Sydney, NSW, Australia · public

University of Sydney

UPCOMING

The closing date to apply to University of Sydney for its next intake (Semester 1) is 1 December 2026. Individual courses can close earlier.

At a glance

International tuition: A$49,000/yr
First-year budget: A$86,000 to A$99,000
English (minimum): IELTS 6.5 · PTE 58
Application fee: A$150
Intakes: Semester 1 · Semester 2
Regional (migration): No
Selectivity: Selective
Degree levels: Undergraduate

Good for

Research reputation and global rankings
More than one intake a year

Weaker fit for

The lowest possible tuition budget
Regional migration points, if you study on the metro campus

Derived from the data on this page. Individual courses set their own fees, entry scores, and intakes, so check the ones you are applying to.

Overview

Sydney's sandstone-quadrangle campus and broad faculty structure mean first-years often take a semester or two to settle on a major before locking into a specific degree stream.

Who is this university for?

Sydney is a comprehensive Group of Eight university with a broad faculty structure that lets first-years explore before locking into a major. It is strong across medicine, law, business, engineering, and the humanities, and its sandstone campus is close to the city centre. It is selective and large, and Sydney living costs are the highest in the country, so it suits students with the academic record and budget to match.

Admissions

Selectivity: Selective
English (institutional minimum): IELTS 6.5 · PTE 58
Degree levels: Undergraduate

Verified Aug 31, 2026sydney.edu.au ↗

Australian universities do not publish official acceptance rates. Selectivity here is our editorial band, not a percentage. Group of Eight, research-intensive. Graduate entry is reasonable from a credit average; law, medicine, and some design and business courses sit well above the institutional bar. Individual competitive courses stay harder to enter than the institution-wide band suggests. How we assign it.

Tuition & first-year budget

International tuition: A$49,000/year
Application fee: A$150
Living cost estimate: A$33,000/year

Verified Aug 31, 2026sydney.edu.au ↗

Estimated first-year budget

A$86,000 to A$99,000

Tuition plus about A$33,000 living costs, the application fee, and roughly A$4,000 in one-off setup costs (visa, health cover, flights, initial deposits). Tuition varies widely by course, so check your specific program.

The living-cost figure is an estimate for Sydney, anchored to the Australian Government’s AUD 29,710 minimum for a single student visa applicant (2026) and adjusted for the city. Your actual costs depend most on rent and lifestyle.

Financial aid & scholarships

See all scholarships for studying in Australia, including national government schemes.

Academics

Bachelor of Advanced Computing

Undergraduate · Information Technology

Bachelor of Agricultural Economics

Undergraduate · Economics

Bachelor of Agricultural Science

Undergraduate · Agriculture

Bachelor of Agricultural Science Honours

Undergraduate · Agriculture

Bachelor of Animal and Veterinary Bioscience

Undergraduate · Nursing & Health Sciences

Bachelor of Applied Science (Exercise and Sport Science) Honours

Undergraduate

Bachelor of Applied Science (Speech Pathology)

Undergraduate · Nursing & Health Sciences

Bachelor of Architecture and Environments

Undergraduate · Architecture

Bachelor of Arts

Undergraduate

Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws

Undergraduate · Law

Page 1 of 31

Comparing options across universities? Browse programs by subject.

For international students

Sydney is a major city with the highest living costs in the country and no regional migration points. It publishes application closing dates for each intake, so check the date for your specific course and apply well ahead rather than assuming rolling assessment. A one-semester tuition deposit is standard, and a larger one can apply where a higher-risk financial assessment is used for your country.

How to apply

Pick your course and check it is open to international students for your intended intake.
Check the entry requirements for that specific course: academic background, minimum GPA or ATAR, subject prerequisites, and the English test score it accepts.
Prepare your documents: academic transcripts and completion certificates, your English test result (IELTS, PTE, or TOEFL), passport, CV, and a statement of purpose if the course asks for one.
Apply online through the university's application portal, or through an authorised education agent in your country. Both routes reach the same admissions team.
Pay the application fee if the course charges one. Many Australian universities do not.
Wait for the outcome. You may receive a full offer, a conditional offer (for example, subject to final results or an English score), or a rejection.
Accept your offer and pay the tuition deposit. The university then issues a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE).
Use the CoE to apply for a Student visa (subclass 500), arrange Overseas Student Health Cover, and book travel.

Requirements and steps can vary by course. Always confirm the process for your specific program on the university’s official website before applying.

Application deadlines

University of Sydney runs fixed intakes rather than one hard deadline. The dates below are the recommended times to have your international application in, about three to four months before each intake. Postgraduate and competitive courses close earlier; later applications are often still accepted while places and visa time remain. Confirm the exact date for your course on the university’s site.

IntakeApply by

Semester 1 · Undergraduate1 Dec 2026UPCOMING

Closing date for international undergraduate applications for the Semester 1 2027 (February) intake, published by the University of Sydney. Individual courses can close earlier once places fill, and the Doctor of Medicine and Doctor of Dental Medicine set their own dates. Apply six to eight weeks before this to leave time for a student visa.

Semester 1 · Graduate18 Dec 2026UPCOMING

Closing date for international postgraduate coursework applications for the Semester 1 2027 intake, published by the University of Sydney. Some courses close earlier, faculties can set their own dates, and separate scholarship deadlines apply.

Semester 2 · Undergraduate29 May 2027UPCOMING

Closing date for international undergraduate applications for the Semester 2 2027 (August) intake, published by the University of Sydney. Not every course has a mid-year intake, and courses can close earlier once full.

Semester 2 · Graduate29 May 2027UPCOMING

Closing date for international postgraduate coursework applications for the Semester 2 2027 intake, published by the University of Sydney. Check your course page: not every course runs mid-year.

Verified Aug 29, 2026sydney.edu.au ↗

University of Sydney deadlines, in detail →

University of Sydney: common questions

Does University of Sydney charge an application fee for international students?

University of Sydney lists an application fee of about A$150 for direct international applications. Several universities that charge a fee waive it for applications lodged through an authorised agent, so check before you pay.

What English test score do I need to get into University of Sydney?

The institutional minimum for undergraduate entry at University of Sydney is IELTS 6.5 overall, or PTE Academic 58. This is a floor, not a guarantee: nursing programs usually need IELTS 7.0, teaching 7.5, and medicine, law, and business often 7.0. Postgraduate coursework is typically 6.5. Always check the score for your specific course.

How much does it cost to study at University of Sydney for a year?

As an international student, budget roughly A$86,000 to A$99,000 for your first year. That is tuition from about A$49,000, around A$33,000 in living costs for Sydney, plus roughly A$4,000 in one-off setup costs. Tuition varies widely by course.

Is University of Sydney a Group of Eight university?

Yes. University of Sydney is one of the eight members of the Group of Eight, Australia's research-intensive university alliance. That means higher rankings and research funding, and also the most selective admissions and the highest tuition band.

When can I start studying at University of Sydney?

University of Sydney has two main intakes a year: Semester 1, starting in February or March, and Semester 2, starting in July. The recommended time to apply is about three to four months before the intake, and postgraduate and competitive courses close earlier.

Is University of Sydney in a regional area for skilled migration?

No. University of Sydney's main campus is in a major metropolitan area, so it does not attract the regional study points. If regional migration points matter to you, look at universities in Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, Hobart, or the smaller cities.

How do I apply to University of Sydney as an international student?

Choose your course and confirm it is open to international students for your intake, check the entry requirements and English score, then apply online through the university's admissions portal or through an authorised agent in your country. After an offer you accept, pay the deposit, receive a Confirmation of Enrolment, and use it to apply for a Student visa (subclass 500).

Similar universities

Guides

Applying from your country

What changes by nationality: agent rules, how your degree converts, and how closely the student visa is checked.

Why trust Where To Apply

Official sources onlyEvery deadline, fee, and requirement traces to a university, government, or admissions-body page.
Dated and re-checkedEach fact carries the date it was last verified, on a quarterly re-verification cadence.
IndependentNo university pays for inclusion, a better write-up, or a higher rank. We are not an education agent.
Named editor, public methodWritten and maintained by a named operator against a published methodology.

How we verify data →Editorial policy →Who runs this →

Sources & verification

Last verified August 31, 2026Sources:[1]

Written by Roman Lama

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