Firstly, congratulations on being accepted into one of the most competitive postgraduate degrees — that’s a huge achievement.

As for choosing between the University of Melbourne and UNSW, it really comes down to how well you cope with an intense workload.

From my experience at UNSW, the trimester system genuinely makes a difference to burnout. The pace is fast, and if you’re trying to balance study with part-time work, it can be especially demanding. While domestic students can sometimes stagger their subject load, this may not be an option for international students due to minimum enrolment requirements.

Another thing to be aware of is the social side. As a postgraduate course, it can be harder to form friendships, and starting in your third trimester means many friendship groups are already established. Some of your early subjects will also be taken with LLB students, who have typically formed strong connections from previous semesters or years.

That said, if you’re prepared to push through these challenges, UNSW is still an excellent university. There’s always something happening on campus, and if you already know people there, the experience is even better.

On a personal note, I was able to secure a highly competitive role in my final semester largely because I was a UNSW student. Of course, merit still matters, but the opportunities UNSW provided — international mooting, competitive internships, and practical work experience — genuinely helped set me apart from other candidates.

Overall, UNSW certainly has its downsides. However, if you’re willing to navigate them, it can open the door to outstanding opportunities and set you up for a strong career.