University of New South Wales (UNSW)

The University of New South Wales is an internationally acclaimed teaching and research powerhouse, offering exchange students a learning experience packed with academic programs, student activities and educational services.

UNSW offers a broad range and high quality of teaching programs, which gain strength and currency from their research activities, strong industry links and international nature.

The university was established in 1949 and is committed to shaping forward-thinking, environmentally conscious and socially engaged students who will make a positive impact in the world. The main UNSW campus is located on a 38-hectare site at Kensington, seven kilometres from the centre of Sydney.

Available exchanges

UNSW hosts the University-wide exchange and Subject-specific exchanges for students in the following subjects:

  • Business
  • Global Law

Restrictions

  • Global Law students can only take Law electives at UNSW, not core Law courses, and cannot take moot-based courses.
  • Generally, undergraduate students are not able to enrol in graduate courses, but there may be some limited options for some Science and Engineering subjects. 
  • While most courses are open to exchange students with the required academic background, some courses are restricted or not available to exchange students.  
  • Exchange students are limited to taking one online course only. 
  • Enrolment in Biomedical Engineering and Computer Science courses is extremely limited; students need to be prepared to select courses from another major.  
  • Undergraduate psychology courses are very limited, and postgraduate psychology courses are not available to exchange students.
  • There are no Classics, History or English Literature courses. 
  • Mathematics can be difficult to access courses in. 

Your responsibilities

  • The information provided here serves as a guide.
  • It is your responsibility to research whether the partner provides appropriate courses for your degree programme.
  • Even if there are no restrictions on your degree subject, this does not mean that there are appropriate courses for you.

UNSW's handbook is the best place to look for a list of courses of UNSW courses, term availability, class times and content outlines: 

UNSW Handbook

How to search for courses

You must meet any prerequisites for courses. This is assessed at the time of application, and new courses can be submitted for approval post-acceptance to UNSW. 

Courses in the Summer Term are limited and typically electives, and so flexibility in course choices may be required for students studying at UNSW.  


Guaranteed accommodation? 

No

University accommodation

On-campus accommodation is extremely limited and is not guaranteed. Information about University-managed accommodation is available below:

Living on campus | Accommodation - UNSW Sydney

Private accommodation 

Most exchange students 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.  UNSW recommends students source permanent accommodation after arriving in Sydney.  You may wish to book short-term accommodation, to allow time to find permanent housing.  Information about off-campus and short-term accommodation is available at the link below:

Off-campus accommodation | Current Students - UNSW Sydney

 


How much it will cost to go on exchange to UNSW?

You will need to consider establishment costs, which may include buying furniture, paying a rental bond, and setting up electricity, gas and mobile phone accounts. Other expenses, such as visa and medical fees (including Overseas Student Health Cover – see ‘Health insurance’, below), as well as return airfares, should also be considered. Remember that exchange rate variations may also affect your budget. 

UNSW offers advice about the cost of living at the link below:

Cost of living in Sydney as an international student | UNSW Sydney

To estimate the cost of living in Australia based on your preferred lifestyle, you may wish to use Study Australia’s ‘Cost of Living Calculator’: 

Study Australia Cost of Living Calculator 

Visa considerations

The Australian student visa application cost has recently increased and may change again with short notice. As part of the student visa application process, applicants must demonstrate that they have access to sufficient funds to cover the cost of living in Australia. The minimum financial requirement is subject to change. 

Please refer to the Department of Home Affairs website for the most up-to-date information on financial evidence requirements, visa costs and other visa requirements: 

Department of Home Affairs’ Student visa webpage 

Health insurance

An Australian student visa requires applicants to have Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the full duration of their activity. OSHC is a government requirement and cannot be waived with offshore health insurance and/or comprehensive travel insurance. Students from countries with specific government agreements with Australia, such as Belgium, Norway, and Sweden, may be exempt.  Students are responsible for meeting the cost of the OSHC policy.   
 
Study Australia: Overseas Student Health Cover information 


In 2028, UNSW will move to a new 'flex-semester' academic year structure.  This means that students on exchange at UNSW for the 2027/28 academic year will follow a transition year structure, which straddles the old and new academic calendars.  Students will attend UNSW for the following transition year structure:

  • 2027 Term 3
  • 2028 Summer Term
  • 2028 Semester 1

As course availability in the Summer Term is typically limited, students should review UNSW's suitability for their degree programme before selecting it as an exchange destination.

UNSW's academic calendar and information about the new 'flex-semester' structure can be found below:

Academic calendar for inbound exchange students | UNSW Sydney

Academic Calendar Transition | UNSW Sydney


UNSW has provided the following documents for prospective exchange students:

UNSW exchange factsheet


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