Hello! I study Communications with a major in Journalism at UTS!
I actually really like the campus at UTS - in my first year I wasn't very spread out so I kind of only got to know some areas, but this year I'm more spread and I've grown to like the campus even more. There's the
alumni green at UTS which is green
I think the facilities are great - I really love my course. Communications in general has turned out to be better than I hoped, and Journalism is very challenging but I can't fault the course in many ways at all. Sometimes I'm doing an assignment like "this is hell" and then I get to the other end and I'm like wow, this is really practical and I gained a lot. I have Journalism alumni friends (some even still studying) who have permanent positions at Sydney Morning Herald, Body + Soul, Vogue Magazine, Four Corners, ABC...and then there's all the friends who don't do the kind of journalism you might initially think of, but write and research content - like for Councils, publications, magazines, PR, businesses, etc. So, the only reason I'm listing these is because when I talk to these people, they put their experience at UTS down to it - I get emails all the time from uni about internship openings, about free seminars for extra-curricular journalism, etc. In my second year, I've grown to like the course even more.
UTS is pretty much well known for communications and journalism. From my friends experience.. they prepare you for the biggest challenges, link you up with industry connections etc.. You do "pretend" news coverage for UNI and also have many many opportunities to intern and pitch your work.
Just going to jump in here and say nothing is ever pretend news coverage - everything you ever do at UTS is completely publishable either through the University news rooms or submitted to local papers, online publications, bigger newspapers, etc.
But do remember, that Journalism at UTS is just one third of your course structure. You have the option for a double major too - entering in your second year. Which is a great opportunity as well. But I point this out because it is just one third - so it won't be all you do. You do a core communications subject as well, and then an elective or stream choice (this alters slightly with a second major).
I know absolutely nothing about the UNSW course at all, I didn't even know they offered Journalism. So this review is heavily skewed towards UTS!
(Also I'm a huge fan of the practicality of the entire Uni - exchange options, internships, free assignment writing assistance and editing, etc.)
If the skyscraper situation is a deal breaker for you, I understand! It's not really bothered me ever, actually, but maybe this is because it is so easy to get to from Central - ridiculously easy. And I just have to catch one (long) train into UTS - no buses, no driving, etc.
Feel free to ask me any other specific questions you have