University of New South Wales
Sydney, AUSTRALIA

 University Info   |   Faculty of Engineering Info   |   Exchange Student Info

Fast Facts

• The UNSW Faculty of Engineering is the largest in Australia and offers the widest choice of engineering degree programs for students.
• UNSW Engineering is consistently ranked as the number one engineering faculty in Australia and one of the top 50 in the world.
• Twenty-two percent of top 100 most influential engineers in Australia have graduated or are working at UNSW Engineering. This is more than any other Australian university.
• UNSW has made $1 billion investment in new facilities that include state-of-the-art laboratories, virtual reality cinemas and modern teaching spaces to enhance our students' learning experiences.
• UNSW offers the most comprehensive range of undergraduate degrees, including double-degree programs, in the country.
• In addition to being the leaders in traditional areas, such as civil, electrical and mechanical engineering, we have also invested in emerging fields such as transport, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, energy, water and climate change.
• UNSW Engineering's student-led projects are the most highly regarded in Australia and are internationally renowned. They include the world record-breaking sUNSWift solar car, the world champion RoboCup team and the amazing UNSW Redback Racing team.

Introduction

University of New South Wales is one of Australia's leading research and teaching universities. At UNSW, we take pride in the broad range and high quality of our teaching programs. Our teaching gains strength and currency from our research activities and our international nature; UNSW has a strong regional and global engagement.

UNSW is renowned for the quality of its graduates and its commitment to new and creative approaches to education and research. Its motto – Scientia Manu et Mente ("Knowledge by Hand and Mind") – encapsulates the University's central philosophy of balancing the practical and the scholarly.

UNSW is a founding member of the prestigious Group of Eight research intensive universities in Australia and a member of the Universitas 21 international consortium.

Established in 1949, UNSW has expanded rapidly and now has over 50,000 students, including more than 14,000 international students from over 130 different countries. The University offers more than 300 undergraduate and 600 postgraduate programs, and has developed an extensive network of alumni chapters throughout Asia.

The main UNSW campus is located on a 38-hectare site at Kensington, seven kilometres from the centre of Sydney.

Terms of Exchange

Study Level

• Undergraduate students: Accepted
• Graduate students: Accepted
• Computer Science majors: Accepted

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants to UNSW should have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. Borderline applicants with GPAs slightly below 3.0 can be considered on a case-by-case basis. Applicants should have also completed at least one semester at their home university before application.

English Proficiency Requirements

• Minimum TOEFL iBT score –  90 overall
• Minimum IELTS score – 6.5 overall

UNSW also accepts other tests of English language proficiency.

Study Period

Fall, Spring, Academic Year, or Calendar Year

Academic Calendar   |   Term Dates (including exam period)

UNSW Sydney follows a UNSW3+ academic calendar. Comprised of three terms plus a January term, UNSW3+ is designed to better align with our global partners, eliminating overlap with the Northern Hemisphere summer and creating new opportunities for career and internship-minded students.

Multiple study options are available under UNSW3+ to accommodate diverse student needs, including:

• Term 1 (February-May) : You enroll in a full load of 3 courses (18 UOC).
• Tailored Term 1 (January-May) : You enroll in 4 courses (24 UOC), taking one course in January followed by a full academic load of 3 courses in Term 1.
• Term 3 (September-December) : You enroll in a full load of 3 courses (18 UOC).
• Tailored Term 3 (August-December) : You enroll in 4 courses (24 UOC), taking one course in August followed by a full academic load of 3 courses in Term 3.
• Term 1 (Full Year) : You can elect to study for a full academic year at UNSW and enroll in 8 courses (48 UOC) either spread over Term 1 + Term 2 + Term 3 OR Tailored Term 1 + Tailored Term 3.
• Term 3 (Full Year) : You can choose to study for a full academic year at UNSW and enroll in 8 courses (48 UOC) either spread over Term 3 + Term 1 + Term 2 OR Tailored Term 3 + Tailored Term 1.

Academic Information

Disciplines Available

The Faculty of Engineering is the largest of all the engineering faculties in Australia. We are proud to offer the widest range of engineering degree course specializations too, through our eight schools that offer more than 25 different undergraduate engineering specializations and 140 postgraduate specializations. 

The Faculty of Engineering consists of 8 Schools:

• School of Biomedical Engineering
• School of Chemical Engineering
• School of Civil & Environmental Engineering
• School of Computer Science & Engineering
• School of Electrical Engineering & Telecommunications
• School of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering
• School of Minerals and Energy Resources Engineering
• School of Photovoltaic & Renewable Energy Engineering

Restricted Disciplines and Courses

• Biomedical Engineering (BIOM) is extremely limited and not guaranteed to exchange students at the University of New South Wales. Students must be prepared to select courses outside of the school of Biomedical Engineering.
• Computer Science (COMP) is limited and students require flexibility in their enrolment and must be prepared to select courses outside of the school of Computer Science.
• Please note that any courses offered by ADFA in Canberra (Zxxx courses) are not open to exchange students. You should instead select courses from the Kensington campus.

Course Contents

The UNSW handbook is searchable by course name, code and description. In some cases, a more detailed course description, outlines, timetables and additional information may be found at individual faculty or school web sites.

Course Descriptions   |   Schedule of Classes

Enrollment Requirements

Students must take at least 50% of their courses in the Faculty of Engineering.

Workload per Semester

Academic load at UNSW is based on Units of credit (UoC). To be considered as full-time, students must enrol in 18 UoC per term, 24 UoC per Tailored Term, or 48 units of credit per academic year. This is the maximum number of units of credit exchange students can take. Most courses at UNSW are worth 6 units of credit each.

Additional Application Materials

Students nominated by IIE to UNSW need to complete the online application and upload the following supporting documents online:

1. The most recent academic transcript (with English translation if applicable). The transcript needs to be uploaded as one document in a PDF format only;

2. ID page of the student’s passport;

3. Proof of the English language proficiency, if applicable.

Recommendation letter from a professor or academic staff:

• Not Required

Acceptance packets will be sent approximately 4 weeks after the application deadline. All acceptance materials are electronic.

Housing

On Campus Accommodation

A variety of room types and apartments are available, including catered colleges, self-catered university apartments or privately-run colleges on (or very close to) campus. University accommodation should be prearranged as places are limited and not guaranteed even if applied by the deadline.

It is not recommended for exchange students to apply for UNSW Accommodation, as options are very limited at the self-catered University Terraces, Barker Apartments, Mulwarree Apartments, and fully-catered Kensington Colleges.

It is recommended that exchange students apply for the UNSW affiliated on campus accommodation. UNSW has eight affiliated Colleges and Apartments that provide high quality accommodation. Applicants should apply directly to the College or Apartment as soon as possible. These include Shalom College, New College, Warrane College, and UNSW Village.

Off Campus Accommodation

Most exchange students 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.

• Resources and advice
• We recommend that students arrive 1-2 weeks early to find off campus accommodation. You may wish to book temporary accommodation to allow time to find more permanent housing.

Accommodation is a matter of personal choice and depends on individual preferences and circumstances. It is recommended that students view all lodgings in person before signing any documents and not arrange permanent off-campus accommodation in advance.

Estimated Cost of Living

Cost of Living

Local transportation

Sydney's public transport network consists of buses, trains, taxis, ferries and a few private bus companies serving outer suburbs.

Public transport to the University is by bus. There are numerous bus routes which connect the University with the city and nearby suburbs. During the university session, there are special express buses between the University’s Kensington campus and the Central Railway Station and Circular Quay. For full details see:

Transport planning

Contact

Office Responsible for International Exchange Students

Study Abroad and Student Exchange is part of the Division of External Relations and is committed to making your experience at UNSW an enjoyable one.

Ms. Katrina Sandy
Exchange Advisor
Tel: + (612) 9385 3179
E-mail: Advisor4USA@unsw.edu.au

Address:
UNSW Study Abroad and Exchange Office
Rm G30, West Wing, John Goodsell Building
The University of New South Wales
SYDNEY 2052 AUSTRALIA

City Info

Sydney is a dynamic, energetic and multicultural city with plenty of activities on offer to suit almost everyone. It boasts fabulous harbour views and spectacular landmarks including the Harbour Bridge and Opera House, Circular Quay, Botanic Gardens, Darling Harbour, the Rocks, not to mention some of the best beaches in the world.

Sydney has a vibrant arts, cultural and restaurant scene where you can indulge in the many different flavours of Australia and the world. The popular café scene allows for outdoor eating where you can make the most of Sydney’s beautiful weather.

UNSW’s prime location means it is close to Sydney downtown, Bondi and Coogee beaches and other major attractions and shopping areas in the Sydney city area.

Paddington is home to the College of Fine Arts and is only 10 minutes from the main campus. It is well known for its fashion boutiques and is regarded as the place to see the latest trends in fashion and design. Paddington along with the neighbouring suburbs of Surry Hills and Darlinghurst create a trendy atmosphere with their art galleries, cafes, pubs and fashion outlets.

Bondi Junction is a popular place for shopping and is located close to Bondi Beach. It is easy to access by public transport from UNSW and the city and has a huge shopping centre that houses all the major department stores and retail outlets in one convenient place. The centre also includes a large cinema and entertainment complex.

Bondi Beach is only 8 kms from Sydney downtown and Coogee Beach is only 10 minutes from UNSW Sydney. Both beaches are perfect for swimming and body surfing. Learn to surf or take a walk along the promenades and experience the true Australian surf lifestyle! Don’t forget to experience the spectacular ocean views along the popular coastal walk from Bondi to Coogee.

Moore Park is minutes away from UNSW Sydney and contains two major sports stadiums (Sydney Cricket Ground and Aussie Stadium), entertainment, dinning and shopping venues. Next door is Centennial Park located on 189 hectares of beautiful parklands where people can walk, picnic, rest from the hassle and bustle of everyday life and enjoy outdoor activities.

There are express busses from UNSW Sydney to the city and Central Railway Station. Close to Central Railway Station is Sydney’s China Town with an exciting mix of affordable restaurants and shops from all over Asia. Just a short walk away is Darling Harbour where you can find museums, Sydney Aquarium and plenty of specialty shops.

There is always plenty to do in Sydney, lots of friendly people and the great weather makes it the perfect destination to spend 6 -12 months on exchange.