Your Australian Adventure starts here
Welcome to UNSW Sydney! We are an internationally acclaimed teaching and research powerhouse, offering study abroad and exchange students a learning experience packed with academic programs, student activities and educational services. The University combines academics recognised as world-leaders in their fields, with modern facilities, rigorous education standards and a diverse community.
Well located within one of the top global cities, UNSW Sydney offers students the best of both worlds — world-class beaches and stunning parklands within a vibrant, cosmopolitan harbour-side city. Ideally positioned as the gateway to the Asia Pacific, Sydney is home to more global firms than any other Australian city, fostering an energetic business community and numerous opportunities for students’ academic and professional development.
There are multiple ways to experience all that UNSW has to offer through the Study Abroad, Exchange, and Research Practicum programs. For more information see our 2019 Study Abroad Guide.
The modern UNSW campus will be your home away from home during your studies abroad. With a range of housing options, eateries, a grocery store, athletic facilities, easy public transit access, and a lively student community, the UNSW campus in the Sydney neighbourhood of Kensington is a great place to live and study.
- Take the 360° campus tour and experience UNSW firsthand!
- Learn more about life at UNSW.
In 2019, UNSW Sydney transitions to a new academic calendar titled UNSW3+. Comprised of three terms plus a January term, UNSW3+ is designed to better align with our global partners, eliminating overlap with the Northern Hemisphere summer and creating new opportunities for career and internship-minded students.
Multiple study options are available under UNSW3+ to accommodate diverse student needs including
Term 1 (February-May)
You enrol in a full load of 3 courses (18 UOC)
Tailored Term 1 (January-May)
You enrol in 4 courses (24 UOC), taking one course in January followed by a full academic load of 3 courses in Term 1
Term 3 (September-December)
You enrol in a full load of 3 courses (18 UOC)
Tailored Term 3 (August-December)
You enrol in 4 courses (24 UOC), taking one course in August followed by a full academic load of 3 courses in Term 3
Term 1 (Full Year)
You can elect to study for a full academic year at UNSW and enrol in 8 courses (48 UOC) either spread over Term 1 + Term 2 + Term 3 OR Tailored Term 1 + Tailored Term 3
Term 3 (Full Year)
You can choose to study for a full academic year at UNSW and enrol in 8 courses (48 UOC) either spread over Term 3 + Term 1 + Term 2 OR Tailored Term 3 + Tailored Term 1
| 2019 | No of courses | Units of credit | ECTS | Orientation | Start | End |
| Tailored Term 1 | 4 | 24 | 30 | 7 Jan | 7 Jan | 19 May |
| Term 1 | 3 | 18 | 22.5 | 14 Feb | 18 Feb | 19 May |
| Term 1 (Full Year) | 8 | 48 | 60 | 14 Feb | 18 Feb | 15 Dec |
| Tailored Term 3 | 4 | 24 | 30 | 15 Aug | 19 Aug | 15 Dec |
| Term 3 | 3 | 18 | 22.5 | 12 Sep | 16 Sep | 15 Dec |
| Term 3 (Full Year) | 8 | 48 | 60 | 12 Sep | 16 Sep | 30 Aug 2020 |
For a list of key UNSW dates see the UNSW Academic Calendar: student.unsw.edu.au/calendar/exchange/inbound
As one of Australia’s top, comprehensive universities, UNSW offers a width breadth of courses for study abroad and exchange students across eight faculties:
- Art & Design
- Arts & Social Sciences
- Built Environment
- Business
- Engineering
- Law
- Science
- Medicine (students cannot enrol in clinical Medicine courses)
For a full listing of the UNSW courses on offer, please visit the UNSW Student Handbook.
For a listing of the January and August courses on offer, please see the UNSW Tailored Terms booklet.
Spotlight on Australian Studies Courses
While studying in Sydney, why not take the opportunity to learn more about the people, history, and landscape that make up this unique country.
- ATSI1012: Aboriginal Sydney
- ARTS1190: Sydney, History, Landscapes, People
- ATSI1011: Indigenous Australia
- BEES6601: Introduction to Sydney Environment
- GENL0251: Managers, Media, Players and Spectators
- MSCI0501: The Marine Environment
Experience the Great Barrier Reef for Course Credit
Aviation and Sustainable Tourism (AVIA3900/SCIF3900) is a unique course designed to provide students with a field-led development of skills in assessing the physical, social, and economic sustainability of societal decisions in the context of the Great Barrier Reef marine park. The course includes a field excursion to Lady Elliott Island prior to the start of Term 1. Additional travel costs will apply. This course is only available in January.
The UNSW Study Abroad and Exchange team hosts a compulsory orientation for all students before the start of term, which we hope is lots of fun. We recommend that you plan to arrive in Sydney a few days prior to the compulsory Orientation to settle in, finalise your enrolment and secure accommodation.
Study Abroad
Our Study Abroad Program offers a wide-range of academic courses as well as unique study opportunities to further enrich your cultural experience in Australia. You can start your studies in the Great Barrier Reef, do an internship or join an exciting research team.
Study Abroad at UNSW Sydney is a separate mobility stream from the Exchange program and does not require students to come from a partner institution. Students enrol directly at UNSW and tuition fees are paid directly to the UNSW, either by you or your home institution.
Students currently enrolled in an Undergraduate or Postgraduate Program
Students currently enrolled in a tertiary institution can apply for one, two or three terms with the UNSW Study Abroad program. Applications will be assessed according to the following eligibility requirements:
- GPA: 3.0 or equivalent
- English: Students must meet UNSW’s established English Language Requirements.
Gap year students
Students who have completed high school or secondary level are eligible to enrol with UNSW Study Abroad for a gap terms or gap year in Australia. Students would be eligible to enrol in entry level classes, similar to any UNSW first year student. Gap year student applications will be assessed according to the following eligibility requirements:
- GPA: 3.0 or equivalent
- English: Students must meet UNSW’s established English Language Requirements.
Interested in gaining hands-on laboratory experience and broadening your academic network? Consider enrolling in 6UOC of research while studying abroad. Students will work directly with an academic in their area of study. Interested students should contact the Study Abroad team for further information on creating an application for academic supervision.
Students enrolled in the Study Abroad program can apply for an internship in the media or in a business workplace for two full days per week. Assessment will be based on workplace performance, journal submissions, a final research project, and an exit report.
The internship will appear as a class on the official UNSW transcript. It is weighted at 6 units of credit (i.e. equivalent to one course). You can apply for the internship course once you receive your Study Abroad Offer Letter.
To apply, download the application form and submit your completed form to the Study Abroad team along with your supporting documentation. Please note that enrolment in an internship cannot be guaranteed before arrival as you must meet your supervisor in person before your placement can be confirmed.
Tuition fees for Study Abroad students are payable directly to UNSW. Students may elect to either enrol in 3 or 4 courses per term. It is important that students check with their home institution about their university’s enrolment requirements.
2019 Tuition Fees (per Term or Tailored Term)
| PROGRAM | FEE (Per term) |
FEE (Per tailored term) |
| Undergraduate program | A$9,225 | A$12,300 |
| Combined undergraduate / postgraduate program |
A$9,485 | A$12,645 |
| Postgraduate program | A$9,740 | A$12,990 |
All students are required by the Australian government to have OSHC medical insurance for the duration of their student visa with the exception of Norwegian, Swedish and Belgium passport holders. The Study Abroad team will purchase health cover on your behalf through Medibank Private.
2018 OSHC Costs
Term: A$250
Tailored Term: A$300
The UNSW Social Media Ambassador Award is open to international students completing an inbound Study Abroad program at UNSW Sydney. The award requires students to showcase what life studying, traveling and living in Sydney is really like through regular posts via their Instagram accounts.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be international students holding an offer for an inbound Study Abroad program at UNSW Sydney
- Have a public Instagram account
- Be active Instagram users and post on a regular basis
- Must not be a previous recipient of the award
Benefits
- A$1,000 discount off tuition fees for one term of an inbound Study Abroad program at UNSW Sydney
- An opportunity to improve your social media marketing skills in a professional setting
- A certificate of completion from UNSW Sydney
How to Apply
- Submit either a 30-60 second video or three collated images to your public Instagram account on the topic ‘A Day in my Home City’ during the application period. The hashtag #UNSWSMAA2019 should also be included in this post
- Request an application form from the UNSW Study Abroad Office via email at: [email protected]
- Submit your completed application form to the UNSW Study Abroad Office via email outlining your personal details and a link to their Instagram account / handle along with the date of when your entry was posted on Instagram
Application Deadlines
- Tailored Term 1 / Term 1 2019: applications are open from 1-30 November 2018
- Tailored Term 3 / Term 3 2019: applications are open from 13 June – 13 July 2019
Please contact UNSW Study Abroad with any questions [email protected]
Applications for the UNSW Study Abroad program are submitted through the Open Academies Endeavour application platform. To start your application, click here to create your profile and follow the prompts.
If your home university is a direct enrolment partner, please check with your advisor at home to see if there is an internal application you need to first complete.
Once your application is submitted, you will need to complete the following steps ahead of your arrival in Sydney:
- Receive your letter of offer from UNSW Study Abroad
- Accept the terms and conditions of your offer and, if applicable, pay your deposit and/or health cover (Overseas Health Cover) fees. UNSW Study Abroad will then send you a certificate of enrolment (CoE), the document required to apply for a study visa
- Apply for UNSW Student Housing via the Study Abroad application portal if interested in living on campus
- Apply for your student visa
- Confirm your visa and book your travel to Sydney
Contact us
UNSW Study Abroad
T: 61 2 9385 3179
E: [email protected]
Exchange
Our Exchange program offers a wide range of academic courses and study options to students from our exchange partners. As exchange is founded on the reciprocal exchange of students, you will remain enrolled at your home university, pay your home university fees and attend UNSW Sydney. In reverse, UNSW students will do the same and attend classes at our partner institutions.
If your home institution is an exchange partner with UNSW then you can study at UNSW for up to one academic year. To review a catalogue of our exchange partners please visit the UNSW Exchange Partner Database.
Exchange students must be nominated to UNSW Sydney by their home university. Please check with an advisor at your institution’s Exchange Office if you are interested in coming on exchange to UNSW Sydney.
If your home institution is not present in the exchange partner database, then please proceed to the Study Abroad program.
Students currently enrolled at one of our partner universities can apply for one, two or three terms with the UNSW Exchange program. You need to be nominated by the Exchange Office at your home university and you will be assessed according to the following eligibility requirements:
- GPA: 3.0, credit or equivalent
- English: Students must meet UNSW’s established English Language Requirements.
While most Faculties will accept suitably qualified exchange students, in some areas restrictions do apply. You can study almost any course at UNSW Sydney as long as you have the required background knowledge. Enrolment is subject to course availability and it’s important to be flexible with your course choice.
Once nominated by your home university, you will receive an email with instructions on how to apply for Exchange. Our application process is online.
As part of your application you will need to upload supporting documents including your transcript, copy of passport and proof of language ability if appropriate. You should also check the name on your application is the same as your passport.
Your application will be assessed after the application deadline and if successful you will receive your acceptance by email. You will be asked to accept your offer and purchase your Overseas Health Cover. UNSW Exchange will then send you a certificate of enrolment (CoE), the document required to apply for a study visa.
You should confirm your visa and book your travel to Sydney to arrive in time for orientation.
