UNSW Sydney
Why UNSW Sydney is almost tied with the University of Sydney as the top uni in the city.
UNSW Sydney is ranked #55 in the world, based on a composite of QS, Times, ARWU, and Webometrics rankings. In Australia, UNSW is ranked #3 out of 42 universities.
The University of New South Wales (UNSW) is a prestigious Sydney university. The university's main campus is in a prime location, 7 km from the city centre in Kensington. UNSW is regularly ranked among the world's top 100 universities and attracts outstanding students from Australia and around the globe.
Website: unsw.edu.au | Campuses: Sydney (Kensington, Paddington) [NSW], Canberra (at ADFA) [ACT]
UNSW World Ranking
Global Ranking: 55
UNSW Sydney holds the 55th position in a composite measure of world university rankings. It easily ranks within the top 100 globally, with top 50 placements in the QS and Webometrics rankings.
QS ranking: 19
Times Higher Education: 83
ARWU: 77
Webometrics: 39
Australia Ranking
Australia Rank: 3
UNSW Sydney is the third-ranked university in Australia, behind the University of Melbourne and the University of Sydney, but ahead of the UQ, Monash, ANU, UWA, and Adelaide University.
Above: University of Melbourne (1), University of Sydney (2)
Below: University of Queensland (4), Monash University (5), ANU (6)
Is UNSW a Good University?
The University of New South Wales (UNSW) is located in Kensington, offering students easy access to Sydney’s beaches and city. Known as one of the Go8 universities, UNSW provides resources to local and international students adjust to university life.
Kensington Campus
International students
Student life
UNSW’s student life is lively, with many clubs, events, and social spaces, creating a welcoming campus community. This environment makes UNSW a top choice for students seeking strong academics and an active social experience.
Satisfaction: 78.7%
UNSW reviews show satisfaction levels of 75.3% for bachelor degrees and 82.0% for postgraduate students, close to average but slightly above for older students. Uni Reviews provides individual ratings and comments.
How Many Students?
Students: 70,342
UNSW Sydney had a total of 70,342 students in 2023, making it the 5th largest university in Australia. UNSW is the 2nd biggest uni in New South Wales.
- International students: 27,735 (39%)
- Postgraduate students: 31,711 (45%)
- Gender ratio: 45% Female : 55% Male
- On-campus students: 62,446 (89%)
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance Rate: 31%
The UNSW Sydney acceptance rate is 31%. Among students with an ATAR that qualifies for university, 69% are unable to be admitted into their preferred degree.
Required ATAR: 84
It is very hard to get into UNSW, with a minimum ATAR of 84 on average. At the time of publishing, the ATAR threshold was 80 for Arts, 93 for Bachelor of Commerce, and 80 for Science degrees.
Does UNSW Offer Online Degrees?
The University of New South Wales (UNSW) offers online degrees, mainly masters. Only 80 undergrad students study online, while 7,671 postgrad students do. This makes up about 11% of the student body. UNSW Online focuses on postgrad courses, with limited options for bachelor degrees.
UNSW Review
Independent review by Australian Universities. See what it’s really like to study at UNSW Sydney (University of New South Wales) — one of Australia’s top universities and a global leader in engineering, business, and technology.