【Comparison】The University of Sydney VS University of New South Wales

There are three main universities in Sydney: The University of Sydney (USYD), The University of New South Wales (UNSW), and the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). All of them are ranked within the top 100 in the QS World University Rankings for 2024.

In the 2024 QS ranking, both USYD and UNSW are equally ranked at the 19th position. Choosing between the University of Sydney and the University of New South Wales can be challenging for parents and students who primarily rely on the QS World University Ranking for their decision.

Therefore, we have included additional factors for comparison between USYD and UNSW in this article. If you’re trying to decide between these two universities, this article is for you.

Campus location and Environment
UNSW	The main campus of UNSW is located in Kensington, approximately 20 minutes away from the Sydney Central Business District (CBD) by public transport. The light rail is a great and convenient way to travel between Sydney CBD and Kensington campus. UNSW’s campus showcases a sleek and contemporary architectural design that features vibrancy and modernity. The campus also boasts comprehensive facilities, including diverse dining options.
USYD	The main campus of the University of Sydney is relatively closer to the Sydney CBD. The primary public transportation options are buses, or it’s about a 20-minute walk to the CBD. The USYD campus gives out a sense of history and solemnity, featuring iconic Gothic-style buildings. There aren’t many dining options within the campus as the school is close to the city.

International / Australian Local Recognition
UNSW	The recognition of UNSW outside of Australia is slightly lower than that of the University of Sydney, but its reputation has been on the rise in recent years.
USYD	The University of Sydney has a higher level of recognition outside of Australia.
There is no essential distinction in recognition between the two universities within Australia.

Key Specialisations and Educational Focus
UNSW	UNSW offers slightly fewer majors compared to USYD. Notably, UNSW holds the top ranking in Australia for five subjects, which include Civil & Structural Engineering, Electrical & Electronic Engineering, Mechanical, Aeronautical & Manufacturing Engineering, Accounting & Finance, and Statistics & Operational Research (equal first). Their educational approach emphasises nurturing students’ practical and applied skills.
USYD	The University of Sydney offers a broader range of majors and holds the top position in Australia for Arts and humanities, Nursing, Veterinary science, and Oncology. The educational approach at USYD emphasizes the cultivation of students’ humanistic spirit and leadership skills.

Semester Start Date and System
UNSW	At UNSW, an academic year comprises 3 semesters. The first semester runs from mid-February to mid-May, the second semester starts at the end of May and ends in early August, and the third semester goes from mid-September to mid-November. The majority of courses offer two intake periods, in February and September, with a few courses commencing in May.
USYD	The academic year consists of two semesters. The first semester runs from February to the end of June, and the second semester goes from the end of July to the end of November. Most courses have two intake periods, in February and July.

The Master's Student Satisfaction (According to the Official Statistics)
UNSW	75.9% Current students had a positive overall experience 78.1% Current students were positive about their skills development 81.9% Current students rated teaching practices positively 82.7% Current students were happy with facilities and resources 74.0% Current students rated support services positively
USYD	68.4% Current students had a positive overall experience 78.6% Current student were positive about their skills development 76.9% Current student rated teaching practices positively 76.4% Current student were happy with facilities and resources 61.9% Current student rated support services positively
Source: QILT

Recent Graduate Satisfaction (According to the official statistics)
UNSW	80.2% Graduates were satisfied overall 90.3% Graduates found full time employment within a year 92.9% Graduates found employment within a year 6% Graduates continued to study full-time Median graduate income One year out $80,600
USYD	76.8% Graduates were satisfied overall 86.8% Graduates found full time employment within a year 91.3% Graduates found employment within a year 6.1% Graduates continued to study full-time Median graduate income one year out $67,100
Source: QILT

Application Difficulty (According to AAS Experiences）
UNSW	UNSW offers more pathways to international students, including Diploma courses that connect to Bachelor programs. It is also predicted that UNSW may consider introducing pre-master courses as a pathway to Master’s programs. UNSW is generally less strict with credit transfer policies.
USYD	The University of Sydney provides fewer pathways to International students as compared to UNSW. They are strict on credit transfer policies.
Both universities have similar admission requirements (in terms of English and Academic Results).

Both the University of Sydney and UNSW have pretty high world rankings, and there’s no superiority or inferiority; it’s all about if it suits you. According to AAS team’s experiences, from course consultation, application submission, to offer acceptance, there are many factors that can influence the decision-making in choosing a suitable university.

We hope this article can help students who are torn between choosing USYD or UNSW to gain a deeper understanding of the distinctive features and their differences. It ultimately comes down to choosing the university and program that best aligns with your needs.

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