The University of Sydney, founded in 1850, is Australia’s oldest university. In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published in June 2026, it was 28th in the world and third in Australia. Its main campus, in Camperdown and Darlington close to the city centre, is famous for its sandstone Quadrangle, and the University is known for medicine, law, business, engineering, architecture, veterinary science and the arts.
Admission to most of Sydney’s bachelor’s degrees is based mainly on your academic results, and many international students are also considered automatically for its large scholarships. Here are 10 things you can do to give yourself the best chance, based on the University of Sydney’s own guidance and official Australian government information.
1. Choose your degree carefully
Sydney offers a wide range of bachelor’s degrees, including many combined (double) degrees, such as Engineering (Honours) and Laws. Some degrees, such as the Bachelor of Arts and Doctor of Medicine or the dual degree with Sciences Po in France, have their own selection processes and fees. Check the entry requirements and any extra criteria on your course page.
2. Apply directly by 1 December
Most international students apply directly to the University of Sydney through its online application, either by themselves or through an agent. For Semester 1, which starts in late February, applications close on 1 December of the year before, so for 2027 entry the deadline is 1 December 2026. For Semester 2, which starts in August, the deadline is 29 May. If you’re studying for an Australian Year 12 (such as the NSW HSC) or an IB Diploma in Australia, you apply through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) instead. Apply early, because applications may close once courses are full. Sydney application dates.
3. Meet the entry score and prerequisites
Each degree publishes the results it expects from your qualification, such as an ATAR, IB score or A level grades, and popular degrees ask for much more than the minimum. Some degrees also have a mathematics prerequisite. For example, if you apply with an Australian Year 12 or with an IB Diploma or A levels taken in Australia and you don’t meet it, you may have to take a mathematics course in your first year. Keep your grades strong through your final year, because offers can be conditional on your final results.
4. Meet the English requirement
The University of Sydney’s standard requirement is IELTS Academic of 6.5 overall with no band below 6.0, but some faculties and courses ask for more. It doesn’t accept IELTS Online or TOEFL Home Edition, and your test must be no more than two years old when your course starts. You may also meet the requirement through English or humanities subjects in some school qualifications. Practise with our free IELTS and TOEFL practice tests. Sydney English language requirements.
5. Get an unconditional offer in time for the VCIS rounds
The Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarships Scheme offers awards of A$5,000 to A$60,000 to high-achieving international students. You don’t need to apply: you’re automatically considered if you have an unconditional offer by the closing date of a round. For Semester 1 2027, the rounds close on 17 August, 5 October and 16 November 2026, with an extra round for IB graduates after results are released in December. So send all your documents early and meet any offer conditions as soon as you can. Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarships Scheme.
6. Check whether you’re eligible for the Sydney International Student Award
If you’re a citizen of an eligible country, including many countries in Africa, South and Central America, Central Asia and Eastern Europe, as well as India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam and others, the Sydney International Student Award takes 20% off your tuition fees for the length of your degree. It’s for new students starting in 2027, and you’ll be prompted to apply for it in your application. If you also receive a VCIS, it’s limited to A$40,000. Sydney International Student Award.
7. Understand the fees
For 2027 entry, the University’s guide to full-time undergraduate fees is about A$51,700–59,100 a year for arts and social sciences, A$59,100–63,600 for business and A$63,600 for engineering and computer science. Fees usually rise each year, and they don’t include health cover or living costs. Sydney is one of Australia’s most expensive cities, so budget carefully for rent. Sydney international tuition fees.
8. Accept your offer and pay your first semester’s fees
To accept your offer, you pay your first semester’s tuition fees by the deadline, and the University then sends you your electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCoE). You also need Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), which the University can arrange for you when you accept, or you can buy it yourself from an approved provider.
9. Apply for your Student visa
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 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, so there are plenty of opportunities for internships and graduate jobs.
Applying for a master’s or PhD at Sydney?
For postgraduate coursework, applications for Semester 1 usually close on 31 January of the year you start, and the VCIS is open to master’s applicants too. Some courses, such as the Doctor of Medicine, have different dates. For a research degree, such as a PhD, you can apply at any time of year, but you’ll usually need to find a supervisor first and check the separate scholarship deadlines. See our 50 sample SOPs and free GRE practice tests.
Be ambitious, but apply to a balanced list
Sydney’s popular degrees are competitive, so apply to other options too. Read our guides to UNSW Sydney, the University of Melbourne, 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 the University of 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 the University of Sydney’s website before you apply. StudyAbroadMarket is not affiliated with the University of Sydney.