It won’t add up if you choose to revise or study at the last minute before the exam. If you understand the things you learn along the way, it won’t be too hard to be consistent.

My course of study now

I am currently pursing a degree in engineering. The things we are learning now in first year are pretty much the same things we saw in pre-u. The only difference is that they are more detailed and new materials are presented at a much faster rate. AUSMAT did help to expose me to how assignments are run and gave me a sneak preview of university.

Extra-curricular activities

I enjoy hanging out with friends in shopping malls or catching movies. I also enjoy sports like cycling and badminton which help me to clear my mind. I also join a Christian group meeting on Friday nights.

I used to think that extra-curricular activities were a waste of time but in fact, they actually help us increase our productivity.

Career aspirations

After completing my studies, I need to work for my sponsor as part of my contract. Apart from that, I have a deep interest in physics. If I ever get a chance, I would love to go into this field and explore the things that interest me the most. As always, passion will be the motivation behind the things that I will do in the future.