University of New South Wales Scholarships for International Students 2026

As an international student, you have the chance to study at the University of New South Wales for free by applying for full scholarships. Currently, the university offers the International Scientia Coursework Scholarship program where international undergraduate and postgraduate coursework students have the opportunity to be awarded up to full tuition fee payment. To apply, you need to submit a separate application for the UNSW Scholarships for International Students (PUCA1029). Visit the University of New South Wales scholarship page for more information.

The University of New South Wales has an acceptance rate of approximately 60%. This means that out of every 100 applicants, about 60 are admitted. However, do note that some programs, like engineering and medicine courses, may have lower acceptance rates compared to others. Acceptance rates still vary significantly depending on the program and the applicant’s qualifications, as the selection process can be competitive, especially for international students.

Yes, UNSW does have some scholarships that explicitly include online study options, but many UNSW scholarships are designed for on-campus study.

UNSW scholarships span a wide range of subjects, including STEM fields (engineering, computer science, data science, and science), business (including AGSM programs), humanities and arts, law, and health fields. In Global Scholarships stories, Dr. Shahriyar Safat Dipta studied a PhD in Electrical Engineering (engineering/STEM), while Maudita Dwi Anbarani completed a Master’s in Public Health (health/medicine-adjacent).

UNSW offers scholarships for domestic students and for international students, and many international scholarships are broadly open to “international students” (rather than a single nationality), while some awards are restricted to specific citizenships/countries. The recipient stories show real examples of different nationalities succeeding at UNSW: Maudita Dwi Anbarani introduced herself with, “Hello, my name is Dita, and I am from Jakarta, Indonesia,” and Dr. Shahriyar Safat Dipta earned a fully funded PhD route as an international student. Practically, you’ll want to shortlist scholarships that match your citizenship (or that are open to all international students) and then confirm the fine print for your program.

Often yes, UNSW typically requires proof of English proficiency unless you meet an approved exemption/alternative pathway. Both Global Scholarships recipients at UNSW reported using IELTS: Dr. Shahriyar Safat Dipta explained, “I had to take a standardized English test as I am from a non-English-speaking country,” and Maudita Dwi Anbarani noted she took Academic IELTS and that “the minimum score for a Master’s Award was 6.0” for her Australia Awards pathway. Always match your degree’s English requirement (some programs require higher scores than others).

Yes, but it depends on the exact degree (and on whether you’re applying from high school, a diploma pathway, or a prior university degree). UNSW sets program-specific academic entry requirements, so the “minimum grade” is not one universal number. That said, scholarship winners at UNSW typically had strong academics: Dr. Shahriyar Safat Dipta reported a “CGPA 3.89/4.00,” and Maudita Dwi Anbarani wrote she graduated with a “GPA of 3.74/4.00.” Treat these as real examples of competitive profiles, not guaranteed cutoffs.

Many UNSW scholarships don’t advertise a strict age cap and instead focus on admission status, academic merit, and scholarship-specific criteria. However, some external scholarships that people use to study at UNSW can have age-related rules that vary by country and program. For example, Maudita Dwi Anbarani was funded through Australia Awards, and Australia Awards age rules can differ by participating country (some locations state “no upper age limit,” while others publish an upper range).

A strong academic record helps, but UNSW scholarships can also weigh leadership, extracurricular impact, and fit with program goals. For research scholarships, a research-focused profile is especially important. Dr. Shahriyar Safat Dipta described a very research-driven approach: “My preparations included making a research proposal, engineering my CV to focus on the research and strong areas,” and he emphasized readiness because “having all your documents ready always helps in the application process.” For development-focused awards, clarity of purpose matters too. Maudita Dwi Anbarani wrote, “I created a study plan that outlined the program I wanted to pursue,” and tied it to public health needs in Indonesia.

Document requirements vary by degree and scholarship type, but commonly include academic transcripts/degree certificates, proof of English proficiency (if required), identity documents (e.g., passport), and any program-specific materials. For HDR/research scholarship pathways, applicants often need a CV and a research proposal. Dr. Shahriyar Safat Dipta explicitly mentioned “making a research proposal” and tailoring a CV. For some scholarship-managed pathways, the process can be lighter on the applicant at the university application stage. Maudita Dwi Anbarani said, “I only needed to submit my preferred institutions and degree program,” because the Australia Awards helped manage the university application process. If you’re applying to medicine as an international student, expect extra items like a personal statement and test confirmation as part of the admissions steps.

Yes, UNSW lists an A$150 online application fee for many direct online applications, with exceptions for some applicant categories and program types (for example, certain postgraduate research applications can be treated differently).