As a student with us, you may join the University of Sydney Union (USU). The Union is the oldest and largest union of any University in Australia. With over 200 clubs and societies, every social and recreational interest of Sydney’s 50,000 students is catered to. The Union also offers discounts on a range of materials for courses, restaurants on- and off-campus and stores around the University and in the city of Sydney.
Future Students
I am a HSC school leaver
Unrivalled Teaching Quality
Our academic staff are leaders in teaching, research and industry. The people that teach you wrote the books used by other institutions’ teachers. You will benefit first-hand from their expertise developed over years of global experience. And you will engage with them on a professional level that is unrivalled in undergraduate teaching. Their insight will be available for your design projects, extending your work and encouraging you to set a new benchmark for your own work and aspirations.
Equipped for anything and everything
Our flexible degree structure emphasises subject breadth, allowing you to tailor your degree to your particular interests.The Faculty of Architecture, Design and Planning and the whole of the University of Sydney has extensive facilities. No matter how broad your interests, the University is sure to have a facility that can help you achieve your ambitions.
World Class Reputation
Sydney is a global, metropolitan city, so it’s fitting that its leading University is a world-class centre of excellence. The University of Sydney is a globally recognised leader in teaching and research. When you study with us, you will benefit from Australia’s best teachers in their research fields with a student body that matches this excellence.
One Decision: Endless Possibilities
Design in Architecture
Architecture is the study of the built environment and the unique role of the architectural profession as both designers and interpreters of the world around us. Your Bachelor of Design in Architecture will equip you with the fundamentals for a rewarding career as an architect or in allied design fields.
Design Computing
Design Computing teaches you to know what is required to bring ideas into reality. A whatever-it-takes, design-led approach engages you in creative problem solving. It’s the approach industry leaders Apple and Google use to dream up new products, services and interactive experiences. This degree prepares you to join these leaders of industry.
Do it right. Do it once.
A good craftsman never blames his tools, but that doesn’t mean he should suffer for them. The Faculty’s vast array of workshops and equipment makes studying with us a unique experience. We are one of only a handful of design faculties in Australia that has the advanced digital facilities for 3d model making, or to engage with the latest and most advanced computer technologies. Our extensive, modern facilities are open to students around the clock using 24-hour swipe card access. This means that you won’t be limited in what you can achieve, or when you can achieve it.
If you’d like to know more, come along to the next open day, held twice a year. Or contact the Faculty to make an appointment.
University life is a great and rewarding change from attending high school. You’ll find that you have more freedom to make decisions about what is important to you and to express your personality. Universities offer you so many options that it can become a bit overwhelming, so it’s important you’re prepared for these changes. Rest assured, you’ll join a group of eager students who are just like you – setting out to lectures, tutorials and seminars for the first time.
You’ll learn how to navigate university administration, plan your degree, work to timelines and be more in control of your studies and life than you may previously have known. University isn’t just a time to expand your knowledge; it’s a time to explore who you will become and what mark you will leave on the world.
Adjusting to student life
You’ll love University life. You get the chance to engage with your interests, and you have the opportunity to meet like-minded people. However, it can be vastly different from being in the work force. Learning how to navigate the University campus, planning your degree and working to deadlines are all skills you will acquire. It will be a renewing and refreshing time in your life.
Choosing where to live
Renting a sharehouse is a formative university experience. With many townhouses and terraces in the suburbs around the university, it's easy to find somewhere close. Glebe and Newtown are particularly known for their vibrant student and café culture.
The University's colleges and halls of residence give you an intimate, academic environment. Each with their own traditions, the colleges provide you with much more than a roof over your head. You will also find catering, tutorials and an active intercollegiate social program that complements your university studies.
You may be lucky enough to have family already living in Sydney. The easy access to the University through Sydney's comprehensive bus and rail network means you can always make it to your lectures on time.
“University life goes well beyond the campus. Studying at Sydney Uni opens up the city – you learn what’s happening and where to go.”
With so many creative students in the one building, it’s no surprise that architecture and design students have been staging an annual performance since the 1960s. You can join the revue in any number of roles; as a writer, a director, a performer or in costuming. Or if you’ve got aspiring technical expertise in lighting, music, video or sound recording, those skills are always needed. The revue is a great way to get to know the student community outside of the stress of assignments and studios.
The Revue is not just open to students of Architecture. The Revue Club is open to students studying any one of our programs, including post-graduate students. Past revues have even included students from other institutions, expanding the links of the student design community.
The Sydney University Design Association is an active promoter of student and design-based events throughout the University year. Student-run and funded, SUDA is a dynamic association that caters to the less-academic pursuits of design students. When you study with us, you are automatically a member of the association and can vote on or stand for the executive positions, elected each year.
SUDA works closely with the Revue club and is involved in a variety of events, including the weekly Designer Drinks after your classes, the annual Cake Competition, orientation activities and charity fundraising events.
Transport Options
Bus Routes
Sydney's bus network covers almost all of the city. There are two major bus stops – Parramatta Road and City Road. The 412, 413, 436, 438, 439,440,461, 480, 483 and m10 all stop at Parramatta Rd. The Wilkinson building is best accessed from the City Road stop, where you should take a 370, 422, 423, 426, 428, or m30.
Trains
Redfern train station is only a 10 minute walk away. A free shuttle bus runs to and from Fisher Library during the evenings.
Cycle to Uni
The University has cycle racks where you can chain up your bicycle after riding to University. There are also showers, in case you want to clean up before heading to your classes.
Keeping yourself fit and healthy
Sydney University Sport and Fitness
University life is a big change of pace. With schedules changing for many courses each semester it can be hard to keep to routines you may have set during high school. This could mean that you’ll be struggling to find time for important activities like exercise. But with two fully-equipped gymnasiums, a swimming pool and many other sporting opportunities, university is also a great chance to pick up a new sport or reinforce those existing habits.
The University is equipped with a world-class array of sporting facilities, used to train Olympic, Paralympic and Australian national athletes. It’s easy to go for a quick swim or to play a game of tennis when you have a Sydney University Sport and Fitness Membership. You can also join a team and play as part of an inter varsity competition with other universities in Australia and overseas. Of course, extensive, clean and modern gym equipment is provided in both of the University’s gymnasiums, along with less common equipment such as a rock climbing wall or archery range.
Affordable, first-class healthcare
The University runs two on-campus medical services, located in the Wentworth and the Holme buildings. If you’re ever unwell, you can seek help from student medical services. These clinics operate both by appointment and walk-in consultations. All University medical personnel are qualified professionals that can advise you on all medical matters.
Food and Diet
University food need not be a cafeteria meal. Affordable café and restaurant style meals are available across the University’s campuses and many smaller stalls and stands offer drinks and cakes for hungry students on the go. When you’re feeling hungry after a long day of classes, join your classmates for a cheap student dinner on King St, or walk to Glebe Pt Rd to choose from the largest diversity of food options in Sydney. If you are a University of Sydney Union member, you will often receive discounts on these meals or special offers throughout the week.
Your lifestyle choices are important and the University’s array of restaurants, cafes and stalls means you don’t have to choose between eating or your values. Don’t go hungry again: a full array of vegetarian, vegan, halal, gluten and lactose free foods is available across the campus.
Managing stress, relationships and your mental well-being
When you come to University, you’re thrown into a new world with many new perspectives. And you’ll be encountering sources of stress you might not have anticipated or for which you had planned. As a student, you have access to support that help you manage difficult periods You can attend workshops that help you manage adjusting to university life, to help you communicate, to manage stress and anxiety and to manage interpersonal relationships. You may also get personalised assistance from one of the University’s fully-qualified counsellors who provide a limited number of free sessions to University students. This support makes sure you are on top of your game and doing what you do best – enjoying and excelling in your studies and life.
How to invest in your education
HECS-HELP System
As a domestic school leaver (i.e.: you have Australian or New Zealand citizenship or permanent residency) you are entitled to defer the costs of your study to the Australian Government’s HECS-HELP system. This program means that you will not need to repay your study costs until you start earning over a threshold amount.
HECS-HELP Discounts
You can also make upfront payments that attract a 10 per cent discount on the amount paid: If you pay $500.00 in advance, it will clear $550.00 worth of debt. Most domestic students complete their studies through a combination of HECS-HELP deferral and upfront payments, with the bulk of their repayments made once they have graduated and are employed.
| Course | Domestic Fee |
|---|---|
| Bachelor of Design in Architecture | $8,355 per year |
| Bachelor of Design in Architecture (Honours) | $8,363 per year |
| Bachelor of Design Computing | $8,363 per year |
| BACHELOR OF ENGINEERING and BACHELOR OF DESIGN IN ARCHITECTURE | $8,363 per year |
| BACHELOR OF LAWS AND BACHELOR OF DESIGN IN ARCHITECTURE | $8,780 per year |
Living to a budget
You’re going to have lots of things that you want to do while you study. And it’s important to budget so that you aren’t short of money. The following table gives some estimates of costs that your budget will need to consider.
Student living on-campus \\ Student living off-campus \\ Family living off-campus (2 adults+1 child)
Arrival Costs
Cost of Living Per Week
Coming to the University of Sydney is already an achievement: we have one of the most talented student bodies in the country. But you may have exceptionally developed skills and talents. Scholarships are designed to encourage you to join our students; to extend and enhance the student experience through your unique skills and attributes.
Scholarships are competitive and are offered by both the University and the Faculty. Some scholarships are awarded automatically and others require an application. There are over 700 scholarships available across the university, so it’s important to be aware of application dates and eligibility.
Bursaries are provided for students who demonstrate financial need or disadvantage that would otherwise prevent their study at the University. The bursary program is designed to help you pay for your living and study costs whilst making academic progress. Limited bursaries are also available for first year students who may require assistance setting up accommodation, buying books and computers and settling into University life. Eligibility for bursaries is assessed on a case-by-case basis and students seeking a bursary should contact the Financial Assistance Service for more information.
If you excel in your studies, you should be rewarded. The University’s Prizes system gives you that extra incentive to spend an extra hour on your assignment or to really prepare for that presentation. Prizes are awarded by the University and the Faculty, and more than 1000 prizes are available in total.
Of course, the Government wants you to succeed in your studies too. Centrelink can offer you one of three support programs and can also help you to make payments for accommodation. It’s a good idea to check your eligibility for a Centrelink allowance at least six months before you come to study with us – that way your payments can start on the first day and you’ll maximise value.
Alternative Entry
Flexible Entry
The flexible entry and additional submission portfolio is a way for students who are close to the required ATAR (or equivalent) to gain entry into the course. This system is very important as it gives us a chance to assess students on more than just their ATAR and to allow excellent students into the program who are just short of the entry score.
In conjunction with the HSC and other formal assessment systems, it assists The University of Sydney to identify those students with the potential to excel in higher education in the fields of architecture and design.
Students that expect to receive an ATAR within five points of the published previous years ATAR cutoff are encouraged to apply through flexible entry or additional submission.
Letter
References
Portfolio
Coversheet
The letter is your chance to express to the Faculty why you would make an ideal student in your desired degree. The letter should include some information about you, any experience or knowledge that you hold in the area for which you are applying to study, as well as anything else that demonstrates your ongoing interest in design. When composing your letter it’s important to remember who will be assessing it, so keep it succinct and to-the-point. Remember to write with a passionate voice that shows the reader your desire to study in architecture, design or planning.
References are a great way of demonstrating to the Faculty that you possess the qualities we seek in a candidate. Your references don’t have to be from someone with a background in the field of architecture or design, but it is important that they attest to your strength of character. Generally, these references come from your teacher or principal, club directors or sporting coaches. Applicants for the Bachelor of Design in Architecture are requested to submit one reference only.
The portfolio is the main element of your Flexible entry application. The portfolio is a small sample of the creative work you have done. This might include artwork, music, architectural work, web design or development, 3D modelling, technical drawing, written work and anything that demonstrates skills in design and creativity.
Your portfolio should exhibit two primary characteristics:
The first is 'breadth'. Your portfolio should present a broad mixture of your creative work, especially sketches and freehand drawings for architecture or digital media for design computing. It can include anything you think is relevant; including design and technology work, digital media or online work, graphic design, photography, life drawing, and models you have made. You may also consider collages or found objects. Your imagination is the only limit to the items that can be included. The second characteristic that we are looking for in your portfolio is 'passion'. By passion we mean that we are looking for those works on which you have worked hard, and of which you are proud. These best express your commitments to design and creativity.
An important aspect to consider is the number of pieces you need to put into your portfolio. There should be a sufficient number of items to tell your story but many repeats of identical items should be avoided (and no portfolio should be over a dozen pages, or, for those with a digital portfolio, a dozen animations or rendered images). Remember to mount and label your work and present it as professionally as possible. Tell us what the piece of work is, how you produced it, when you produced it.
For the Bachelor of Design in Architecture, the portfolio should be submitted in A3 or A4 printed format. For the Bachelor of Design Computing, the portfolio may be a mixture of printed A3 or A4 material and a CD or DVD containing digital files of your work.
It's important to include a cover sheet, so the Faculty can identify your submission. We receive many applications and only those with fully completed cover sheets will be considered.
Application deadline is Friday, January 4, 2013.
Please send your submission to:
Flexible Admission, Student Administration Centre
Faculty of Architecture, Design & Planning, Wilkinson Building G04
University of Sydney NSW 2006
or deliver it in person to:
Student Administration Centre,
Level 2, Wilkinson Building
148 City Road
Darlington NSW 2006
Please note: The University of Sydney is closed from Tuesday December 18, 2012 and re-opens on Wednesday January 2, 2013. Portfolios sent by mail during this time will be stored at the University mail house until the University re-opens. However, if you wish to hand deliver your portfolio, you will have to do so once the University re-opens on the 2nd of January, 2013.
I'M DOING A DEGREE THAT'S PERFECT FOR ME. FLEXIBLE ENTRY GAVE ME THE EXTRA FEW POINTS I NEEDED.
Broadway Access Scheme
Students who have experienced long-term educational disadvantage may apply to the Broadway Scheme, which falls under the banner of the University of Sydney's Educational Access Scheme (EAS) coordinated by the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC).
The scheme is mainly intended for current-year Australian Year 12 students who expect to receive an ATAR (or equivalent). Over 600 Broadway Scheme places are awarded to eligible applicants each year.
To learn more about this scheme visit the Student Administration Broadway Scheme information page.
CADIGAL ALTERNATIVE ENTRY PROGRAM
The Cadigal Alternative Entry Program is an access and support program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who want to study at the University of Sydney. Any course offered by the University (excluding block-mode and away-from-base courses) can be studied through the Cadigal Program.
Applicants need to be in one of the following two categories: people under 21 years of age who have completed the NSW Higher School Certificate or an equivalent examination (HSC applicants); people over 21 years of age (mature-age applicants).
Applications for the Cadigal Program must be submitted to the Cadigal Officer at Student Support Services or Yooroang Garang before the end of November 2012. Applicants must also submit a UAC application showing preferred courses at the University of Sydney.
To learn more about the Cadigal Alternative Entry Program visit the Student Administration Cadigal Alternative Entry Page
How to Apply
1
Choose your course
We have two undergraduate courses: Design in Architecture and Design Computing. You may apply for both, but you will only be allowed to study one. You can read more about the course information from the study section of this page.
2
Apply to UAC
Once you've made a decision you will need to lodge your preference with the University Admissions Centre (UAC). The higher you place your preference, the more likely you are to be offered a spot.
Entry to our programs is competitive. To improve your chances of selection, submit a Flexible Entry portfolio. This can give you up to 5 bonus ATAR points. See the Pathways section of this website for more information on Flexible Entry.
3
Receive an Offer
Depending on your ATAR score, you may receive an offer to study your desired course. There are Early Round, Main and Late Round offers, so be mindful of the dates for each of these categories. Check online or keep an eye on your email for more information on your application's progress.
4
Accept & Enrol
You will be required to attend the University to enrol. If you are unable to attend in person, you can organise a proxy.
5
Deferral Procedure
If you wish to defer your offer for one year, the University is happy for you to do so. However, you must lodge a deferral application with UAC by the specified date or your offer of acceptance will be withdrawn.
6
Missed Out?
Don’t despair if you’ve missed out on an offer. Many students commence programs at other universities and then transfer to our programs in their second year. If you remain committed to studying with us, choose a program that demonstrates your passion. The higher your marks in your study, the better your chances of transferring to study with us.
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Semester Dates
| Semester One | Semester Two | |
|---|---|---|
| Lectures Begin | Monday 4 March | Monday 29 July |
| Last day to add a unit | Friday 15 March | Friday 9 August |
| Last day for withdrawal | Thursday 22 March | Wednesday 16 August |
| UA (Universities Australia) Common Week / non-teaching Easter period | Friday 29 May - Friday 5 April | Monday 30 September - Friday 4 October |
| Last day to DNF: Discontinue Not Fail | Friday 26 April | Friday 13 September |
| Last day to DF: Discontinue Fail | Friday 7 June | Friday 1 November |
| Last day of lectures | Friday 7 June | Friday 1 November |
| Study vacation | Monday 10 June - Friday 14 June | Monday 4 November - Friday 8 November |
| Examination period | Tuesday 17 June - Saturday 29 June | Monday 11 November - Saturday 23 November |
| Semester ends | Saturday 29 June | Saturday 23 November |
| UA (Universities Australia) Common Week / non-teaching period | Monday 8 July - Friday 12 July |
Enrolment & Orientation 2012
Enrolments for 2012 have now closed