Study abroad and exchange at UNSW Sydney
Expand your education, boost your work opportunities and experience a lifestyle that seamlessly combines sun, surf and study.
Live the study abroad dream in Sydney
Studying abroad is about more than just your degree – it’s about meeting new people, enjoying new cultures and challenging yourself to grow through new experiences. And where better to do that than UNSW? Sitting minutes from some of Australia's most famous beaches, and on the doorstep of Sydney's bustling metropolis, UNSW is a hub of opportunities that will shape your future.
What sets us apart
Top 20 university
Ranked 19th globally in the QS World University Rankings, 2024.
Vibrant campus life
We have 300+ clubs & societies, you’ll find a group that’s right for you either online or on campus!
Flexible study
Our innovative calendar makes it easy for you to plan your studies to suit your academic needs and your timeframe.
Let's get started
Choose the study abroad experience you're looking for
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Study AbroadUniversity students can come to UNSW Sydney through our Study Abroad Program and pay fees to UNSW. An official transcript will be issued upon conclusion of your studies at UNSW.
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Student ExchangeUniversity students from partner universities can come to UNSW Sydney through our Student Exchange Program and pay tuition fees to their home university.
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Research PracticumThe Study Abroad Research Practicum program is designed for students from both partner and non-partner institutions to undertake short-term research visits at UNSW.
UNSW Study Abroad
University students can come to UNSW Sydney through our Study Abroad Program and pay fees to UNSW. Students can apply directly to the program and no agreement is required. An official transcript will be issued to you upon conclusion of your studies at UNSW, and credit can be transferred back to your home institution.
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Choose from one of the following options:
Single Term programs Tailored Terms Double Terms Year-long programs Term 1 (12 Feb - 9 May) Tailored Term 1 (Summer Term + T1) Term 1 + Term 2
Term 1 + Term 2 + Term 3
Term 2 + Term 3 + Term 1
Term 3 + Term 1 + Term 2
Term 2 (27 May - 22 Aug) Tailored Term 3 (Winter Term + T3) Term 2 + Term 3
Tailored Term 3 + Tailored Term 1 Term 3 (9 Sep - 5 Dec)
Term 3 + Summer Term Term 3 + Term 1 You can refer to the Academic Calendar for Study Abroad for more term dates.
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Country entry requirements
- General: UNSW WAM 65 or equivalent
- USA: 2.7 GPA (B-)
- Europe: C grade on ECTS system
- China: Non-211: 70% UNSW WAM equivalent,
- 211: 65% UNSW WAM equivalent
English requirements
You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on your educational background and citizenship.
Gap year students
If you have completed high school or secondary level you are eligible to apply to UNSW Study Abroad. Please note you must have received your high school results before you apply. Gap year students applications will be assessed similarly to any other high-school graduate. Contact us for more information.
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You can study almost any course at UNSW as long as you have the required background knowledge. You may also be able to take Practice of Work to gain industry experience. A complete list of courses can be viewed in the UNSW Handbook.
We recommend you check our Online Timetable to ensure that your chosen courses are available. Enrolment is subject to course availability and your academic background. It is important to be flexible with your choices as some fill up quickly or may not be offered in a particular term.
You can also access the most up-to-date versions of UNSW Course Outlines via our brand-new search engine here. Each year, the final Handbook is published in (late-September/early-October) so the most up-to-date document may be from the current year or earlier.
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Tuition fees for Study Abroad students are paid directly to UNSW. Most courses at UNSW are worth 6 units of credit (UOC). Students enrol in three (3) such courses in a Standard Term, four (4) in a Tailored Term or eight (8) across a Year-long program.
It is important that students check with their home institution about their home university’s enrolment requirements before choosing a study plan to apply for.In 2024, UNSW is moving to a single price-point for both Undergraduate (UG) and Postgraduate (PG) courses:
Study Level
Fee per unit of credit (UOC)
Fee per Standard Term*
(18UOC)Fee per Tailored Term
(24UOC)Fee per Year-long program
(48UOC)
UG/PG
$575
$10,350
$13,800
$27,600
*Standard Terms at UNSW are Term 1, Term 2 and Term 3.Tuition fees are subject to change each calendar year. If your study plan bridges across multiple years, you may experience a variation in fees for courses studied in the second year.
Some courses at UNSW may incur additional fees that are not included in Tuition – eg lab fees, field trips, personal safety equipment (eg safety glasses, boots, overalls etc, for compliance with Australian Work Health and Safety Act) or extra materials (eg drawing or painting materials for Art and Design courses).
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If you study abroad in Australia, you are required by the Australian government to have OSHC medical insurance for the duration of your student visa (with the exception of Norwegian, Swedish and Belgium passport holders). Details of this insurance are provided to students on their acceptance. UNSW will then send you a certificate of enrolment (CoE), the document required to apply for a study visa. You should confirm your visa and book your travel to Sydney to arrive in time for orientation.
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You may wish to apply for one of the Student Accommodation Providers, on-campus housing options or choose to live off campus and enjoy the beautiful suburbs that surround UNSW. Sydney is a safe city, with public transport connecting the UNSW campuses, beaches, and city centre.
Student Accommodation Providers
Sydney has several accommodation providers catering specially to students. These providers are located around Sydney – generally around 20-50 minutes by public transport from the UNSW campus. These options offer high-quality rooms with extra services and Facilities. Options include Iglu and Scape.
Off-campus Housing
If you are looking to live off campus, we have lots of information to help you make an informed decision. If you choose to live off-campus, we recommend you arrive at least two weeks prior to orientation to have enough time to find the right place. Accommodation is a matter of personal choice and often depends on personal preferences and circumstances.
On-campus Housing
UNSW has several on-campus options, including Colleges and Apartments that range from full board, partially catered and self-catered along with options for male only, female only or mixed accommodation. More information on accommodation options, fees, advice, applications, and resources is available here. Please note on-campus accommodation is limited.
Ready to apply?
Applications for the UNSW Study Abroad program are submitted through the Open Academies Endeavour application platform. To start your application, click the button below to create your profile and follow the prompts.
If your home university is a direct enrolment partner, please check with your advisor at home to see if there is an internal application you need to complete first.
What happens after I submit my application?
Once your application is submitted, you will need to complete the following steps ahead of your arrival in Sydney:
- Receive your Letter of Offer from UNSW Study Abroad
Accept the terms and conditions of your offer and, if applicable, pay your deposit and/or fees
Got a question about study abroad?
Ask one of our friendly advisors
Email us at StudyAbroad@unsw.edu.au
Student Exchange
University students from partner universities can come to UNSW Sydney through our Student Exchange Program and pay tuition fees to their home university. An official transcript will be issued to you upon conclusion of your studies at UNSW, and credit will be transferred back to your home institution.
Our innovative calendar makes it easy for you to plan your studies. We have three standard terms as well as a Summer (January) Tailored Term and a Winter (August) Tailored Term. So, you can choose between a Standard Term, a Tailored Term, a Double Term or a year-long option.
Check if your university is one of our partners
If your home institution is not one of our exchange partners then you can still come to UNSW through the Study Abroad program.
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Students currently enrolled at one of our partner universities can apply for the UNSW Exchange program and need to be nominated by the Exchange Office at their home university. The entry requirements are the same for both virtual and in-person exchange and you will be assessed according to the following eligibility requirements:
Entry requirements
Equivalent to either a credit average or 3.0 GPA
English requirements
You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on your educational background and citizenship. If English is not your first language, you will need to provide proof of your English proficiency at time of application. You can do this by providing evidence that you meet one of UNSW’s approved criteria.
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UNSW offers a wide breadth of courses for students across six faculties:
- Arts, Design & Architecture
- Business
- Engineering
- Law & Justice
- Science
- Medicine & Health (students cannot enrol in clinical Medicine courses)
A full listing of the UNSW courses on offer can be viewed in the UNSW Handbook. If you are planning to study with us virtually, make sure you check the course is offered completely online and does not have any face-to-face components.
While most Faculties will accept suitably qualified exchange students, in some areas restrictions do apply and you should refer to the Exchange Factsheet for details.
You can study almost any course at UNSW Sydney as long as you have the required background knowledge and it is offered in the appropriate delivery mode. Enrolment is subject to course availability along with delivery mode and it’s important to be flexible with your course choice.
You can study across multiple faculties/schools and should choose the level appropriate to you. We recommend you also check our Timetable to ensure that your chosen courses are available.
In-Person Exchange
All in-person exchange students are required to enrol in a full-time load. It is also important you are available for the entire exam period. Your personal exam timetables will be released mid-term and you should not make travel arrangements until you have received your exam timetable.
You can view the In-Person Exchange Fact Sheet for further details, including Term options and academic calendar for Exchange.
Virtual Exchange
Students can choose between one or two courses and should discuss their options with their home university. Students should check courses are offered completely online, including all assessments and exams.
We recommend you review our Virtual Exchange Fact Sheet for details.
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Exchange has two application deadlines per year:
Term Deadline Tailored Term 1 & Term 1 15 October of previous year Tailored Term 3 & Term 3 1 April of same year -
If you undertake an in-person exchange, you are required by the Australian government to have OSHC medical insurance for the duration of your student visa with the exception of Norwegian, Swedish and Belgium passport holders. Details are provided to students on their acceptance. UNSW will then send you a certificate of enrolment (CoE), the document required to apply for a study visa. You should confirm your visa and book your travel to Sydney to arrive in time for orientation.
Please note that OSHC is not required for virtual exchange and visa documents are not issued.
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You may wish to apply for one of the on-campus housing options or choose to live off campus and enjoy the beautiful suburbs that surround UNSW. Sydney is a safe city, with public transport connecting the UNSW campuses, beaches, and city centre.
Off-campus Housing
If you are looking to live off campus, we have lots of information to help you make an informed decision. If you choose to live off-campus, we recommend you arrive at least two weeks prior to orientation to have enough time to find the right place. Accommodation is a matter of personal choice and often depends on personal preferences and circumstances.
Student Accommodation Providers
Sydney has several accommodation providers catering specially to students. These providers are located around Sydney – generally around 20-50 minutes by public transport from the UNSW campus. These options offer high-quality rooms with extra services and Facilities. Options include Iglu and Scape.On-campus Housing
UNSW has several on-campus options, including Colleges and Apartments that range from full board, partially catered and self-catered along with options for male only, female only or mixed accommodation. More information on accommodation options, fees, advice, applications, and resources is available here. Please note on-campus accommodation is limited.
Ready to apply?
Once nominated by your home university, you will receive an email with instructions on how to apply for Exchange at UNSW Sydney. As part of your application you will need to upload supporting documents including your transcript, copy of passport and proof of language ability (if applicable). You should also check the name on your application is the same as your passport. You must submit your application by the deadline.
What happens after I submit my application?
Your application will be assessed after the application deadline and if successful you will receive your acceptance by email. You need to accept your offer and further information on enrolment, orientation and getting ready will be emailed to you in the lead up to the start of your exchange.
- The UNSW Learning Abroad and Exchange team hosts a compulsory orientation for all students before the start of term, which we hope is lots of fun
- For in-person exchange, we recommend you arrive in Sydney a few days prior to the compulsory orientation to settle in and secure accommodation.
Got a question about student exchange?
Ask one of our friendly advisors
Email us exchange@unsw.edu.au
Research Practicum
Undertake research at one of Australia’s leading research universities.
You will have access to an appropriate supervisor, services, libraries, campus amenities and liability insurance for UNSW premises for a duration between 3 – 24 months (subject to faculty availability and approval).
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Application fee: AUD $330
Tuition fee: AUD $1,000 per term (4 month period).
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You must:
- Be currently enrolled in an undergraduate or postgraduate degree
- Have a minimum GPA of 3.0 (or equivalent) and provide evidence of English proficiency as per the UNSW’s English language requirements
- Have made contact with a UNSW academic staff member who is willing to supervise you at UNSW.
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On arrival you will be required to register your attendance at Study Abroad and Exchange Office within 5 days of your arrival.
You will then be provided with information to start your study at UNSW and ensure you are correctly enrolled.
Ready to apply?
You need to find a UNSW academic staff member who will agree to supervise you before you can submit an application. You can search the Faculty websites or the UNSW Graduate Research School website.
Research students are advised to apply at least six months in advance of their proposed start date.
The steps to apply are:
- Contact UNSW academics to find a suitable supervisor and negotiate start and finish dates for your practicum
- The UNSW academic must email practicum@unsw.edu.au with your full name, email address, dates, host school and home university
- You will then be given access to an online application portal
- Fill out the application form and submit it via this portal
- If the application is approved, UNSW Study Abroad and Exchange will send the letter of acceptance to you and your supervisor
- You will need to organise health insurance (OSHC) if coming on a student visa and upload a copy of your policy to the application
- UNSW will then send you a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE)
- You can then apply for your visa for Australia