Bachelor of Sustainable Environments and Planning**

What initially helped with my decision to study at Bond was that I would be part of the first courses in Australia to study sustainability as a degree. Studying in a sustainable education centre also intrigued me. Additionally, I liked that Bond offered a diversity that other universities did not. Having met so many international students, and networking with a diverse range of students in class also helped me develop a better understanding of what I wanted to do after university. Having met so many people from different walks of life helped open my eyes to different possibilities. Show more

What initially helped with my decision to study at Bond was that I would be part of the first courses in Australia to study sustainability as a degree. Studying in a sustainable education centre also intrigued me. Additionally, I liked that Bond offered a diversity that other universities did not. Having met so many international students, and networking with a diverse range of students in class also helped me develop a better understanding of what I wanted to do after university. Having met so many people from different walks of life helped open my eyes to different possibilities.

The curriculum at Bond helped build a foundation for the work that I’m doing now. I understood how budgets worked, the background to how we estimate a project and how to schedule a project. The lecturers made the effort to help facilitate me in any work I was doing. I had lecturers review drafts of assignments and I had classmates that I did study sessions with.

I currently work as a client representative at CBRE in New York as a Cost Consultant (Quantity Surveyor/Client Representative) regarding finances on construction projects. My main responsibilities are managing the finances of a construction project from inception to close out. I work closely with the Project Manager, design team and client on choosing the correct team for the job, I work on budgets and estimates to determine if the project can be completed within budget. During construction, I work closely with the General Contractor to manage all the finances coming in and out of the project.

The Bond experience was unlike any other university. It felt like a community being at Bond. We had social activities, groups and there were so many areas at Bond where friends would gather together and hang out. There was always somebody around to do something with. At Bond, it is really easy to find your community and it essentially feels like a home away from home, especially those of us who were from interstate or different countries. The main differences I noticed at Bond were: smaller class sizes, being able to finish my degree in two years, and the networking opportunities through Bond’s push to have internships during study.

I secured a placement through as student in my class. He was doing a Masters whilst working full time at Johnstaff (a managing consulting firm). I went for an interview, met the Director of Johnstaff at a Bond networking event, and was offered a placement shortly after. As an intern, I was essentially working as a Graduate Project Manager. I was assisting/shadowing the Project Manager in day to day activities, and learning more about what it meant to be in the role. I also learnt about the business as a whole. It was the best possible scenario as it helped me understand the intricacies not only of the Project Manager role, but how a business operates. I was offered a full-time position at Johnstaff after graduation!

I would definitely recommend studying at Bond. Having lecturers and so many resources available to you makes a huge difference in your university experience. There were so many industry connections and studying with people who were coming from such diverse backgrounds helped you double your resources. Through internships, you are able to have a more hands-on experience and it helps you understand what your future industry entails. The social aspect of studying at Bond is also very enticing. Your network expands overnight and no matter where you are in the world you’ll gave a fellow Bondie to help connect you with the right people in your industry. Show less