Application procedure for local students
- How to apply for a coursework program
- How to apply for a research program
- How to apply for non-award or cross institutional study
- English language requirements
- Closing dates for local applications
- Offer of admission
- Non-acceptance of an offer
- Deferral of commencement
- Credit for previous study
Please visit the Master of Pharmacy (by coursework) website for information on how to apply for that degree.
To apply for all other courses complete a current coursework application form and, together with the documentation listed below, lodge with the Postgraduate Student Administration Unit.
Essential documentation:
- Evidence of Australian or New Zealand citizenship or Australian permanent residency status, i.e. birth certificate, passport or citizenship certificate. These must be originals or photocopies certified by a Justice of the Peace.
- Marriage certificate or other documentation to verify name change if applicable. These must be originals or photocopies certified by a Justice of the Peace.
- Transcripts of all academic qualifications except for studies completed at the University of Sydney. These must be originals or photocopies certified by a Justice of the Peace.
- Curriculum vitae (CV) outlining employment history and relevant experience: only necessary for School of Public Health applications (which includes courses in Public Health, International Public Health, Clinical Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Health policy and Indigenous Health Promotion), although any applicant may provide a CV if they wish.
- Public Health, International Public Health, Biostatistics, Health policy, Indigenous Health Promotion and Indigenous Health (Substance Use) applicants: Curriculum vitae (CV) outlining employment history and relevant experience.
- Clinical Epidemiology: Curriculum vitae (CV) outlining employment history and relevant experience, and a brief explanatory letter outlining why you are applying for the course.
- Biostatistics applicants: Evidence of mathematical aptitude, evidence of previous study in statistics. A completed Unit of study selection form and contact detail form are also required.
- Ophthalmic Sciences applicants: Curriculum vitae (CV) outlining employment history and relevant experience and evidence of your current employment.
- Make direct contact with the postgraduate co-ordinator of the discipline in which you wish to study in order to discuss potential research topics, ensure that appropriate research facilities are available and to find out about potential supervisors with expertise in the relevant field. This is a vital step which you should make prior to submitting your application form – in addition to qualifications and experience, admission to research programs will depend on the availability of resources, facilities and supervisors with relevant expertise. Who is my Postgraduate Co-ordinator?
- Complete a current research application form making sure that you complete the first two pages, your postgraduate co-ordinator completes third page and your supervisor completes the Agreement of Supervisor section on the fourth page.
- Make sure that you have both a supervisor AND at least one associate supervisor and that their full names, contact details and University of Sydney staff ID numbers or Dates of Birth are provided with your application.
- Submit your completed form with appropriate approvals and accompanying documentation (as specified below) to the Postgraduate Student Administration Unit.
Essential documentation:
- Written research proposal (approximately 1 to 2 pages in length) which should include a synopsis, objectives, methodology, resources, references and the full names and contact details (address, telephone and e-mail) of your supervisor and associate supervisor(s).
- Evidence of Australian or NZ citizenship or Australian permanent residency status – must be originals or photocopies certified by a Justice of the Peace.
- Marriage certificate or other documentation to verify name change if applicable - must be originals or photocopies certified by a Justice of the Peace.
- Transcripts of all academic qualifications except for studies completed at the University of Sydney - must be originals or photocopies certified by a Justice of the Peace.
- FOR PART-TIME APPLICATIONS ONLY
statement of part-time candidature explaining your reasons for applying for part-time candidature, the relationship of the research to your employment and arrangements for attendance at the university.
To apply for non-award or cross-institutional study complete a current non-award application form and, together with the documentation listed below, lodge with the Postgraduate Student Administration Unit, Room 208D, Edward Ford Building (A27), The University of Sydney NSW 2006.
The units of study available in the Faculty of Medicine are all delivered at a postgraduate level and therefore applicants are requested to provide a certified copy of transcripts. Also fees vary depending on an applicant’s citizenship or permanent residency and therefore applicants are asked to provide certified copies of a passport or birth certificate.
Some units of study are specifically designed for students with specific assumed knowledge and therefore applicants may be asked to provide additional information.
Essential documentation:
- Evidence of Australian or New Zealand citizenship or Australian permanent residency status, i.e. birth certificate, passport or citizenship certificate. These must be originals or photocopies certified by a Justice of the Peace.
- Marriage certificate or other documentation to verify name change if applicable. These must be originals or photocopies certified by a Justice of the Peace.
- Transcripts of all academic qualifications except for studies completed at the University of Sydney. These must be originals or photocopies certified by a Justice of the Peace.
If English is not your first language, you MUST demonstrate English language proficiency by one for the following means before admission can be confirmed.
1. Provide evidence of satisfactory achievement in tertiary studies in which the exclusive language of the institution and the exclusive language of instruction, examination and assessment was English. These studies must have been undertaken no more than 5 years prior to the submission of your application.
2. Achieve the required grades in “English for Academic Purposes” at the University’s Centre for English Teaching. The course must have been completed no more than 2 years prior to the submission of your application.
3. Achieve the required grades on an IELTS or TOEFL test. The required grades are listed below. The test results must be achieved less than 2 years prior to the submission of your application. For more information on these tests, please visit the IELTS website or the TOEFL website.
All research programs in the three faculties:
IELTS 6.5 with no band less than 6.0 OR
TOEFL 577 plus TWE 4.5 OR
Computer-based TOEFL 233 plus Essay Rating 4.5
Faculty of Dentistry (all coursework programs)
IELTS 7.0 with no band below 6.0 OR
TOEFL 600 plus TWE of 4.5 OR
Computer-based TOEFL 250 plus Essay Rating 4.5
Faculty of Medicine (all programs)
IELTS 6.5 with no band less than 6.0 OR
TOEFL 577 plus TWE 4.5 OR
Computer-based TOEFL 233 plus Essay Rating 4.5
Faculty of Pharmacy (all coursework programs)
IELTS 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 for reading and listening and a minimum of 7.0 for writing and speaking OR
TOEFL 600 plus TWE 4.5 OR
Computer-based TOEFL 250 with an Essay Rating of 4.5
The Academic Baord policy Postgraduate English Language Requirements is available at Policy online.
In general, the University of Sydney closing dates for local applications are as follows:
31 January for commencement in Semester 1 (i.e. commencement in March)
31 May for commencement in Semester 2 (i.e. commencement in July)
Please note the following exceptions:
All three faculties
If you are applying for a scholarship such as an Australian Postgraduate Award or a University Postgraduate Award, then your application for the degree must be in by the due date for the application for the scholarship (the two applications are separate). This is normally 31 October for scholarships commencing in semester 1 of the following year and late May for scholarships commencing in semester 2, but please check the Research Office website to confirm this.
Faculty of Dentistry
- Master of Dental Science (Orthodontics):
31 March for commencement in the following year. - Master of Dental Science (Prosthodontics):
31 March for commencement in the following year (check with program co-ordinator for exact date). - Master of Dental Science (Paediatric Dentistry):
31 March for commencement in the following year. - Graduate Diploma in Clinical Dentistry (Oral Implants):
31 March for commencement in the following year (check with program co-ordinator for exact date). - Master of Dental Science (Oral Medicine and Oral Pathology):
31 March for commencement in the following year. - Master of Dental Science (Periodontics):
31 March for commencement in the following year. - Graduate Diploma in Clinical Dentistry (Conscious Sedation and Pain Control):
31 March for commencement in the following year (check with program co-ordinator for exact date).
Faculty of Medicine
- Indigenous Health Promotion:
30 November for commencement in the following year - Indigenous Health (Substance Use):
30 November for commencement in the following year
Faculty of Pharmacy
- Master of Pharmacy:
29 August 2008 for commencement in the following year
The Postgraduate Student Administration Unit will contact you in writing once a decision has been made regarding your application. If your application has been successful, you will be sent an ‘offer of admission’ letter providing details of your candidature. This letter should be checked carefully and any questions about the terms of the offer should be referred to the Unit. Unsuccessful applicants will also receive written notification.
The letter of offer only offers you a place in a course, possibly conditional on you providing further information. You must still enrol if you accept the offer. If details of enrolment are not included with the letter of offer then the Unit will contact you closer to your commencement date with details on how to enrol.
If for any reason you are unable to accept an offer of admission, please notify the Postgraduate Student Administration Unit as soon as possible. Please Note: The Postgraduate Student Administration Unit is unable to keep unsuccessful applications or applications of students who do not accept an offer of admission. Therefore, if you wish to reapply in the future, you will be required to lodge a new application.
If, having received an offer of admission letter, you would like to postpone the commencement of your chosen degree program, you should apply in writing to the Postgraduate Student Administration Unit for a deferral. Once received by the Unit, all deferral requests are passed onto the Board of Postgraduate Studies in Dentistry, Medicine & Pharmacy for approval. The Postgraduate Student Administration Unit will notify you in writing of the Board’s decision.
Credit for previous study can be sought. Your previous study must be relevant to the course to which you are applying.
Credit for coursework should be requested by completing a Request for Advanced Standing and Exemption Form and submitting this with your application for admission to candidature. Such requests must be supported by documentary evidence of having enrolled and satisfactorily completed the relevant subject, such as certified transcripts, and course outlines to show the relevance of the subject.
Credit for prior study in a research degree should be requested in writing at the time of application for admission to candidature. Such requests must be supported by documentary evidence of having enrolled and officially discontinued from a previous research degree.
The granting of credit is limited and for further details please refer to both the Course Coordinator and the Credit Policy of the Combined Board of Postgraduate Studies for the Faculties of Dentistry, Medicine and Pharmacy.