By Amanda Maslin, 24 February, 2026
Pursuing a tech degree isn’t always a straight path. Life commitments, distance, work, or the fear of starting something new can make study feel out of reach. Yet for many students, the barriers that once held them back became the very reasons they pushed forward.
If you’re thinking about studying IT or games, it’s worth asking: What’s the barrier in your way? And how could it become the thing that drives you?
Barrier: Maintaining Income While You Upskill
Solution: Flexible Part‑Time Study
Are you worried you've been in the workforce too long, or that they can’t afford to stop working to study? Part-time study can open the door to a career pivot without sacrificing financial stability.
From executive chef to games graduate
Before studying at QUT, Jamie Renfrey was working full-time as an executive chef. Changing careers felt daunting, but passion won out.
Jamie completed his Bachelor of Games and Interactive Environments part-time, balancing demanding work hours with assessments, group projects, and mentoring opportunities.
“After 6 years of part-time study, I cannot express how proud I am of myself for reaching the end. Navigating life and work commitments created struggles, but I made it through.”
Along the way, Jamie showcased his games at events, represented QUT at events like Supanova and Open Day, and mentored peers across multiple semesters. His journey proves that it’s never too late to pivot, and that part-time study can make it possible.
Barrier: Limited study options in regional areas
Solution: Maximise online opportunities
Distance doesn’t have to stop you from studying IT. QUT’s online study options allow you to learn from wherever you live, fitting classes around work, family and life. You can attend lectures from home, self-pace your study, and stay connected to your cohort without needing to move.
Turning distance into community
Scott May knows exactly what it’s like to study remotely. Living regionally while balancing online IT study and parenthood, Scott could have easily felt disconnected. Instead, he transformed that barrier into a powerful motivator.
Scott created a dedicated Discord server to help regional and on-campus students connect, collaborate, and support each other. What began as a small group in 2023 has now grown into a thriving community of more than 350 IT students.
“Being a regional student, I knew how important it was to feel connected. Creating a space where we could all help each other has been incredibly rewarding.”
Scott’s commitment to his peers, and his exceptional academic achievement, maintaining a 7.0 GPA, earned him the 2025 ACS Award at the QUT IT and Games Showcase.
Sometimes, distance gives you the drive to build something bigger than yourself.
Barrier: Family and career responsibilities
Solution: Flexibility in your degree
Life doesn’t pause when you start studying. For students juggling work, family, and caregiving responsibilities, flexibility is essential.
Balancing work, family and career ambition
After working at Deloitte for several years, Michelle Brikc decided to study a Master of Artificial Intelligence because she could see how rapidly AI was reshaping every sector.
As a full‑time Senior Consultant in Deloitte’s AI & Data Practice — and a mother — Michelle needed a study experience that could adapt to her work and family commitments. Flexibility became the key that made further study possible.
‘QUT has supported me by offering the flexibility I needed to balance full-time work, family commitments, and postgraduate study,’ Michelle said. ‘Being able to attend night classes meant I could stay engaged with the coursework without stepping back from my current role in industry or the responsibilities of home life. The teaching staff have also been incredibly understanding of the realities faced by working professionals, which made the whole experience both manageable and genuinely rewarding.’
Barrier: Feeling isolated or needing support
Solution: Build your community and get involved
Feeling alone in your study journey is more common than you think — especially for online students, mature-aged learners, or anyone starting fresh in a new field. But one of the biggest strengths of studying IT or games at QUT is the community you step into.
‘The cohort is incredibly supportive, and the group work creates a real sense of 'we’re in this together,’ said Michelle. ‘Leaning on each other and being someone others can lean on becomes one of the most rewarding parts of the degree. That sense of community is what carries you through and makes the journey genuinely meaningful.’
Whether you’re studying online or on campus, there are countless ways to connect with peers, build your network, and feel part of something bigger.
Join student clubs and communities
QUT has a vibrant ecosystem of tech focused clubs where you can meet people, build skills, and collaborate on projects. Some fantastic tech clubs at QUT are:
- QUT BANDS: Business Analysis and Data Science Club
- Emerging Coders Club
- QUT AI & ML Society
- Women in Tech (WIT)
- QUT Game Development Club
These clubs run in-person and online workshops, social events, industry nights, coding sessions, and mentoring opportunities, all designed to help you build confidence and connection.
