International Students Information
Undergraduate Information
Applicants with non-australian qualifications
If you are applying on the basis of qualifications obtained in another country, your application will be assesed for its equivalence to Australian tertiary entry standards. Applicants from non-English speaking countries must provide proof of English proficiency. See
International Undergraduate Entry Requirements for more information
Applicants without the requisite qualifications are advised to contact Taylor's College regarding the Foundation Program
For information on Course fees and entry requirements for Undergraduate Students: see the international student courses and fees table.
If you have completed an Australian year 12 qualification in Australia or in another country, or completed senior secondary studies in one of the following countries in ENGLISH, proof of English proficiency is not required: Australia, Canada, England, Fiji, Ireland, Kenya, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, USA, Wales, Western Samoa or Zambia.
All other countries MUST provide proof of English proficiency.
For English requirements(Undegraduate)
Please see the English language requirements
Exemptions
- Students who have completed one year full time at a recognised university will have the english requirements waived.
- Students without a Bachelor's Degree from an English language university, must have studied two full time years in an institution of English instruction to be exempt from the above language requirements. If they have NOT studied for two years, the above language requirements are necessary.
Postgraduate Information
Application closing dates
31 October for commencement in March semester
30 April for commencement in July semester
If you are currently in Australia, you can go directly to the International Office and lodge your application. Please check with the International Office if they will accept late applications.
International Applications
International Office
Level 4, Jane Foss Russell Building (G02)
The University of Sydney
NSW 2006, AUSTRALIA
Phone: +61 2 8627 8300
Phone within Australia: 1800 899 376 (Future students only)
Fax: +61 2 8627 8387
E-mail: info@io.usyd.edu.au
General Admission Conditions
Equivalent qualifications
A list of approved universities, institutions and qualifications has been prepared and approved by the University’s Graduate Studies Committee. An applicant holding one of these approved qualifications is eligible to be considered at the Faculty level for admission to a particular degree course. If your qualification is not included on this list, then it will be considered individually by the Faculty.
The Faculty must be satisfied that you are suitably prepared in the particular field of study in which you are applying and that you have standing equivalent to that required of a graduate of the University of Sydney. This means that where, for example, a first or second class honours degree is required of a University of Sydney graduate, a similar level of achievement will be expected of you. This may be measured by other means where appropriate, such as a grade point average or another form of grading. The International Office can advise international students about equivalent grades.
Experience or further training undertaken subsequent to a first degree may be included in any assessment of eligibility for admission.
English Language Requirements (Postgraduate)
Please see the English language requirements.
Exemptions
- Students who have completed one year full time at a recognised university will have the english requirements waived.
- Students without a Bachelor's Degree from an English language university, must have studied two full time years in an institution of English instruction to be exempt from the above language requirements. If they have NOT studied for two years, the above language requirements are necessary.
Centre for English Teaching
If you are interested in applying for a Postgraduate degree at the University of Sydney, but have not sat the IELTS or equivalent, the CET is the best english option for you. You can study in modules and sit a DIRECT ENTRY TEST (e-test) at the end of each module. If you pass the test, you can go straight into your degree. IF you do not pass, you can continue with the next module at CET. You do not have to sit the IELTS or TOEFL test. This option is only available for advanced students.
The following information will give you an estimate of how many weeks you would have to study at CET:
The Faculty of Architecture has 7.0 IELTS.
If you have 6.5 you will need 10 weeks of English. If you have 6.0 you will need 20 weeks.
If the writing band was the only one under the required score, you can attend a 5 week course called The Intensive Academic Writing
For more information go to the CET website.
Centre for English Teaching, M02
The University of Sydney
NSW 2006 Australia
Phone: +61 2 9351 0706
Fax: +61 2 9351 0710
E-mail:
Fees
The fee payment and visa process is as follows:
- an offer of admission is made to you
- you then pay one half of the annual fee for the first year, plus your Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) premium
- a Confirmation of Enrolment form is issued
- you then apply for a student visa at an Australian diplomatic post.
After completion of the first semester at the University, you will be able to elect to pay your tuition fees in one of two ways:
- in full at the beginning of each semester, or
- in two instalments of 60 per cent and 40 per cent.
If you elect to pay by instalment, the first payment (60%) is due by 15 January (March semester enrolment) or 30 June (July semester enrolment). The second payment (40%) is due by 15 March (March semester) and 24 August (July semester).
As this option involves additional administration, a non-refundable administrative surcharge of $200 per semester will be charged. This surcharge is to be paid in full with the first payment in each semester. Late payment of instalments attracts a penalty fee of $300.
If you are NOT an Australian citizen, a landed permanent resident, or a citizen of New Zealand, you will be considered an international student and accepted into the University only on a full-fee basis.
Late Submission of Thesis
If you are completing a course which entails the completion of a thesis, and require longer than the normal time needed to complete the thesis, you will be required to pay additional fees. Further information is available from the International Office.
Part-time Study
As an international student you may only study on a full-time basis. If you are required to study part-time (for instance due to illness or failure of a subject) the fee will be calculated on basis of a pro rata rate for the tuition component, in addition to an administrative charge.
Please note that it is a mandatory condition of all student visas that you maintain fulltime enrolment. International students are permitted to enrol part time in the following circumstances only;
- they are in their final semester and are required to take additional units to complete their course, or
- they are in Australia on a different type of visa which permits part-time study and which does not include condition 8202, or
- they are a cross-institutional student who is enrolled full-time at their home institution, or
- they are in an approved program of study involving joint delivery by two separate institutions.
Please note that unauthorised part-time enrolment will place you in breach of your student visa and the University in breach of Australian Commonwealth Government legislation.
Further information regarding graduate skilled migration is available from the DIMIA website
Program Fees:
Information on postgraduate tuition fees.
In certain circumstances students may complete the degree in 12 calendar months by taking a dissertation or coursework under an accelerated program.
Please note: International students must maintain a full-time enrolment. The normal full-time load is 24 credit points per semester. Fees will be charged per credit point ($346-$374 depending on the program), therefore students taking more than 24 credit points per semester will pay more than the semester fee.
Health Cover
Medical insurance (Overseas Student Health Cover or OSHC) is compulsory for all international students. The International Office will, on receipt of your first payment of tuition fees and the OSHC premium, pay the compulsory OSHC to Medibank Private on your behalf.
After this initial payment, you are responsible for annual renewals. OSHC provides free access to the University’s health service and to public hospitals. Higher-level coverage (eg. access to private hospitals or coverage for spouse and family) is your responsibility. Waiting periods apply for some health treatments. In 1999, the OSHC for 12 months was $A274 for a single person and $A548 for a family.
Australian Scholarship Students
Students holding Australian government scholarships have their health insurance cover paid directly to Medibank Private.
Student Activities /Representation Fees
The representation and services provided to all graduate students by the student organisations of the University of Sydney are funded through compulsory student subscriptions. The Sydney University Postgraduate Representative Association (SUPRA) provides free academic and welfare advice, policy research, campaigns, advocacy and functions / networks. SUPRA subscription is $64, paid at enrolment.
The University of Sydney Union provides a wide range of essential campus services, catering, child care and more. Union subscription levels are dependent on the length of time you have studied at the University (usually it is $208). If you’re enrolling at the University of Sydney for the first time you also pay an additional Union joining fee of $84. Graduate students may also choose, if they wish, to join the Sports Association or Women’s Sports Association.
Refunds
Where a student has paid fees by instalment for one semester, but does not continue with enrolment, the following refund policy applies:
- withdrawal before the commencement of semester
– if you withdraw after paying the initial instalment of 60 per cent of fees owed for the semester but before semester commences, you will be refunded the amount paid, less 10 per cent of the total fees owed for the semester and the administrative surcharge levied for that semester - withdrawal before the relevant census date in a semester
– if you withdraw from enrolment between the beginning of semester and 31 March (March semester) or 31 August (July semester) you will have refunded to you the amount paid, less 50 per cent of the total fees owed for the semester and the administrative surcharge levied for that semester. Refunds will be sent to you in your home country.
Permanent Residence and Refunds
If you obtain Australian permanent residence by 31 March (March semester) or 31 August (July semester) and become a HECS-paying or local fee-paying student by these dates, you will be refunded 100 per cent of the fees paid for that semester. There will be no refund if you obtain residency after these dates.
Cost of living
You can live on approximately AUS$15,600 each year or AUS$300 a week in Sydney. This doesn't include the cost of text books and doesn't allow for expenses such as vacations, medicines or the running of a car.
EXPENSES
Rent (including electricity) $150-180
Food $70
Travel $30
Other $50
Total cost per week AUS$300 (Approx.)