University of New South Wales institutional logo

University of New South Wales

Sydney, Australia • Founded 1949 • QS 2026 #20

Updated May 2026 · Source: unsw.edu.au

Overview

English Name: University of New South Wales
Acronyms: UNSW
Founded: 1949
Institution Type: University
Control Type: Public
Entity Type: Non-profit
Rankings:
QS World University Rankings 2026 #20 Times Higher Education 2026 #79 ARWU (Shanghai) 2025 #80 CWTS Leiden 2025 #77 SCImago 2026 #45
Motto: Scientia Manu et Mente
Colours: Black and gold
University of New South Wales campus and facilities
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Established in 1949, the University of New South Wales is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the suburban setting of the metropolis of Sydney (population range of 1,000,000-5,000,000 inhabitants), New South Wales.

Officially recognized by the Department of Education and Training of Australia, University of New South Wales (UNSW) is a very large-sized coeducational Australian higher education institution. University of New South Wales (UNSW) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as pre-bachelor's degrees (i.e. certificates, diplomas, associate or foundation), bachelor's degrees, master's degrees and doctorate degrees in several areas of study.

This 75-year-old Australian higher-education institution has a selective admission policy based on entrance examinations and students' past academic records and grades. The acceptance rate range is 70-79% making this Australian higher education organization a moderately selective institution.

International applicants are eligible to apply for enrollment.

UNSW also provides several academic and non-academic facilities and services to students including a library, housing, sports facilities, financial aids and/or scholarships, study abroad and exchange programs, online courses and distance learning opportunities, as well as administrative services.

Location & Contact

University of New South Wales's campus location, postal address, and admissions contact channels are below.

Address: High St
Postal Code: 2052
Phone: +61 (0)2 9385 1000
Fax: +61 (0)2 9385 2000
Social Media:

Academic Details

University of New South Wales's key academic numbers — student body size, staffing, and accreditation context.

Academic Year: February to November (March-June; July-November)
Recognition: Department of Education and Training of Australia
Admission Requirements: Higher School Certificate or recognized national or foreign equivalent, or previous post-secondary study
Student Enrollment: 45,000-49,999
Academic Staff Range: 1,000-1,499
Campus Setting: Suburban
Memberships & Networks
Group of Eight (go8) Universities Australia Universitas 21 (U21) Global Alliance of Technological Universities (GlobalTech) PLuS Alliance Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU)

Academic Structures

The faculties, schools, and constituent units that make up University of New South Wales are listed below.

Unit 11 items
  • Australian Defence Force Academy
  • Australian Graduate School of Management
  • Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
  • Faculty of Commerce and Economics
  • Faculty of Engineering
  • Faculty of Law
  • Faculty of Medicine
  • Faculty of Science
  • Faculty of the Built Environment
  • Faculty of the College of Fine Arts
  • The Australian School of Business

Faculties & Divisions

All faculties operate under Department of Education and Training of Australia.

Fine Arts (College) 3 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Art Education
  • Design
  • Fine Arts
Arts and Social Sciences (Faculty) 22 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Anthropology
  • Asian Studies
  • Chinese
  • Criminology
  • Dance
  • Development Studies
  • Education
  • English
  • European Studies
  • Film
  • French
  • Gender Studies
  • German
  • History
  • Indigenous Studies
  • Philosophy
  • Political Sciences
  • Sociology
  • Spanish
  • Theatre
  • Women's Studies
  • Writing
Built Environment (Faculty) 6 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Architecture
  • Industrial Design
  • Interior Design
  • Landscape Architecture
  • Rural Planning
  • Town Planning
Engineering (Faculty) 14 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Civil Engineering
  • Computer Engineering
  • Computer Science
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Energy Engineering
  • Engineering
  • Environmental Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Mining Engineering
  • Petroleum and Gas Engineering
  • Production Engineering
  • Telecommunications Engineering
Law (Faculty) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Law
Medicine (Faculty) 6 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Community Health
  • Medicine
  • Obstetrics and Gynaecology
  • Paediatrics
  • Psychiatry and Mental Health
  • Public Health
Science (Faculty) 26 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Anatomy
  • Archaeology
  • Biological and Life Sciences
  • Biology
  • Biotechnology
  • Cell Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Coastal Studies
  • Earth Sciences
  • Ecology
  • Environmental Management
  • Food Science
  • Genetics
  • Geochemistry
  • Geography
  • Marine Science and Oceanography
  • Materials Engineering
  • Mathematics
  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Neurosciences
  • Pharmacology
  • Physics
  • Physiology
  • Psychology
  • Statistics
Business (School) 10 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Accountancy
  • Actuarial Science
  • Banking
  • Business Administration
  • Commercial Law
  • Economics
  • Finance
  • Management
  • Marketing
  • Taxation

Programs Offered

Search and filter University of New South Wales's available programmes by degree level.

567 programmes on record. Each level below shows a sample. Compare these on the programs page All programs in Australia

Bachelor's Degree 141 programmes

Bachelor of Actuarial Studies
Finance, Banking & Insurance · 156 weeks
Bachelor of Actuarial Studies / Bachelor of Information Systems
Finance, Banking & Insurance · 208 weeks
Bachelor of Actuarial Studies / Bachelor of Science (Computer Science)
Finance, Banking & Insurance · 208 weeks
Bachelor of Actuarial Studies/Bachelor of Commerce
Finance, Banking & Insurance · 208 weeks
Bachelor of Actuarial Studies/Bachelor of Economics
Economics · 208 weeks
Bachelor of Actuarial Studies/Bachelor of Laws
Finance, Banking & Insurance · 260 weeks
Bachelor of Actuarial Studies/Bachelor of Science
Finance, Banking & Insurance · 208 weeks
Bachelor of Architectural Studies
Architecture · 156 weeks
Bachelor of Architectural Studies (UNSW-Tongji)
Architecture · 104 weeks
Bachelor of Art Theory
Visual Arts · 156 weeks

Showing 10 of 141.

Honours Degree 95 programmes

Bachelor of Actuarial Studies (Honours)
Finance, Banking & Insurance · 52 weeks
Bachelor of Actuarial Studies/Bachelor of Science (Advanced Mathematics) (Honours)
Finance, Banking & Insurance · 260 weeks
Bachelor of Advanced Computer Science (Honours)
Computer Sciences · 208 weeks
Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours)
Natural Sciences & Mathematics · 208 weeks
Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours)/Bachelor of Arts
Natural Sciences & Mathematics · 260 weeks
Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours)/Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)
Natural Sciences & Mathematics · 312 weeks
Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours)/Bachelor of Fine Arts
Natural Sciences & Mathematics · 260 weeks
Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours)/Bachelor of Laws
Natural Sciences & Mathematics · 312 weeks
Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours)/Bachelor of Science (Computer Science)
Natural Sciences & Mathematics · 260 weeks
Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours)/Bachelor of Social Science
Natural Sciences & Mathematics · 294 weeks

Showing 10 of 95.

Master's Degree 184 programmes

Bachelor of Applied Exercise Science / Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology
Medicine & Health · 227 weeks
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Materials Science and Engineering/Master of Biomedical Engineering
Chemical Engineering · 260 weeks
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)/Master of Biomedical Engineering
Engineering & Technology · 260 weeks
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)/Master of Engineering (Electrical Engineering)
Electrical Engineering · 260 weeks
Bachelor of Engineering (Materials Science and Engineering All specialisations) / Master of Biomedical Engineering
Engineering & Technology · 260 weeks
Bachelor of Exercise Science / Master of Physiotherapy and Exercise Physiology
Medicine & Health · 260 weeks
Bachelor of Medical Studies/Doctor of Medicine
Medicine · 312 weeks
Bachelor of Medical Studies/Doctor of Medicine/Bachelor of Arts
Medicine · 416 weeks
Bachelor of Nutrition / Master of Dietetics and Food Innovation
Medicine & Health · 260 weeks
Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Medicine / Master of Pharmacy
Pharmacy · 260 weeks

Showing 10 of 184.

Doctorate 86 programmes

Cotutelle PHD program
Humanities & Cultural Studies · 26 weeks
Doctor of Clinical Research in Optometry (Professional Doctorate)
Optometry · 208 weeks
Doctor of Cyber Security (Professional Doctorate)
Computer Science & IT · 208 weeks
Doctor of Philosophy - Accounting
Accounting · 208 weeks
Doctor of Philosophy - Actuarial Studies
Finance, Banking & Insurance · 208 weeks
Doctor of Philosophy - Applied Geology
Earth Sciences & Geology · 208 weeks
Doctor of Philosophy - Art, Design and Media
Arts, Design & Architecture · 208 weeks
Doctor of Philosophy - Aviation
Aerospace & Automotive Engineering · 208 weeks
Doctor of Philosophy - Banking & Finance
Finance, Banking & Insurance · 208 weeks
Doctor of Philosophy - Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics
Biological Sciences · 208 weeks

Showing 10 of 86.

Postgraduate Certificate 32 programmes

Graduate Certificate in Advanced City Policy and Practice
Architecture · 34 weeks
Graduate Certificate in Animation and Visual Effects
Visual Arts · 36 weeks
Graduate Certificate in Business Analytics
Business Administration · 34 weeks
Graduate Certificate in City Planning
Architecture · 34 weeks
Graduate Certificate in Commerce
Business & Management · 34 weeks
Graduate Certificate in Computing
Computer Sciences · 34 weeks
Graduate Certificate in Cultural Leadership
Arts, Design & Architecture · 34 weeks
Graduate Certificate in Data Science and Decisions
Mathematics · 34 weeks
Graduate Certificate in Design
Arts, Design & Architecture · 34 weeks
Graduate Certificate in Economics
Economics · 34 weeks

Showing 10 of 32.

Postgraduate Diploma 29 programmes

Graduate Diploma in Animation and Visual Effects
Visual Arts · 52 weeks
Graduate Diploma in Biomedical Engineering
Engineering & Technology · 52 weeks
Graduate Diploma in City Analytics
Architecture · 52 weeks
Graduate Diploma in City Planning
Architecture · 52 weeks
Graduate Diploma in Cultural Leadership
Arts, Design & Architecture · 52 weeks
Graduate Diploma in Data Science and Decisions
Mathematics · 52 weeks
Graduate Diploma in Design
Arts, Design & Architecture · 52 weeks
Graduate Diploma in Engineering Science
Engineering & Technology · 88 weeks
Graduate Diploma in Environmental Management
Environmental Sciences · 52 weeks
Graduate Diploma in Financial Planning
Finance, Banking & Insurance · 52 weeks

Showing 10 of 29.

How to apply to University of New South Wales

A five-step guide to applying to University of New South Wales.

  1. 1
    Research programmes at University of New South Wales

    Start by exploring the programmes section on this page. University of New South Wales runs 567 active programmes across multiple degree levels. Narrow by qualification tier and read each programme description before shortlisting.

  2. 2
    Review admissions criteria

    Before applying to University of New South Wales, confirm you meet the academic, language, and document requirements for your chosen programme. International applicants should also check visa eligibility for Australia.

  3. 3
    Gather supporting documents

    Standard documents: official transcripts, identity proof, language test results, personal statement, and references. Confirm exact requirements with University of New South Wales's admissions office before assembling, as expectations vary by programme.

  4. 4
    Lodge your application

    Lodge your application through the official website (www.unsw.edu.au). Online forms are the standard route. Save your draft frequently and submit before the programme deadline.

  5. 5
    Confirm receipt and track progress

    Verify your application has been received by the admissions team. Reach the institution by phone at +61 (0)2 9385 1000. Monitor the portal for status updates, interview invitations, or document requests, and respond within the stated deadlines.

Frequently Asked Questions about University of New South Wales

Common questions about University of New South Wales — answers from its published profile.

In what year was University of New South Wales established?

University of New South Wales was founded in 1949 (approximately 77 years ago).

What city is University of New South Wales in?

University of New South Wales operates from Sydney, Australia.

What is University of New South Wales's control type?

It is a public higher-education institution.

How big is University of New South Wales's student body?

University of New South Wales serves approximately 45,000-49,999 students.

Where does University of New South Wales stand in university rankings?

University of New South Wales holds rank QS 2026 #20.

What programmes are available at University of New South Wales?

University of New South Wales offers bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes.

How many faculties does University of New South Wales have?

The institution comprises 11 academic units.

Is University of New South Wales officially recognised?

The institution holds recognition from Department of Education and Training of Australia.

Where can I learn more about University of New South Wales?

You can find University of New South Wales online at www.unsw.edu.au.

Members of Universities Australia

Other members of Universities Australia are listed below.

Faculties at nearby universities

Also in Sydney: universities located close to University of New South Wales.

Where Else to Study Natural Sciences & Mathematics

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