University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney) — Full Profile & Ranking 2026

The University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney) is a public research university in Sydney, Australia, founded in 1949. It is a member of the Group of Eight, Australia’s leading research-intensive universities, and is especially known for engineering, business, law, and science.

UNSW runs a three-term academic year, and its main campus is in Kensington, about 7 kilometres from the Sydney city centre.

UNSW Sydney is ranked 19th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, published by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) in June 2026. In this edition it is the highest-ranked Australian university, ahead of the University of Melbourne, which is joint 22nd.

QS ranks universities using academic reputation, employer reputation, citations per faculty, student-to-faculty ratio, and measures of international faculty and students. This is a QS-specific result, not one universal ranking. Times Higher Education, U.S. News, and ARWU use different methods, and the order of Australian universities differs between them.

Source: QS TopUniversities (QS World University Rankings 2027, 18 June 2026).

UNSW teaches across six faculties and is known for:

• Engineering — one of Australia’s largest engineering faculties, with civil, mechanical, electrical, and renewable energy programmes
• Business — UNSW Business School, including accounting, finance, and analytics
• Law and Justice — UNSW Law & Justice
• Science, medicine, and health
• Arts, design, and architecture — including the Built Environment
• Industry links — many degrees include work-integrated learning or industrial training

For the full list, see UNSW’s official website.

Entry rules depend on the degree and on your qualification. Confirm all details on UNSW’s website before applying.

Official source: UNSW — How to apply.

UNSW does not publish an overall acceptance rate for international applicants. Offers depend on your qualification, your marks, and the degree. Engineering, commerce, and law-related degrees generally ask for stronger results.

• Choose your degree and check its country-specific entry requirement
• Check whether you qualify directly or need a foundation or pathway year
• Book an English test if required
• Prepare transcripts, identification, and any portfolio or extra documents
• Apply to UNSW and accept your offer
• Meet the conditions for the Australian student visa, including financial and genuine-student requirements
• Plan funding for tuition and Sydney living costs
• Verify every date, fee, and requirement on UNSW’s official website before submitting

UNSW calculates international tuition from the courses you choose, so there is no single fee for the whole university. The university publishes an indicative annual fee for each degree in its online degree finder, and fees usually rise each year.

As a general guide, international undergraduate fees at Australian universities are typically tens of thousands of Australian dollars per year, and Sydney living costs are high. Check the exact figure for your degree and intake before you plan your budget.

Sources: UNSW fees information and the UNSW degree finder. Fees change each year.

Funding for international undergraduates is mainly merit-based:

• UNSW scholarships: UNSW offers a range of scholarships for international students, assessed on academic results or other criteria. Numbers and amounts change, so check the current list.
• Australian government awards: some programmes, such as Australia Awards, support students from selected countries including Pakistan, mainly at postgraduate level. Eligibility rules apply.
• Other aid: compare options in our fully funded scholarships for 2027 guide
• No guarantee: scholarships are competitive and not guaranteed

Always confirm current scholarships on UNSW’s official website.

Pakistani applicants follow the standard international process. Practical points:

• Entry: check UNSW’s Pakistan-specific entry requirements before applying, and ask whether a foundation year applies to you
• English: prepare IELTS or another accepted test. Our IELTS preparation guides can help.
• Visa: international students need an Australian student visa. The Department of Home Affairs decides it, not UNSW, and rules on funds, work hours, and evidence change often.
• Budget: plan for tuition plus Sydney rent, food, and transport
• Agents: you can apply directly, so a paid agent is not required

• The main Kensington campus is in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, with light rail to the city centre
• UNSW also has a Canberra campus at the Australian Defence Force Academy (UNSW Canberra)
• Sydney offers beaches, a large student community, and a wide choice of student housing
• Student societies cover culture, sport, and academic interests

• UNSW is a research-intensive university, with notable work in engineering, renewable energy, and quantum technology
• Sydney is Australia’s largest city and business hub, with strong finance, technology, and engineering employers
• Many degrees include industrial training or placements
• UNSW does not guarantee employment, salary, or visa outcomes

• Mike Cannon-Brookes and Scott Farquhar, co-founders of the software company Atlassian, both studied at UNSW
• Martin Green, Scientia Professor at UNSW, is a leading figure in solar cell research

UNSW Sydney
Kensington, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
Official website: unsw.edu.au