University of Sydney: Admission, Costs and the Real Bar for 2027 Entry

If you apply from abroad for 2027 entry, you apply directly to the University of Sydney, and international applicants who apply to study onshore pay an application processing fee of A$150. The real bar is an ATAR or an equivalent qualification, not a test score.

Five facts decide most of your planning. Each one has a section further down this page.

• Route. Most international students apply directly to the University of Sydney. UAC is only for students currently taking an Australian Year 12 qualification in or outside Australia or an International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma in Australia.
• Timing. Semester 2 (August) closes on 29 May of the starting year. Semester 1 (February) closes on 1 December of the year before it starts.
• Tests. The University accepts the SAT as a composite score out of 1600 and the ACT composite for US qualifications. Both are a route in for US diploma holders, not a general requirement.
• The bar. Admission is based on a combination of ATAR or equivalent, plus additional admission criteria.
• Cost. The Guide lists 2027 indicative Year 1 tuition, calculated on 48 credit points per year, and subject to annual increases.

Three rules that catch international applicants out

First, many degrees start in February only. The 2027 Admission Guide marks each degree with a key: Feb = February (Semester 1), Aug = August (Semester 2). A degree marked Feb has no August start.

Second, the closing date is not a promise. The University tells applicants to apply early as applications may close once capacity is reached. Applications generally open two years before the semester.

Third, the University of Sydney accepts only the TOEFL Australia version of TOEFL iBT. The TOEFL Home Edition is not accepted.

An offer is not the finish line

The University of Sydney applies the Genuine Student (GS) requirement set by the Australian Government, and international students may be asked to complete an additional GS assessment.

After an offer, you accept your offer by the deadline and pay your first semester fees in Sydney Student. That first payment acts as a deposit to secure your place.

The student visa needs the confirmation of enrolment. The University says 2-10 working days can pass between payment and the eCoE, and advises applying six to eight weeks before the start date.

The University of Sydney reports 79th in the ShanghaiRanking ARWU 2026, and we could not check it against the publisher. Rankings weigh research, reputation and teaching differently.

The ShanghaiRanking position is quoted from the University's own rankings page, so confirm it on the publisher's site before you rely on it.

The table below lists each edition with its position.

Subject rankings

Subject tables say more about your degree than the overall rank.

• Sports-related subjects: 3rd in the world (QS 2026).

Sustainability and employability

The University reports that it is 15th globally for sustainability in the QS sustainability rankings, 2026 edition. This is a separate table from overall university rankings.

For graduate employability, the University cites the Times Higher Education Global Employability University Ranking 2026: 58th globally for graduate employability. Treat it as one signal among several, because an employability table measures a different thing from the overall tables above.

What the reputation rests on

The University of Sydney describes itself as Australia's first university and says it has been challenging traditions for 175 years. It reports 70,000+ students, 450+ courses across 10 areas of study and 150+ research centres.

These are the University's own figures, and the page gives no date for them, so treat them as approximate and check the current figure before you quote it.

The University of Sydney is also a member of the Group of Eight (Go8) Credit Transfer Agreement, under which Go8 universities facilitate the transfer of credit earned at their institutions.

The University of Sydney does not publish an acceptance rate, an admit rate, or the number of applications and offers, for international applicants or overall. Any percentage you see online has no official Sydney source. What the University does publish is the entry bar for each degree. The 2027 Admission Guide lists 75 for B Arts and 99.95 for B Arts and D Medicine.

The University of Sydney states its size, 70,000+ students, but gives no international share on its official pages. Without applications and offers there is no honest way to turn the size of the student body into a chance of admission, so this page does not try.

What Sydney publishes instead

For domestic applicants, each course page shows a selection rank. The University defines it as ATAR + adjustment factors and says it indicates the entry requirement based on the previous year’s intake. It is a guide that moves with demand, and it is for domestic undergraduate students. You should not use it as your own bar.

For international applicants, the 2027 Admission Guide has its own column. The University notes that the scores published are indicative only, because admission is based on a combination of ATAR or equivalent, plus additional admission criteria. A score at the listed level is a gate, not a guarantee.

B Arts alone is 75. B Arts and D Medicine sits at 99.95. B Commerce and B Laws is 96.

Where competition is sharpest

Some degrees carry a second hurdle. The Guide marks courses with a triangle for admission criteria such as auditions and/or interviews. They include B Visual Arts, the B Music degrees, the B Education degrees, the Sciences Po dual degrees, B Arts and D Medicine, B Science and D Medicine, and B Veterinary Biology and D Veterinary Medicine.

The Dalyell Scholars programme invites students who achieve an ATAR of 98 or above. The University of Sydney does not list per-course capacity for international applicants. Its only warning is to apply early as applications may close once capacity is reached.

Most international students apply directly to the University of Sydney. For undergraduates the closing dates are 1 December of the year prior to commencement for Semester 1 and 29 May of the commencing year for Semester 2.

For domestic applicants, most Semester 1 offers are made in December Round 2.

The University of Sydney selects international undergraduates on a recognised secondary qualification, a course entry score, English, and the Australian Government's Genuine Student requirement. For a few programs it adds a form, an interview or a portfolio. The University lists no essays, references or extracurriculars as general criteria.

The 2027 Admission Guide notes that scores published are indicative only.

Two further gates apply to everyone. The Genuine Student (GS) requirement set by the Australian Government sits next to the University's own entry rules. English test scores must be no more than two years old when the course starts.

Additional criteria for some courses

Some programs may also require additional documents such as a supplementary form, personal statement or portfolio. The course page lists exactly what you need. The Sciences Po dual degrees add a panel interview, held online if you are invited.

Mathematics prerequisite and assumed knowledge

The mathematics prerequisite threshold for the NSW HSC is Band 4 in Mathematics Advanced (or equivalent). For the IB undertaken in Australia, it is SL 5 or HL 4 in the listed mathematics subjects.

For other international qualifications the University is explicit: the mathematics prerequisite does not apply. Assumed knowledge is a different thing. The course tables name subjects from the NSW Higher School Certificate (HSC) curriculum, so read them as a guide to the level of preparation you need.

Most adjustment schemes are therefore closed to you. The Future Leaders Scheme is the exception, and it is only for students already at school in Australia.

Offers, deferral and transfer

A conditional offer means you will be eligible to receive an unconditional/firm offer if you meet the conditions set out in it. Most applicants apply with school results still to come, so expect conditions.

You can usually defer your offer for up to one year. Student visa holders may defer only for compassionate or compelling circumstances. The B Arts Sciences Po dual degree, the B Applied Science health degrees such as Occupational Therapy, and B Veterinary Biology with D Veterinary Medicine cannot be deferred.

To transfer from another university, your results count only after at least one year of full-time university study. The veterinary degrees are stricter: no offers will be made from Year 3 onwards. The pages we checked do not state a general reapplication rule for international applicants.

The SAT and ACT are a recognised route for applicants who finish a US high school qualification, with the SAT scored out of 1600. If you hold a different qualification, you apply with that qualification and its International ATAR equivalent, not with an SAT or ACT score.

The University says your SAT examination or ACT is recognised with completion of a secondary or high school qualification. A test score alone is never enough. The 2027 Admission Guide states that evidence of graduation from a secondary education qualification is also required.

The Guide's entry scores are ATAR equivalents, and its SAT and ACT columns convert those scores for US applicants. Domestic students with another recognised qualification cannot apply with the SAT or ACT.

SAT and ACT scores

The Guide refers to Advanced Placement exams with a score of 3 or better. The AP aggregate counts a minimum of three and a maximum of four AP exams.

The mathematics prerequisite does not apply to international applicants with a different qualification.

Auditions, interviews and portfolios

The Guide marks some degrees with a triangle for auditions and/or interviews. B Music degrees such as B Music (Music Education) carry it, and the Sydney Conservatorium of Music tells applicants to Register to audition for 2027. The Sciences Po dual degrees include a panel interview, online if you are invited.

B Arts and D Medicine and B Science and D Medicine also carry the triangle, which means additional admission criteria. The University pages we could read do not say whether that is an interview, an aptitude test or something else. Check the course page before you plan.

CASAS, the Conservatorium audition scheme, is closed to international applicants: International students are not eligible for CASAS.

Sending your scores

The University of Sydney does not publish an institution code, instructions for sending SAT, ACT or AP reports, or a superscoring policy on the pages we checked. Do not assume that score choice or superscoring works. Ask the University through the application portal before you pay for score reports.

The 2027 Admission Guide for international students converts the IB Diploma, GCE A Levels and national diplomas into the same entry scale: an IB total of 29 matches an International ATAR of 80 for B Architecture and Environments, and 41 matches 98 for the Dalyell Scholars engineering degree.

These pairs are the entry level for each degree, not the level of admitted students. Treat them as a gate and check the degree's own page for extra criteria.

For GCE A Levels, admission is based on results in up to four Advanced Level subjects.

National qualifications the Guide scores

The Guide scores many national diplomas with its own formula. Some examples for 2027 entry:

• China Gaokao is a percentage of the provincial maximum, which is 750 in most provinces. The Guide's worked example is 70% = 525 for Beijing.
• India CBSE sums five grade values: A1=4, A2=3.5, B1=3, B2=2.5 and lower grades below that.
• Singapore A Levels score H2 subjects A=120, B=100, C=80, D=60, E=40, with half the value for H1 subjects.
• South Korea CSAT uses four standard scores. The Korean Senior High School Diploma on its own is not assessable.

Other recognised qualifications, including the European Baccalaureate, the Matura and the Irish Leaving Certificate, appear on the University's recognised-qualifications list. The Guide also scores the French Baccalaureate, the German Abitur and the Vietnamese certificate. If your country is on neither list, ask the University before you apply.

Australian Year 12 and the IB in Australia

If you are currently studying an Australian Year 12 qualification, in or outside Australia, or the IB Diploma in Australia, you apply through UAC and follow its key dates. The mathematics prerequisite also applies. It asks for Band 4 in Mathematics Advanced or equivalent, and it covers the IB Diploma or GCE A Levels undertaken in Australia. Mathematics Standard (or equivalent) does not meet the minimum requirement.

If the diploma is not accepted or the score falls short

The University of Sydney Foundation Program is delivered at Taylors College on behalf of the University of Sydney. For USFP grades, the Guide notes that a GPA of 8 may be considered equivalent to 80%.

A packaged offer lets you combine a preparation program and the degree: it allows students to obtain one student visa to cover both. International articulation pathways, such as Singapore polytechnic diplomas with admission and credit guides, can also shorten the degree.

The standard English requirement at the University of Sydney is IELTS Academic 6.5 overall, no band below 6.0, and many degrees ask for more. The test must be no more than two years old on the day the course starts.

The 2027 Admission Guide lists the English requirement per degree and notes that the score listed within brackets is the minimum score in each section. A requirement of IELTS 7.0 (6.0) therefore means 7.0 overall with no section below 6.0. Where an accreditation body sets a different level, the higher requirement will apply.

Other accepted tests

For TOEFL iBT, only the TOEFL Australia version is accepted. Check the English requirements for your degree before booking a test.

Degrees with an external accreditation body can set a different English level, and then the higher requirement will apply. Check your degree before you book a test.

Tests that are not accepted

• TOEFL iBT is accepted only in the Australia version, reported on a 0-120 scale. The TOEFL Home Edition is not accepted.
• IELTS Online is not accepted.
• Non-academic IELTS, PTE and LanguageCert tests are not accepted.
• Any test result more than two years old at the start of your course does not count.

Exemptions

You can be exempt from a test in three main cases, and each has a clock. If English is your first language, you need citizenship or permanent long-term residency (minimum 10 years) and completed study in a listed English-speaking country. If you studied in English, the secondary or tertiary study must fall within five years of course start.

The third case is a specified English or humanities subject in a listed qualification, such as the Abitur, an IB Diploma not taken in English, the Norwegian Vitnemal and the Dutch VWO. For this route there is a two-year time limit from the qualification to your course start.

If you fall short

The Centre for English Teaching runs a Direct Entry Course. You are eligible with a conditional offer of admission to the University and an international English test result, or equivalent. Courses run for 36, 25, 15, 10 or 5 teaching weeks, with 20 hours of classes per week.

A packaged offer lets you study the course and the degree on one visa: it allows students to obtain one student visa to cover studies at both the University of Sydney and the English or foundation program. Separately, the Department of Home Affairs may set separate English requirements that may apply to your student visa application.

The University of Sydney has two undergraduate intakes: Semester 1 in February and Semester 2 in August. For international applicants, Semester 2 closes on 29 May of the commencing year and Semester 1 closes on 1 December of the year prior to commencement. For autumn 2027 that means the August 2027 intake, or the February 2028 intake if your degree has no August start.

Do not plan flights around a guessed start date. Check the start date for your course before booking.

A closing date can arrive early. The University warns you to apply early as applications may close once capacity is reached.

If you want a February 2027 start instead, the same rule (1 December of the year prior to commencement) puts the Semester 1 closing date at 1 December 2026, or earlier if the course reaches capacity. That route is realistic only if your school results and English test are already complete, and this report treats autumn 2027 as the August 2027 intake.

Which degrees start in August

The 2027 Admission Guide uses a key: Feb = February (Semester 1), Aug = August (Semester 2). Most arts, science, commerce, engineering and law degrees admit in both semesters. The health, medicine and veterinary degrees start in February only.

Portfolio admission is a further limit: successful portfolios will be considered for Semester 1 entry only.

A mid-year start after school

The University does not describe the first-year sequence for an August start on the pages we checked, and it does not say which courses are harder to start mid-year. Ask the faculty before you choose August for a degree with a fixed sequence.

What the University does say: you may be able to defer your offer for up to one year, depending on your course. International students are asked to arrive in time for orientation and arrival sessions.

To enter the University of Sydney in August 2027 you apply directly to the University by 29 May 2027, and for February 2028 by 1 December 2027. After the offer you accept it in Sydney Student, pay, wait for your confirmation of enrolment and then apply for the student visa.

The University advises applicants to apply six to eight weeks before the start date at the latest. That is a minimum for processing and the visa, not a target. The University does not publish 2027 or 2028 semester start dates or orientation dates on the pages we checked.

Where to apply

Most international students apply directly to the University of Sydney. The page lists an application processing fee of A$150 for international applicants who apply to study onshore. Domestic students go through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC), and so do international students currently taking an Australian Year 12 qualification (for example, the NSW Higher School Certificate) in or outside Australia, or the IB Diploma in Australia.

The Sciences Po dual degrees are the exception inside the exception: you need to apply directly to the University of Sydney, even if you are applying through UAC for your other preferences.

Documents

• Academic certificates and transcripts. Where your school issues digital credentials, they can come through My eQuals, MyCreds, Parchment and National Student Clearinghouse.
• Proof of English. The standard is IELTS overall score of 6.5 with no band below 6.0, and faculties may ask for more.
• A passport or other proof of identity.
• Translations of any document not in English by a government-accredited translator such as NAATI.
• A supplementary form, personal statement or portfolio, where your program asks for one.

The University may also assess you against the Genuine Student (GS) requirement during the application. Treat it as part of the file, not as a formality at the visa stage.

Special routes

The Dalyell Scholars programme invites students who achieve an ATAR of 98 or above. The Sciences Po dual degrees add a panel interview for international applicants. The Conservatorium early offer scheme is closed to you: International students are not eligible for CASAS. The pages we checked do not describe an audition procedure for international Conservatorium applicants, so ask the Conservatorium directly.

If you have earlier study, your eligibility will be assessed by the faculty once you apply for credit. The combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies degrees will be discontinued for new admissions from 2027, so do not plan around them.

Younger applicants have their own rules. The University says We will not enrol international students under 16 years of age at their course commencement date under any circumstances. For students who travel without a parent, the route is Unaccompanied: the University accepts responsibility for welfare and accommodation.

The University of Sydney offers courses across 10 areas of study, and the degrees international applicants ask about most are three or four years long, or five years when combined with Laws, with 2027 indicative Year 1 tuition from A$55,100 for B Arts to A$63,600 for B Science.

The University describes 450+ courses across 10 areas of study. It publishes no separate count of undergraduate courses. What it does state is the flexible structure inside them.

How undergraduate study is organised

Most bachelor's degrees let you add a major and a minor. A minor is 36 credit points (usually 6 units of study, one in each semester), as the University describes a three-year B Arts. Students on listed degrees can choose from over 100 majors and minors from a shared pool across the University.

The combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies degrees will be discontinued for new admissions from 2027. If you read older guides that mention them, ignore that part for 2027 entry.

The ATAR column is an entry level, not the level of admitted students. B Arts at 75 and B Science at 80 sit low, while B Advanced Computing and B Science (Advanced) both ask for 90.

Business, economics and law

B Commerce runs 3 years with an International ATAR of 96. B Economics asks for 85, and B Politics, Philosophy and Economics for 87 with a February start only. The combined Law degrees take 5 years: B Arts and B Laws is at 95.5 and B Commerce and B Laws at 96.

If you already hold a degree, law at Sydney is a different course, because the LLB is for those commencing law studies from high school and the JD is for those who already have a bachelor's degree. The course resolutions say the Juris Doctor requires a bachelor's degree from any discipline other than Law, and the Law School's JD page describes it as a pathway into the profession for graduates from non-law degrees or for those with law degrees from overseas. Applicants are assessed on a combination of a secondary school leaving qualification and completed tertiary study, and applicants are ranked by merit. The JD course resolutions and the Law School's JD page, as of October 2026, name no admission test such as the LSAT.

Engineering, science and computing

B Engineering Honours is a 4-year degree at 85, with the Dalyell Scholars version much higher. B Advanced Computing is also 4 years. B Psychology sits at 80, the same as B Architecture and Environments at 80, which starts in February only.

B Music at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music costs A$52,800 in Year 1 at an ATAR-type score of 70, and the University calls it a place to join one of Australia's leading music institutions.

Combined degrees, exchange and industry projects

The Sciences Po dual degrees (B Arts and B Economics) require a total of four years of study for two awards.

Undergraduates can go on exchange anytime from Semester 2 in your first year, provided they have a weighted average mark of at least 50 and have completed at least 24 credit points at Sydney. For work experience, the University invites you to Explore internships and real-world projects and lists 85+ industry, government and community partners.

Campuses

The University of Sydney's official pages we checked name the Darlington Campus and the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, but they do not say which faculty teaches where or list the other sites. Check the course page for the location of your degree.

The Dalyell Scholars stream invites students who reach an ATAR of 98 or the equivalent in their qualification, and the Sciences Po dual degrees (B Arts and B Economics) split four years between France and Sydney. Both are selective and both come with rules that a standard Sydney degree does not have.

Dalyell Scholars

You are invited to become a Dalyell Scholar if you achieve an ATAR of 98 or above, apply for and are offered a place in an eligible degree. With a non-ATAR qualification, you are invited if you achieve the equivalent in your qualification. Some students may be invited to join after your first year of study.

The benefits are academic. You complete distinctive Dalyell units of study with other high achievers. A Global Mobility Scholarship is valued at up to $3000.

The Guide says the stream is open to you as Dalyell by invitation. The Sciences Po dual degree in B Arts is also an eligible Dalyell degree: B Arts (Dual Degree: Sciences Po, France).

B Engineering Honours (Dalyell Scholars)

The Guide lists B Engineering Honours (Dalyell Scholars) separately, with an International ATAR of 98.

The degree runs 4 years.

Sciences Po dual degrees

Selection includes attending a panel interview. You must apply directly to the University of Sydney, even if you apply through UAC for other preferences.

The Sydney IELTS minimum for B Arts (Dual Degree: Sciences Po, France) is 6.5 (6.0). Its International ATAR is 80.

Who these streams suit

The University does not say who these streams suit, so this part is our reading of the facts above. Dalyell engineering suits a student who expects a top-end result and wants the enrichment units. The Sciences Po route suits a student who wants to study in France and Sydney and is prepared for the panel interview.

International applicants reach medicine at the University of Sydney through B Arts and D Medicine, a 7-year pathway with a February start and an International ATAR of 99.95 for 2027 entry. The matching IB Diploma score is 45.

These are the entry levels listed in the 2027 Admission Guide, not the level of admitted students. The Guide adds that admission is based on a combination of ATAR or equivalent, plus additional admission criteria. It does not name the criteria. The pages we could read do not say whether the University uses an interview or an aptitude test, and they do not state a number of international places.

English requirement

The IELTS Academic requirement is 7.0 (7.0). The Guide's legend explains the notation: first score = overall; bracketed score = minimum in each section. In practice, no section may be below 7.0. The same degree lists TOEFL iBT 96.

Fees for the double degrees

Medicine double degrees carry two tuition fee rates (undergraduate and postgraduate), subject to annual review. The University states that tuition will increase each year of your study. The pages do not say anything about internships for international medical graduates.

Veterinary medicine and dental medicine

B Veterinary Biology and D Veterinary Medicine takes 6 years, starts in February, and has an International ATAR of 94.

B Science and D Dental Medicine does not appear in the 2027 Admission Guide that we read. The only dental figures are in the older 2026 Guide, so we do not quote them. The University also says that Doctor of Medicine and Doctor of Dental Medicine have differing closing dates. Check the course page before you plan a dental application.

Graduate-entry medicine and the alternatives

The graduate-entry Doctor of Medicine is a different route. International applicants need a GPA of 5 out of 7 and must submit GAMSAT or MCAT results, with a minimum score of 50 in each section of the GAMSAT or a minimum score of 500 in the MCAT.

For many students the health degrees above are the realistic path. They start in February only.

The University of Sydney does not publish graduate employment or salary figures for international graduates on the pages we could read. What it does publish is a Times Higher Education employability ranking and a description of its careers support.

This chapter gives no graduate employment rate or salary.

Employability ranking

The University cites the Times Higher Education Global Employability University Ranking 2026, where it is first in NSW and 58th globally for graduate employability. An employability ranking is not outcomes data, so use it as one signal and not as a promise of a job.

Careers support and industry links

The University describes its industry projects as for undergraduates to work on real-world projects with an organisation, and invites students to Explore internships and real-world projects.

The University names employers where its students have worked, including Adobe, Airbus, City of Sydney, Deloitte, Facebook, Google, Greenpeace, Microsoft, Qantas and Singapore Airlines. That list shows where students have worked. It does not show how many graduates are hired by each employer.

The alumni network reaches across over 170 countries.

Working in Australia after graduation

While you study, the student visa limits work to working no more than 40 hours per fortnight during any study period. The post-study Temporary Graduate visa is the usual route to work after the degree. The official page we could read gave no eligibility, duration or work rights, so check the Department of Home Affairs before you rely on it. The visa chapter of this report covers the student visa and the University's own pointer, How to obtain an Australian visa with study rights.

Indicative Year 1 tuition for 2027 entry is A$51,700 for B Nursing (Advanced Studies), A$63,600 for B Engineering Honours (Civil Engineering), and A$69,200 for B Applied Science (Physiotherapy). These are indicative Year 1 figures and the University reviews them every year.

The figures are based on 48 credit points per year, a full-time load. The University states that all fees are subject to annual reviews and indexation, and that the increase will take place at the start of each calendar year. Budget for a higher figure in every year after the first.

B Music costs A$52,800 in indicative Year 1 tuition for 2027 entry. Medicine double degrees use two tuition fee rates and are covered in the medicine chapter.

Other fees

When you apply, international applicants who apply to study onshore pay an application processing fee of A$150.

When you accept your offer, the first payment acts as a deposit to secure your place at the University and covers your first semester's tuition fees. The exact amount is in your letter of offer. You can have the University arrange Overseas Student Health Cover by paying upfront when you accept your offer. A student visa requires OSHC for the duration of your stay in Australia.

The University also lists the Student Services and Amenities Fee as a cost. The pages we checked show no amount for OSHC or for this fee, so take both from your offer documents. Domestic students pay a different price, because most domestic undergraduate students are eligible for CSP, a Commonwealth supported place. That price does not apply to you.

Living costs and a first-year budget

The University of Sydney publishes no living-cost estimate and no financial capacity amount on the pages we could read. The Department of Home Affairs sets the financial capacity amount for the student visa, so take that figure from the Home Affairs site on the day you apply. The student visa also limits work to working no more than 40 hours per fortnight during any study period, so do not plan on paying your rent from a part-time job.

Without an official living-cost figure, a first-year budget in this report would be a guess, and we do not publish guesses. Use the table above for tuition, add the OSHC and living-cost figures from the sources named here, and convert to your own currency on the day you pay.

The main scholarship for international undergraduates at the University of Sydney is the Sydney International Student Award, a University contribution of 20 percent of their tuition fee for the duration of their course, for students from eligible countries who start in 2027. Poland is on the list.

Sydney International Student Award

The Award is applicable to new commencements in 2027. You need admission into a full-time undergraduate or postgraduate coursework degree commencing in 2027. You apply with a personal statement that should not exceed 200 words for each section.

Eligibility depends on citizenship. The countries are Africa, South & Central America, Central Asia, Eastern Europe as well as Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam, and Poland is listed under Eastern Europe. Proof of residency is required, and you must not be an Australian or New Zealand citizen or an Australian permanent resident.

The Award does not arrive as cash. No payment will be made directly to the student; the Award is applied to your tuition fee in your admissions offer letter. To keep it, you must have no outstanding fees.

It does not apply to every program. The exclusions are MBA, EMBA, Study Abroad or Executive Education programs, courses offered in distance mode and the Law Dual Degree pathway program.

Other scholarships

Check the scholarship search page for each scheme’s eligibility, application process and deadline.

One named scholarship does belong to international students who qualify for the Dalyell Scholars stream. The Dalyell Global Mobility Scholarship is valued at up to $3000, and it is a benefit of the stream for students with an ATAR of 98 or above (or equivalent).

Need-based aid

We found no need-based aid for international undergraduates on the University's pages. The need-based schemes that appear are for domestic students only: MySydney requires you to be a domestic student, and the Educational Access Scheme requires you to be a domestic applicant. Plan on funding your tuition from family resources, the Award, a merit scholarship or an external scheme.

External funding

Australia Awards come from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the University says: We support around 200 Australia Award recipients each year. They are offered by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) to students from partner countries. Students from the United States, Canada, Sweden, Norway or Denmark may be eligible for education loan schemes from their home country.

On the total, the University's own pages disagree. The international scholarships page says over $135 million in scholarships awarded each year, while the scholarships index says $84+ million available in scholarships each year. Both figures cover all students, not only international ones, so they say little about your own chances.

The University of Sydney offers student accommodation both on and off campus, including residential colleges, but the pages we could read give no list of residences, no prices, no deadlines and no promise of a guaranteed room for international first-years. Check the University's accommodation page before you pay your deposit.

The University says it offers a range of student accommodation services, both on and off campus, including residential colleges and help with finding a place to live. Its study pages describe the section as Affordable accommodation in an inclusive and supportive environment. That is a description, not a price, so do not budget from it.

First-year accommodation

We found no official statement on whether international first-year students are guaranteed a room, no list of the residential colleges and University-owned residences, no application deadlines and no weekly prices for the latest year. Because places and deadlines can matter before your visa is processed, ask the accommodation office as soon as you hold an offer.

Students under 18

If you will be younger than 18 on arrival, the Department of Home Affairs wants evidence of welfare arrangements. The University will not enrol anyone under 16 at course commencement.

On the unaccompanied route, the University issues a CAAW together with your eCoE. You must live with an approved provider: the University will not approve arrangements with any other service providers or arrangements with family members. You are required to reside at the address of their approved accommodation provider at all times, and you cannot move in more than 14 days before the course begins.

Later years and private renting

The University of Sydney's pages that we could read say nothing about renting privately, temporary accommodation on arrival or how to avoid rental scams. Do not pay a deposit for a flat you have not seen, and use the University's accommodation office as your first check on any offer.

The University of Sydney describes student life as a chance to make friends, try new things, develop hobbies, gain leadership skills and have fun, but its official pages say little about specific clubs or traditions. This chapter sticks to what the University states and says plainly where it is silent.

Bank Building, University of Sydney

The University says that University life isn't just about the classes and that it is a chance to make lifelong friends. It also states: Our campus is part of Sydney's history, culture and daily life.

Clubs, sport and traditions

The pages we could read do not describe the University of Sydney Union clubs and societies, do not give a count of clubs, and do not mention the historic Quadrangle. They do say that Sydney Uni Sport & Fitness provides academic advice and advocacy to student athletes who balance study and sport. Welcome Week appears only in a domestic scholarship context, as the week before Semester 1 starts.

The MySydney scheme requires you to be a domestic student.

The campus and the city

The University's address is City Road, University of Sydney NSW 2006. The Centre for English Teaching sits at the Darlington Campus, in the Wentworth Building. The University also refers to its Sydney city campuses. It does not describe the cost or the experience of living in Sydney on the pages we read.

Support for international students

After the visa, the enrolment sequence tells you to arrive in time for orientation and arrival sessions. The pages give no dates for them. You must also notify the University of your address within seven days of arriving.

On work rights, the student visa allows no more than 40 hours per fortnight during any study period. Postgraduate research visa holders are exempt, but undergraduates are not.

Younger students who arrive without a parent have their own rules. For the unaccompanied route, the University says it accepts responsibility for welfare and accommodation, and you cannot start living in the arrangement more than 14 days before the course begins.

You apply for the Australian student visa as soon as you receive your electronic confirmation of enrolment from the University of Sydney, and the University advises applying six to eight weeks before the start date. The Department of Home Affairs sets the fee, the financial capacity amount and the processing times, and the pages we could read do not state them.

What the visa requires

Three requirements come from the visa rules. First, a valid Australian student visa requires health insurance coverage. You can have the University arrange this on your behalf by paying upfront when you accept your offer, or arrange it yourself.

Second, you must meet the Genuine Student (GS) requirement set by the Australian Government, alongside the University's entry rules. Third, the study load: if you plan to study part time, by distance or overseas, you are not eligible for an Australian student visa. The visa also expects maintaining a full-time study load.

English counts twice. The University's standard is IELTS overall score of 6.5 with no band below 6.0, and tests must be no more than two years old at the date of course commencement. The visa may add separate English requirements.

Work rights and staying on after the degree

The University summarises the work limit as working no more than 40 hours per fortnight during any study period, with postgraduate research visa holders exempt. That figure is the University's summary, not a statement from Home Affairs, so confirm it on the Home Affairs site. The Temporary Graduate visa is the usual route to work after the degree. We could not read its length, age limit or English requirement, so those details are not given here.

Packaged offers and younger students

A packaged offer with the University of Sydney Foundation Program or the Centre for English Teaching allows students to obtain one student visa for both studies. For students arriving without a parent, the University issues a Confirmation of Appropriate Accommodation and Welfare (CAAW) with the eCoE once you pay the minimum fee required for tuition. Its care lasts up to your 18th birthday.

The University of Sydney suits international applicants who want a broad degree with room to change direction, can meet the International ATAR for their course, and can fund their course’s tuition. It suits you less if you need need-based aid, because we found none for international undergraduates.

Who Sydney suits

• Students who want breadth. Many bachelor's degrees draw on a shared pool of 100+ majors and minors.
• Students who finish school mid-year. Many degrees admit in August as well: the Guide uses the key Aug = August (Semester 2), though some degrees, including medicine, start in February only.
• High achievers. The Dalyell Scholars stream is for students with an ATAR of 98 or above (or equivalent).
• Students from eligible countries. The Sydney International Student Award gives 20 percent of tuition, and you must hold citizenship of one of the countries listed as eligible. It applies to new commencements in 2027.

Who Sydney does not suit

Sydney is a hard fit if you need need-based aid, because the only schemes of that kind are for domestic students: the Educational Access Scheme requires you to be a domestic applicant. It is also a hard fit for medicine, where B Arts and D Medicine asks for an International ATAR of 99.95. The University does not publish an acceptance rate, so no number can tell you your chances.

Comparing Sydney with UNSW, Melbourne and ANU

Compare each university’s course requirements, fees and available intakes before choosing. The Sydney figures are in the degrees, intakes and cost chapters.

Next steps with dates

If you want the Award, write the personal statement early: it should not exceed 200 words for each of these sections. Applications generally open two years before the semester, and the University advises applying six to eight weeks before the start date at the latest.

Official pages of University of Sydney, UCAS, gov.uk and the ranking publishers. Applicant reports, where shown, are self-reported and labelled.

About us - The University of Sydney · Application and semester dates - The University of Sydney · Continue your application - The University of Sydney · 2027 Admission Guide · English language requirements - The University of Sydney · International student tuition fees - The University of Sydney · How to apply as an international student - The University of Sydney · Apply for a visa - The University of Sydney · Accepting your offer - The University of Sydney · Our world university rankings - The University of Sydney · About us - The University of Sydney · Employability and careers - The University of Sydney · One of Australia’s top universities - The University of Sydney · Transferring students - The University of Sydney · Selection rank - The University of Sydney · Dalyell Scholars - The University of Sydney · How to apply for undergraduate courses - The University of Sydney · Mathematics course prerequisites - The University of Sydney · Future Leaders Scheme - The University of Sydney · Academic Excellence Scheme - The University of Sydney · Educational Access Scheme - The University of Sydney · Elite Athletes and Performers Scheme - The University of Sydney · MySydney Entry and Scholarship Scheme - The University of Sydney · Regional and Remote Entry Scheme - The University of Sydney · Creative Arts Special Admission Scheme - The University of Sydney · Defer your offer - The University of Sydney · Recognised qualifications - The University of Sydney · Undergraduate courses - The University of Sydney · Preparation programs - The University of Sydney · English language concordance table (July 2026) · Centre for English Teaching - The University of Sydney · Direct Entry Course - The University of Sydney · Portfolio admissions pathway - The University of Sydney · Recognition of prior learning - The University of Sydney · International articulation pathways - The University of Sydney · Under-18 International Student Visa holders - The University of Sydney · Majors and minors - The University of Sydney · Undergraduate courses - The University of Sydney · Juris Doctor - Sydney Law School · Juris Doctor course resolutions - The University of Sydney Handbooks · Student exchange - The University of Sydney · https://www.sydney.edu.au/content/dam/corporate/documents/faculty-of-medicine-and-health/md-dmd/md-international-admissions-guide.pdf · Domestic student tuition fees - The University of Sydney · Sydney International Student Award · International student scholarships · Scholarships · Student support - The University of Sydney · Study with us - The University of Sydney · Study with us - The University of Sydney · Student life - The University of Sydney

Photos: Anderson Stuart Building Sydney Uni: photo Sumple, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons · Bank Building, University of Sydney: photo russkophile, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons