1. Find your classroom before you find yourself panicking

UTS is easy to love, but not always easy to navigate. Between Building 2, Building 5, Building 7, Building 11 and all the hidden rooms in between, getting lost in week 1 is basically part of the student experience😵‍💫.

Quokka tip:
Check your room number before leaving home, then give yourself extra time to find the building and level.

CityQuokka will be sharing more UTS-friendly guides soon, from campus routes to nearby spots around Ultimo.

2. Build your campus coffee routine early

A good coffee or matcha spot can genuinely save your week 1 energy. Whether you need a drink before an early class, a quick reset between lectures, or something sweet after a long tutorial, having a go-to café near campus makes uni life easier☕️.

Quokka tip:
Find someone in your course who wants to explore local coffee or matcha spots with you. Pick a regular time each week, like after a tutorial, and try some new places around campus-Ultimo, Haymarket, Darling Square, Chinatown and Central Park.

You can also check CityQuokka’s Matcha series and café content for ideas around UTS.

3. Know your cheap eats before you get hungry

Week 1 is the best time to find your emergency food spots🍴. When you only have 30 minutes between classes, you do not want to spend 20 of them deciding where to eat.

Quokka tip:
Save a few go-to food spots on Google Maps: one quick lunch, one cheap dinner and one snack stop. Good areas to explore include Haymarket, Chinatown, Broadway, Darling Square and Ultimo. Future hungry-you will be grateful.

Our UTS Cheap Eats series is made for exactly this.

4. Find your study spot before assessment season hits

Do not wait until week 6 to find out where you actually study best📚. Week 1 is the perfect time to test different study spots before campus gets too intense.

Quokka tip:
Try a few options around UTS Library, Building 2, Alumni Green, Central Park, Darling Square or nearby cafés. Once you find your spot, protect it like it is part of your timetable.

Or try our study break ideas, campus corners and nearby places where you can reset when the library starts feeling too much.

5. Use your break between classes properly

If you have one hour between classes, do not spend the whole time stress-scrolling. Use it to reset. A short break can make campus life feel a lot less overwhelming.

Quokka tip:

You can walk along The Goods Line, grab something in Darling Square, sit at Central Park, explore Haymarket, or find a quick snack near campus. Sometimes a 30-minute break is enough to make you feel human again🚶.

We are here to help students discover small, realistic plans around UTS — quick food stops, short walks, chill spots and places you can actually fit between classes.

6. Do not panic if week 1 already feels messy

Nobody has their whole semester figured out in week 1. Read your subject outlines, check your assignment dates, join your tutorials, and start small📋.

Quokka tip:
You do not need to become an academic weapon overnight. Just know where your classes are, where your food is coming from, and where to go when you need a break.

We are here for the realistic side of student life: cheap eats, coffee runs, hidden local spots, things to do after class and small ways to enjoy Sydney while studying here.

7. Make one small plan after class

Uni is not just lectures and assignments. Week 1 is also a good time to explore what is around you👀.

You do not need to plan something big. You just need one small reason to not go straight home every day.

Quokka tip:
Pick one day this week to do something small after class, like dinner with a classmate, a café stop or a walk to Darling Harbour.

Our Add This To Your List and What’s On guides are made to help students discover Sydney without spending hours searching.

CityQuokka’s Week 1 Reminder

Surviving your first week at UTS is not about doing everything perfectly. It is about finding your routine: where to eat, where to study, where to get coffee, where to take a break, and where to go when you want to enjoy the city a little.

CityQuokka is here to help you explore UTS, Ultimo and Sydney one study break at a time.

Welcome back to campus — you’ve got this🤗.