UNSW Sydney (the University of New South Wales) is Australia’s highest-ranked university: in the QS World University Rankings 2027, published in June 2026, it was 19th in the world and first in Australia for the first time. Its main campus is in Kensington, close to Sydney’s beaches and city centre. It’s known for engineering, computer science, business, law, medicine and the sciences, and it has one of the largest international student communities in Australia.
Admission to most UNSW bachelor’s degrees is based mainly on your academic results, but the timing is very different from universities in the northern hemisphere. Here are 10 things you can do to give yourself the best chance, based on UNSW’s own guidance and official Australian government information.
1. Choose your degree and check its entry score
UNSW offers more than 400 single and double degrees, including Engineering (Honours), Computer Science, Commerce, Law, Science and Medical Studies/Doctor of Medicine. Each degree publishes the results it expects from your school qualification, for example as an International ATAR equivalent or an A level score. Competitive degrees ask for much more than the minimum: in 2026, the lowest selection rank for the Bachelor of Commerce was 97.0 and for Computer Science 93.0.
2. Know which way to apply
Most international students apply directly through the UNSW Applicant Portal, either by themselves or through an approved agent. If you’re currently studying for an Australian Year 12, an International Baccalaureate Diploma or New Zealand NCEA Level 3, you apply through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) instead. UNSW: how to apply as an international student.
3. Apply months ahead for the right offer round
UNSW’s main intake is Term 1, which starts in February. For Term 1 2027, offers to applicants from most countries were made in rounds, and the last undergraduate round closed for completed applications on 24 September 2026, though UNSW may release more offers if places remain. Applicants from the countries that are eligible for UNSW’s International Student Award get offers weekly. If you’re planning for 2028, aim to apply by the middle of 2027, and make sure your application is complete, because incomplete applications wait. UNSW international admissions and offer rounds.
4. Focus on your grades and prerequisites
Your school results decide most offers, so keep them as high as possible through your final year. Some degrees also have assumed knowledge or prerequisites, such as mathematics for Engineering, Computer Science and Commerce. If your results aren’t high enough for direct entry, UNSW College’s Foundation Studies programme is an alternative route into many degrees.
5. Check whether you get extra points
Applicants with a passport from one of the eligible countries are automatically included in UNSW’s International Admissions Diversity Pathway, which adds 5 points to your International ATAR when UNSW assesses your undergraduate application (except for Medicine). You need a minimum score equivalent to an International ATAR of 75. There’s nothing to apply for, but check UNSW’s list of eligible countries.
6. Meet the English requirement
Many UNSW degrees, including Engineering, ask for IELTS Academic of 6.5 overall with at least 6.0 in each band, but some ask for more: Business and most Law degrees ask for 7.0 overall (with at least 6.0 in each band), and Education asks for 7.5. UNSW accepts IELTS One Skill Retake, but not IELTS Online, and your test must be no more than two years old when you start. You can also meet the requirement with TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic or other tests. Practise with our free IELTS and TOEFL practice tests. UNSW English language requirements.
7. Apply for scholarships early
UNSW’s International Scientia Coursework Scholarship can cover your full tuition fees, or pay A$20,000 a year towards them, for the minimum length of your degree. For Term 1 2027, applications close on 30 October 2026, and you must already have an offer by then. You’ll be assessed on leadership, extracurricular activities and your reasons for choosing UNSW, with evidence. If you’re from an eligible country, the International Student Award gives you 20% off your tuition fees for your whole degree when you start in 2026 or 2027, and it only needs a short personal statement. Write it carefully, and see our 50 sample SOPs for ideas. UNSW scholarships for Term 1 2027.
8. Understand the fees
International tuition at UNSW depends on the courses you take. For students starting in 2026, UNSW’s indicative first-year fees were about A$56,500 for Commerce, A$61,000 for Computer Science and A$61,500 for Engineering (Honours), and fees usually rise each year. Sydney is one of Australia’s most expensive cities, so budget carefully for rent. UNSW international tuition fees.
9. Accept your offer and apply for your visa
To accept a full offer, you pay your deposit in the UNSW Applicant Portal, and UNSW then sends you an electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCoE). If you’re not an Australian or New Zealand citizen or an Australian permanent resident, you’ll usually need a Student visa (subclass 500). Since 1 July 2026, the visa application charge for most applicants has been A$2,500. You must meet the Genuine Student requirement, have Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for your stay, and show that you can pay your travel, tuition and living costs, including at least A$29,710 a year for living costs. Since 2 October 2026, most new Student visa applicants can no longer include family members, with exemptions for doctoral students, nationals of Pacific and ASEAN countries and some government-sponsored students. Rules change often, so check the Department of Home Affairs for the latest advice.
10. Plan for work during and after your studies
While your course is in session, you can usually work up to 48 hours a fortnight, with no limit during scheduled course breaks, and research master’s and PhD students have no limit once their course has started. After you graduate, you may be eligible for a Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) in the Post-Higher Education Work stream, which usually lets you stay and work for two to three years, depending on your qualification, if you’re 35 or under when you apply. Its application charge rose to A$5,750 on 1 July 2026. Sydney is Australia’s biggest job market, and many UNSW degrees include industry experience.
Applying for a master’s or PhD at UNSW?
Postgraduate coursework degrees have their own offer rounds, and the International Scientia Coursework Scholarship is open to master’s applicants too. For a research degree, such as a PhD, you’ll usually need to find a supervisor first, and UNSW’s Scientia PhD Scholarships fund selected research projects. See our sample SOPs and free GRE practice tests.
Be ambitious, but apply to a balanced list
UNSW’s top degrees are very competitive, so apply to other options too. Read our guides to the University of Melbourne, the University of Sydney, the Australian National University and Monash University. Our guide to studying in Australia explains how the Australian system works, and our free study abroad assessment can help you build a shortlist.
Information was taken from UNSW Sydney’s official admissions, English language, fees and scholarship pages, official Australian government sources and the QS World University Rankings 2027, and checked in October 2026. Admissions rules, deadlines, fees and immigration rules can change, so always confirm the details on UNSW’s admissions website before you apply. StudyAbroadMarket is not affiliated with UNSW Sydney.