UNSW : University of New South Wales

Overview

The University of New South Wales (UNSW) is a public research university based in Sydney, Australia. Also called UNSW or UNSW Sydney, the university consistently ranks as one of the best educational institutions in Australia.

The UNSW is composed of nine main faculties, all of which offer undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, along with Foundation Studies programs for international students and Diploma Programs. The university's faculties offer a diverse range of courses, including arts and social sciences, architecture, engineering, and law, but the UNSW is known for its strong academic programs in civil and structural engineering, accounting and finance, technology, and law. The university also allows students to pursue double degrees and participate in internships and placements.

The UNSW was officially established in 1949 through an enactment from the Parliament of New South Wales. The university was established as a response to a mounting need for a university that provided specialized training to engineers and other technology professionals. Originally named the New South Wales University of Technology, the university's first programs focused exclusively on a number of engineering disciplines. However, in 1958, the university expanded to include non-technology courses, establishing its faculties of arts, medicine, and law. In the same year, the university was also renamed the University of New South Wales.

Today, the UNSW comprises numerous faculties, schools, and facilities to accommodate a wide variety of study programs and research activities. Aside from the main UNSW campus in Sydney, the university includes UNSW Art & Design in Paddington and also provides tertiary education for the Australian Defence Force Academy in Canberra.

As a founding member of the Group of Eight and of Universitas 21, UNSW Sydney maintains a high reputation for excellence in academics and research. The first of its kind in Australia, the UNSW Lowy Cancer Research Center is home to 400 researchers studying childhood and adult cancers. Research communities in the faculties of science, medicine, and engineering are further supported by the university's Mark Wainwright Analytical Center, which houses preparation laboratories and computing facilities.

High-quality research forms a major component of UNSW's 2025 Strategy, which includes initiatives for academic excellence, innovation and engagement, and social impact. For its efforts to pursue this strategy, the UNSW has been recognized as Australia's top entrepreneurial university and a national leader in research quality and impact. In accordance with its 2025 Strategy, the university also aims to be a model of equity, diversity, and inclusion.