Build Progress for All

Discover how UNSW students, graduates and researchers are tackling the world’s biggest challenges and how you could too.

Find your path to progress

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Continue to make Progress for All

UNSW drives Progress for All through bold research, inclusive education and collaboration with communities and industries. Remarkable things happen every day at UNSW, but progress is never finished. At UNSW, progress is something we build together. You can be part of the progress and what comes next.

Find where you can make an impact

Discover how your interests could help solve the world’s biggest challenges. Tap the squares below to explore our degrees that will prepare you with the skills and experience to drive societal impact.

Accelerate the transition to a sustainable society and planet

You could influence policy and develop innovative solutions to help create a better world for generations to come.

Advance economic and social prosperity

You could implement evidence-based solutions to overcome social and economic challenges.

Enable healthy lives

You could improve health and wellbeing outcomes for communities locally and globally.

Strengthen societal resilience, security and cohesion

You could foster inclusive communities and champion social justice.

Accelerate the transition to a sustainable society and planet

Want to make an impact in agriculture, business, renewable energy, policy or sustainability? Explore these degrees to help you make a difference.

Advance economic and social prosperity

Want to make an impact in technology, government, community engagement, teaching or startups? These degrees can help you make a difference.

Enable healthy lives

Want to make an impact in aged care, health technologies, food sustainability, mental health or research? Learn how you can make a difference with these degrees.

Strengthen societal resilience, security and cohesion

Want to make an impact in law, policy, criminal justice, education or consulting? Our degrees can help you make a difference.

You could build the next generation of prototype electric cars

Through Sunswift Racing, UNSW students design and build innovative vehicles that explore the future of sustainable transport.

You could grow your next venture

UNSW Founders help students, staff, alumni and community members turn their ideas into startups that solve real-world problems.

UNSW and Cambodian students analyse the dynamics of the street space then propose design concepts based on residents’ desires or concerns

You could help design communities overseas

As part of the Street Life Studies course, you could work alongside Cambodian students and residents in Phnom Penh to learn how design can address real community needs.

You could shape the future of health

UNSW Bionic Heart is a student-led project developing a functional total artificial heart as a bridge or alternative to heart transplantation.

See our alumni making progress

Meet the alumni making an impact in their fields and helping shape a better world.

Australia’s first Indigenous female aerospace engineer

After narrowly missing the ATAR requirements for direct entry, Renee Wootton Tomlin found another pathway to university. Today she’s an engineer, commercial pilot, aviation strategist and founder of a clean aviation company.

Building a better world through engineering

Thomas Gao used his engineering studies to turn ideas into practical solutions that improve people’s lives. Hands-on learning and industry experience helped him build the skills to create meaningful change through engineering.

From medical student to cardiologist

Dr Ning Song discovered that a medical career isn’t limited to treating patients; it can also involve research, innovation and improving healthcare for all. His journey shows that studying medicine can open many doors, allowing you to make an impact in different ways.

Turning education into lasting social change

Michael Brosowski went from teaching English in Vietnam to founding Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation, helping vulnerable children and tackling human trafficking across the country. He applied his education to real-world challenges which opened unexpected career paths to create meaningful change in the community.

Empowering communities to lead change

Weh Yeoh founded a charity in Cambodia, then deliberately handed leadership over to a local Cambodian team within four years. He believed the people closest to a problem are best placed to solve it, to build long-term, locally led impact.

How small opportunities lead to big career moves

While studying full-time at UNSW, Carlos Brennan gained real-world experience through roles at Deloitte Access Economics, WSP and more, before graduating and becoming an Associate Economist at NSW Treasury. His advice to students: “Just say yes” because you never know where an opportunity might lead.

Research creating real-world impact

Explore how UNSW researchers are tackling real-world challenges and creating positive change for society and the planet.

Fire fighting helicopter dropping water over bushfire

UNSW Bushfire

UNSW Bushfire aims to improve understanding of bushfires, with focuses on areas such as fire behaviour modelling and ember spread. The research done benefits both local and global communities and involves scientific modelling, literally fighting fire with maths.

How we lead bushfire research

Platypus Conservation Intiative

The platypus is one of only five living species of egg-laying mammals in the world. The Platypus Conservation Initiative was established in 2016 with the aim of reducing the risk of extinction to platypuses through research, increased awareness and improved management.

How we protect the platypus

SEACS team learning about coral and marine life

Living Seawalls project

The Living Seawalls project looks at making artificial structures such as seawalls and pilings more environmentally friendly. This includes creating habitat modules mimicing crevices and rock pools which are stuck to the walls, encouraging marine growth.

Learn more about Living Seawalls

Brightly lit close-up of a robot worker dismantling e-waste at a recycling plant, emphasizing the concept of sorting and sustainability

Technology for good

Could your interests help solve some of the world’s biggest challenges? Discover how UNSW students and researchers are using technologies like AI, quantum computing and synthetic nanobiology to create positive change – and explore degrees that could help you do the same.

How we use tech for good

WILD - Macquarie Fields Men’s Shed research impact statement

Healthier lifespans

UNSW researchers are helping people live longer, healthier lives – from advancing childhood cancer treatment to improving public health and healthy ageing. Studying at UNSW can give you the knowledge and skills to contribute to the future of health.

Learn about health research

sumptuous summer beach scene featuring a busy tamarama beach and clear blue water

Equity, security & prosperity

A fairer, safer and more prosperous future starts with creating opportunities for everyone. UNSW researchers work with governments and businesses to tackle inequality, strengthen education and build a sustainable, resilient economy – showing how your studies can contribute to progress that benefits all.

Explore equity, security & prosperity

Clean energy

UNSW helped shape modern solar power and continues to lead advances in renewable energy. By making clean energy more efficient, reliable, affordable and sustainable, our researchers are helping build a low-carbon future and creating opportunities for students to help drive the transition.

Explore clean energy research

Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss

Climate adaption and built environment

Climate change affects our health, communities, economy and security. UNSW researchers are helping build a more resilient future through climate science, ecological management, advanced modelling – creating new ways for students to contribute to meaningful change.

How we research climate adaption