Photo: Wikimedia Commons
About the university
Australia's oldest university, and it looks the part — the sandstone Main Quadrangle could pass for an Oxford college. It sits a short bus ride from the Sydney CBD, with one of the country's largest and oldest global alumni networks behind it.
Country
🇦🇺 Australia
City
Sydney, New South Wales
Founded
1850
Study levels
Foundation, Diploma, Undergraduate, Postgraduate
Intakes
February, July
Approx. tuition
AUD 35k–55k/yr
Popular courses
What people actually study here.
Entry requirements & approximate costs
What it takes to get in, and to fund it.
Academic entry
Completed GCE A/Levels (or equivalent) with results the university considers comparable to its domestic entry standard. A foundation or diploma pathway is usually available where results fall short of direct entry.
English proficiency
IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall is typical for undergraduate entry, often higher for competitive courses like medicine or law. Postgraduate courses commonly ask for 6.5–7.0. PTE Academic and other recognised tests are usually accepted as alternatives.
Approximate tuition
Roughly AUD 35,000–55,000 a year for most bachelor's and master's programmes; medicine, dentistry and some specialised degrees run higher. Figures vary significantly by course and change yearly, always confirm current fees on the university's own site.
These figures apply broadly across Australia's higher-education system, not just University of Sydney, always confirm your specific course's exact requirements and fees on the university's own site.
Scholarships
Ways to lower the cost.
The Sydney Scholars International programme offers merit-based awards covering part of tuition for high-achieving overseas applicants.
The vibe
What it actually feels like.
- Gothic-revival sandstone quads next to glass research buildings — old and new campus in the same postcode.
- A famously strong student union scene, with over 200 clubs and societies ("revues" included).
- Beach culture bleeds into student life — Bondi and Coogee are both a short bus ride from campus.
For Sri Lankan applicants
Why Sri Lankan students consider it.
Australia's oldest university and one of its most recognisable, Sydney suits Sri Lankan students who want a large, historic-campus experience with one of the country's biggest alumni networks.
Fun things to do
Life outside the lecture hall.
Walk the Bondi to Coogee coastal path on a weekend — one of Sydney's best free afternoons.
Catch a student revue at the Seymour Centre, a Sydney Uni tradition since the 1970s.
Sit the sandstone steps of the Quadrangle during Welcome Week — it's the campus's unofficial living room.
Opportunities for international students
What's on offer if you're coming from abroad.
Application guidance
From application to visa-ready file.
- 1
Choose your course and confirm entry requirements
- 2
Submit an online application with certified transcripts and English test results
- 3
Receive a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) once accepted and tuition arrangements are confirmed
- 4
Begin your GTE statement and student visa documentation
Once you have an offer, the documentation process covers exactly what identification, academic and financial evidence your visa file will need next.
Related guides
Documentation, explained.
Student Visa Document Checklist for Sri Lankan Students
The short version. For the full explanation of each item, see our complete documentation process guide.
Student Visa Proof of Funds Explained
The single most common reason a student visa file stalls, explained in plain English.
Common Student Visa Documentation Mistakes
Most refused or delayed files aren't refused for one big reason. They're delayed by three or four small, avoidable ones.
Also in Australia
Other top Australia universities.
References & sources
Where this page comes from.
- University of Sydney · official websiteVisit ↗
- International admissions pageVisit ↗
- Hero photograph · Wikimedia CommonsSource ↗
- Fisher Library · Wikimedia CommonsSource ↗
- A stained-glass window in the Great Hall · Wikimedia CommonsSource ↗
Course lists, scholarships and admissions details summarised here are illustrative. Always confirm the current, exact terms on the university's own official website before applying. Photography is freely licensed via Wikimedia Commons, not sourced from the university's own site.
Aiming for University of Sydney? Let's make the money story match.
Campus photography & crest via Wikimedia Commons contributors. Course, admissions and scholarship details change. Always confirm current terms on the official site above before applying.