Help on International Studies/Law at UNSW (1 Viewer)

[simonloo]

Ok, here is a little problem that I’d like to hear some thoughts on.
Prior to receiving my UAI, I had my mind set on an International Studies/Law course at UNSW.

I had researched a bit on international studies at UNSW, and found that one of the ‘specialization areas’ was ‘International Business’, taught by the UNSW Business Faculty. I thought this was the perfect choice for me, something that would allow me to study financial markets without having to go through the painful accounting/quantitative methods of a commerce degree (I did not do any maths in my HSC hence you can tell I have quite an aversion towards maths, nor would I like to do a bridging course).

Of course, I also researched a bit into International Studies at USYD, and found out that for 2009, they have completely revamped the course. The UAC booklet did not tell me much, and I was hesitant about doing a course that was essentially ‘new’. I am also unsure whether or not USYD international studies offers a major study of ‘international business’. That said however, USYD arts being the 5th best in the world is no mean feat.

To add to my dilemma, I was notified by USYD that I had received an Entry Scholarship ($6000 for one year) if I studied there. Combined with this, people were telling me that USYD law was still the best in Australia, telling me about its ‘prestige’ plus its new law building for 2009. However, I am quite attracted to UNSW’s ‘smaller level teaching’ as opposed to the one at USYD and the Good Universities Guide 2009 did rate UNSW Law above all the other Group of 8 universities, with UNSW law graduates having the highest starting salary.

Travel wise, both are quite similar and is not a huge problem for me.

Therefore I would be grateful if any of you people studying at either UNSW or USYD’s International Studies, could be able to tell me any experiences or recommendations of studying such a subject at these two universities,

• Especially if USYD offers an equivalent to the ‘International Business’ UNSW has.
• Which uni has a better law program when paired with international studies
• What the first years study at international studies at UNSW and USYD. (I know the USYD International studies students study ‘Power and Money in Global Society’, ‘Perspectives on the Global’, ‘Current Global Issues’ and ‘Global Culture and Society’ and choose electives in Asian studies, American studies, political economy, sociology, etc), what do the UNSW kids study first year?
• Lastly, are there any major differences between the two degrees?

Thanks!

 

[Sound&Fury]

I did International Studies/Law at UNSW for one semester before I transferred internally to Arts/Law, so I might be of some help. You shouldn't completely trust what I say though, since I didn't do the International Business plan, I don't know much about USyd's International Studies degree, and I don't know much about economics/finance/etc in general.

I had researched a bit on international studies at UNSW, and found that one of the ‘specialization areas’ was ‘International Business’, taught by the UNSW Business Faculty. I thought this was the perfect choice for me, something that would allow me to study financial markets without having to go through the painful accounting/quantitative methods of a commerce degree

International Business is probably not what you're after. From what I can gather in the Handbook, International Business seems to be about how to run firms in an international context, rather than finance. There might be a bit of finance in there, but the IBUSA courses don't look as though they'll be anywhere near as intensive as what you'll study in a proper finance stream. As you probably know, it's not possible to study Finance courses at UNSW with a Law program unless you choose Commerce/Law.

I am also unsure whether or not USYD international studies offers a major study of ‘international business’.

USyd's Faculty of Arts tends to offer more inter-faculty choices in their degree programs than UNSW's. Hence, even if they won't let you study International Business or Finance as a part of an International Studies degree, I suspect that you will be able to study it as a part of an Arts/Law degree. It's a good idea to contact USyd and find out - are you intending to go to their open day?

To add to my dilemma, I was notified by USYD that I had received an Entry Scholarship ($6000 for one year) if I studied there. Combined with this, people were telling me that USYD law was still the best in Australia, telling me about its ‘prestige’ plus its new law building for 2009.

From what I've read on these forums, employers consider USyd and UNSW law degrees to be equal. Given the scholarship, I'd lean towards USyd.

• Which uni has a better law program when paired with international studies

Hard to say, since the first year law student (it'll be my second year next year) only goes through an introductory legal course and Torts, neither being particularly relevant to International Studies. There probably won't be much difference anyhow, since all law faculties are supposed to teach the same fundamental content. Perhaps UNSW has a slight edge, since their law faculty offers more electives - there might be a greater number of electives that are relevant to your non-law courses.

What the first years study at international studies at UNSW and USYD.

The first-year plan at UNSW works like this:

• One course in Law per semester
• One course in International Relations per semester
• One course in a language of your choice per semester
• One course in the specialisation of your choice per semester (this will be International Business for you, should you choose it)

Hope I helped!

 

[Gerald10]

Do many people combine the international studies and law degrees?

I got 98.7 and am looking at UNSW but won't get straight into law. I'm tossing up between International studies and arts for first year. Why did you change to arts? Is it more flexible, easier, not as time consuming?

 

[Sound&Fury]

Do many people combine the international studies and law degrees?

Yes, quite a few. Judging from the number of people I know doing it, it appears to be the most popular degree combination after Commerce/Law at UNSW Law. Commerce/Law is the most popular combination by a significant margin though.

I got 98.7 and am looking at UNSW but won't get straight into law. I'm tossing up between International studies and arts for first year. Why did you change to arts? Is it more flexible, easier, not as time consuming?

Unless you're sure that you want to go on an overseas exchange, but unsure whether you'll get the marks to do so (highly unlikely), I would pick Arts because of its flexibility. International Studies is basically a restricted Arts degree with a fancy name (which employers don't care about) and a guaranteed exchange place. Virtually anything in an International Studies program can be studied in an Arts program, plus a whole lot more. I transferred to take advantage of this - I found that I didn't like any of the InSt courses, so I decided to do a History major instead.

From memory, the only International Studies courses that can't be studied in an Arts degree are the International Business ones, but it is possible to study them through a Social Science/Law degree. Social Science shares some courses with Arts, but also has its own unique courses.

One more thing though - UNSW's Arts faculty has been hit very hard by funding cuts and a subsequent reduction of courses (they've cut the number of courses available across the Arts degree from about 800 to about 300 for 2009 entrants, I believe). If you want to study the arts and humanities, I would give USyd a strong thought. They've been traditionally strong in that area anyway.

 

[ecstasylove]

I had researched a bit on international studies at UNSW, and found that one of the ‘specialization areas’ was ‘International Business’, taught by the UNSW Business Faculty. I thought this was the perfect choice for me, something that would allow me to study financial markets without having to go through the painful accounting/quantitative methods of a commerce degree (I did not do any maths in my HSC hence you can tell I have quite an aversion towards maths, nor would I like to do a bridging course).

I do International Studies at UNSW and major in International Business - it's not finance at all, although you can choose to fill your gen eds with finance subjects. It's more the management of global corporations than anything. In my experience, it's more of a Commerce/Arts degree without accounting, macro etc. with the focus on Management.

Of course, I also researched a bit into International Studies at USYD, and found out that for 2009, they have completely revamped the course. The UAC booklet did not tell me much, and I was hesitant about doing a course that was essentially ‘new’. I am also unsure whether or not USYD international studies offers a major study of ‘international business’. That said however, USYD arts being the 5th best in the world is no mean feat.

I do believe that in 2009 USYD is scrapping International Studies and replacing it with Global and International Studies - basically means that you are now free to major in anything you want. The old course forced you to major in limited areas such as Government, Political Science, etc. Also, with USYD you are not forced into a year abroad - instead you are able to choose between a year on exchange or an internship!

To add to my dilemma, I was notified by USYD that I had received an Entry Scholarship ($6000 for one year) if I studied there. Combined with this, people were telling me that USYD law was still the best in Australia, telling me about its ‘prestige’ plus its new law building for 2009. However, I am quite attracted to UNSW’s ‘smaller level teaching’ as opposed to the one at USYD and the Good Universities Guide 2009 did rate UNSW Law above all the other Group of 8 universities, with UNSW law graduates having the highest starting salary.

Hmm, UNSW's law building is quite new as well and funnily law does not appear to have any tutes. There just seems to be 2 - 3 lectures per week that you attend.

What the first years study at international studies at UNSW and USYD. (I know the USYD International studies students study ‘Power and Money in Global Society’, ‘Perspectives on the Global’, ‘Current Global Issues’ and ‘Global Culture and Society’ and choose electives in Asian studies, American studies, political economy, sociology, etc), what do the UNSW kids study first year?

First year IntSt kids who major in International Business at UNSW will typically study 'International Relations in the 20th Century', 'International Relations: Continuity & Change', 'Global Business Environment', 'Fundementals of Management' + 1 language class per semester + 1 elective/gen ed per semester.

Lastly, are there any major differences between the two degrees?

Hmm, I'd be inclined to say yes. I find that UNSW focuses alot more on politics and history than straight theory, while my friends at USYD who do IntSt say their course focuses alot on theory (boringggg).



I hope that helped you out a bit and I hope to see you at UNSW!

 

[Sound&Fury]

I do International Studies at UNSW and major in International Business - it's not finance at all, although you can choose to fill your gen eds with finance subjects.

Law students don't do Gen Eds though. It might be possible if you convince the faculty office, but I'm not certain on this.

Hmm, UNSW's law building is quite new as well and funnily law does not appear to have any tutes. There just seems to be 2 - 3 lectures per week that you attend.

Correct. UNSW Law uses small group interactive teaching, which basically means that almost all Law classes are composed entirely of seminars. Participation in these seminars is very much encouraged by the faculty - up to 20% of your final mark can be determined by class participation.

 

[simonloo]

Ah thank you ectasylove for that post. Yes, since that post a while back I've done more reserach/attended info days and yes, I do think Intl' Studies/Law at UNSW will still be a very worthwhile degree.

BTW- could you offer any advice regarding as to whether to choose
either International relations in the 20th Century or International relations: copntinuity and Change?

 

[jakree_golf]

I think you're gonna have to do both anyway; you do Int Rel in the 20th Century during your first semester and then you do the Continuity and Change one in the second sem. The former focuses mainly on the whole historical stuff happening in the 20th century eg. WW1, WW2, Cold War, Decolonisation etc (as the name of the course suggests) while the latter puts an emphasis on theories of International Relations as a academic field. Topics covered include, for example, Realism, Liberalism, Marxism, Contructivism, Femenism, and the list goes kinda endless.

Please dont quote me though cuz Im doing an Arts degree (combined with B Econ) though Im majoring in Politics and Int Relations which basically offers pretty much the same thing as B Int St does.

hope this helped

 

[simonloo]

Thanks for the info jakree, would u recommend buying book for them 2?

 

[ecstasylove]

If you like to read then buy both. International Relations in the 20th Century had the biggest textbook with the smallest font. It got a bit boring after awhile because it's more straight history than anything. BUT if you're interested in that kinda thing you should totally get them, but wait until you start uni! Heaps of kids sell 'em for a lot less than RRP

I buy every single book on the booklist required for my subjects because I'd hate to be without if I end up needing them for finals, general reference or whatnot.

 

[tymask]

hi there .. im hartono from indonesia.. and im gonna take the 2009 found at UNSW.. and im gonna choose int, business for further study... need a guidiance... tx