How to Apply to Engineering at UNSW Sydney: The Four-Year Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) with Over 20 Specialisations, Direct Entry or a Flexible First Year, with Entry and Prerequisite Requirements for Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

Undergraduate engineering at UNSW Sydney is taught in the Faculty of Engineering. The main degree is the four-year Bachelor of Engineering (Honours), at the Kensington campus. The Bachelor of Computer Science is in the same faculty and has its own guide on this site, so it is not covered here. Based on UNSW’s official information, this guide covers 2027 entry for domestic applicants, international applicants (including those from China) and transfer applicants.

1. The degree, specialisations and accreditation

• Key facts: four years, 192 units of credit, UAC code 425000, program code 3707, CRICOS 056835E, face to face (including blended), with Term 1, 2 and 3 entry. UNSW moves to a Flex-Semester calendar from 2028, so degree duration may vary depending on your start term before 2028.
• Specialisations (21 listed): Aerospace, Bioinformatics, Biomedical, Chemical, Chemical Product, Civil, Computer, Electrical, Environmental, Geoenergy and Geostorage, Mechanical and Manufacturing, Mechanical, Mining, Nuclear, Photovoltaics and Solar Energy, Quantum, Renewable Energy, Robotics and Mechatronics, Software, Surveying and Telecommunications Engineering. Optional minors: one place on the page says two (Humanitarian Engineering and Nuclear Engineering), while another list also shows Drone Applications. The entry table also lists a separate “B Engineering (Hons) (Materials Science and Engineering)” under Science.
• Accreditation: most specialisations are accredited by Engineers Australia at Professional Engineer level, with recognition under the Washington Accord. Quantum Engineering is provisionally accredited; Biomedical, Geoenergy and Geostorage, and Nuclear Engineering are listed as seeking accreditation. Bioinformatics, Computer and Software Engineering are also accredited by the Australian Computer Society at Professional level, and the Chemical Engineering degrees are accredited by IChemE as CEng (requires further learning). Check UNSW’s list for the exact status.
• Double degrees: with Arts, Commerce, Computer Science, Engineering Science, Fine Arts, Law, Science, Advanced Science (Hons) and Advanced Mathematics (Hons); Surveying, Master of Biomedical Engineering and Master of Electrical Engineering are available only with some specialisations. The entry table lists combinations such as B Engineering (Hons) (Elec)/M Engineering (Elec) and B Engineering (Hons)/M Biomedical Engineering.
• Structure: first year has two introductory maths courses, one in physics, one in computing, plus DESN1000 Introduction to Engineering Design and Innovation for everyone; from second year, core courses of your specialisation; in third and fourth year, embedded Honours and a research project or thesis. The ChallENG program connects students with academics and companies on real projects.

2. How you are admitted to a specialisation

• Two starting points: UNSW says that if you know your preferred field you can start directly in your chosen specialisation; if you are still exploring, you can begin with a Flexible First Year and try different disciplines first.
• How the Flexible First Year works: you take five core subjects common to all disciplines (two maths, physics, computing, engineering design) plus electives from the handbook chosen for the disciplines you are considering. After the year you can transfer into the discipline you choose; the electives count towards it or as first-year engineering electives. UNSW says that with careful electives you finish at the same time as students who chose a specialisation from the start.
• Conditions for moving into a specialisation: the pages we read give no grade threshold, no required course grades and no statement on whether places are capped or guaranteed. Ask the Faculty or check the handbook.
• Moving into engineering from inside UNSW: current undergraduates can use the Internal Program Transfer (IPT), assessed on weighted average mark (WAM) in the current program or overall at UNSW, units of credit completed or enrolled, and good academic standing. Domestic students who do not meet the IPT criteria can apply through UAC, which considers the original admission qualification (for example ATAR) and gives more weight to WAM the longer you have studied. International students must reapply to change programs, and UNSW recommends listing several preferences in the first application.

3. Prerequisites

• Assumed knowledge: the course page lists NSW Mathematics Extension 1 and Physics. It is presented as assumed knowledge, not as a hard prerequisite; equivalents in other states or countries are not published, so check with UNSW.
• Maths placement test: not mentioned on the pages we read; not published. Check the Faculty’s new-student information.
• AP / IB credit against engineering core courses: not mentioned on the pages we read; not published. Check the handbook or ask the Faculty.

4. Domestic applicants

• How to apply: Australian and New Zealand citizens, permanent residents and humanitarian visa holders apply through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC), with up to five preferences. UNSW says on-time Term 1 applications usually close at the end of September, late applications pay a fee, and most Term 1 offers are made in December and January.
• Reference scores: the course page lists, for 2026, a lowest ATAR of 80.1 (starred, noting it is based on a UNSW Gateway Early Conditional Offer), A-Level 16 and IB 39, which differ from the international table above. It notes the ATAR varies by specialisation, so check each specialisation page.
• Adjustment factors: HSC Plus (strong results in relevant Year 12 subjects), Elite Athletes, Performers and Leaders (EAPL), and the Educational Access Scheme (EAS, 1 to 10 points). There are also the Gateway pathway, Indigenous entry programs and the University Preparation Program (for school leavers with an ATAR of 50 or above who have experienced educational disadvantage), after which you can apply for engineering.
• Fees: for a Commonwealth Supported Place the 2026 indicative student contribution is about AUD 8,000 for the first year and AUD 37,500 for the degree; this is an estimate, and the actual amount depends on your courses and enrolment year.
• Scholarships: the Faculty’s undergraduate scholarship page lists rural, women/non-binary/gender diverse, Indigenous and low-socioeconomic categories (the page refers to 2024, so check current amounts and places).

5. International applicants

• How to apply: most international students apply directly through the UNSW Applicant Portal or via an agent; those completing an Australian Year 12 or the IB in Australia apply through UAC.
• 2027 entry scores (international undergraduate entry table):
  • Bachelor of Engineering (Honours): international ATAR 89; Gaokao 75%; IB 35; A-Level 13; BC GPA 3.65; Ontario OSSD 82; SAT 1260; ACT 27.
  • B Engineering (Hons)/B Arts: ATAR 90, Gaokao 78%, IB 35. B Engineering (Hons)/B Commerce: ATAR 92, Gaokao 80%, IB 36. B Engineering (Hons) (Civil with Architecture), and the combinations with the Master of Electrical Engineering and Master of Biomedical Engineering: ATAR 90, Gaokao 78%, IB 35.
  • B Engineering (Hons) (Materials Science and Engineering): ATAR 80, Gaokao 72%, IB 30, A-Level 10.
  UNSW notes the scores are a guide and actual requirements may be higher or lower.
• A-Level and AP: A-Level is the best three or four A2 subjects (excluding repeats), A*=6, A=5, B=4, C=3, D=2, E=1, with at most one Applied A Level. AP is assessed on three to four subjects at grade 3 or above, with authorisation for UNSW to verify results with the College Board and evidence of completing high school.
• Predicted grades: UNSW accepts predicted grades for full offers for IB, A-Levels, Indian CBSE, Singapore A-Levels, NCUK and South African NSC, with a buffer of 2 points above the standard requirement. Applicants with SAT, AP or ACT results who send a school letter can get a full or English-conditional offer before final results; final results are due by the term start date.
• English (Engineering undergraduate): IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with at least 6.0 in each subtest (One Skill Retake accepted, IELTS Online not accepted); TOEFL iBT 90 with at least 23 in Writing and 22 in the other sections; PTE 64 with at least 54 in each; Cambridge C1 176 with at least 169 in each component, C2 180 in each; LanguageCert Academic 67 and MET 58 are accepted from Term 1 2027. Tests must be taken within two years of the start; LanguageCert and MET must be taken at an approved test centre (at-home or remote-proctored versions are not accepted).
• International tuition: 2026 indicative first year about AUD 61,500; about AUD 265,500 for the full degree (including an estimate of about AUD 1,000 a year in study costs). 2027 fees are not published. The pages we read list no engineering-specific differential fee or faculty levy.
• International scholarships: the International Scientia Coursework Scholarship (full tuition, or AUD 20,000 a year towards fees), Australia’s Global University Award (AUD 10,000 for one year), the UNSW College Award (AUD 10,000 for graduates of a UNSW College Foundations program) and the International Student Award (20% of tuition every year, for citizens of listed countries starting in 2026 and 2027). Each scholarship has its own rules, and some need a separate application.
• Other materials: application fee, any faculty essay or reference letters are not stated on the pages we read; not published. Check the Applicant Portal or ask UNSW.

6. Applicants from China

• The Gaokao is accepted for direct entry, as your total as a percentage of the provincial maximum: 75% for the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours). UNSW’s table shows, for 750-point provinces, 70% = 525 and 90% = 675; Shanghai’s maximum is 660. For Hainan the table gives “630 (70%) to 810 (90%)” but a denominator of 940, which do not agree, so confirm with UNSW.
• International Student Award: the award’s list of eligible countries (PDF) does not include China or Canada. The International Admissions Diversity Pathway (5 extra points on international ATAR) uses the same country list, so it does not apply either. UNSW says applicants from other countries are still encouraged and assessed under standard requirements.
• Offer rounds: applicants from China are assessed in offer rounds rather than the weekly offers for listed countries. The four Term 1 undergraduate application deadlines were 14 May, 16 July, 20 August and 24 September 2026, with offers on 13 August, 10 September, 15 October and 19 November. UNSW says further offers may follow the last round if places remain.
• Pathways: the course page says completing a 12-month UNSW College Diploma lets you progress directly to second year of this degree. Recognised Go8 foundation programs, and the NCUK International Foundation Year for international applicants, are also accepted.
• Transcripts, huikao, verification bodies, interviews: apart from requiring the school letter of SAT, AP or ACT applicants to name the final award (for example the Chinese High School Graduation Certificate), the pages we read do not describe China-specific huikao documents, verification bodies or interviews; not published. Check UNSW’s accepted-qualifications page or contact admissions.
• English: Chinese senior secondary qualifications are not among the English exemptions UNSW lists (it names qualifications from Germany, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia and Switzerland), so an English test is generally needed.

7. Work experience

• The degree includes 60 days of approved industrial training, in Australia or overseas, plus other work-integrated learning. UNSW says hands-on work-integrated learning starts from first year, but does not say in which year the 60 days must be completed.

8. Transfer and credit

• Prior university study: if you have completed at least 0.75 of a full-time year in a single degree at a recognised institution, you are assessed on your tertiary results or your ATAR, whichever is better; an ATAR older than 5 years is not used. Less than 0.75 FTE is not assessable and your eligibility reverts to your most recent assessable qualification.
• Credit: you may be eligible for credit once admitted; the credit-transfer rules were not available on the pages we read and are not published here, so ask UNSW.
• TAFE and diplomas: an AQF-accredited TAFE Diploma or Advanced Diploma can lead to credit through Recognition of Prior Learning under the TAFE Pathways Program. UNSW notes that diploma applicants generally need a Distinction average to be competitive for programs with a lowest selection rank above 90.
• Foundation programs: UNSW accepts only Go8 foundation programs, valid for 5 years.

9. Timeline (2027 entry)

• UNSW says applications for all 2027 terms are open and encourages early applications. Some programs are at capacity for 2026 intakes and closed to new overseas applications.
• For Term 1 all four application deadlines have passed as of 24 October 2026; 19 November 2026 is the last offer release date. Acceptance deadlines are 8 October, 5 November, 10 December and 24 December 2026. Most international offer holders have 8 weeks to accept.
• Terms 2 and 3: undergraduate round dates are not published on the pages we read; check the admissions page.

Checklist

Domestic applicants:

• Apply through UAC; on-time Term 1 applications close at the end of September
• NSW Mathematics Extension 1 and Physics as assumed knowledge
• Consider HSC Plus, EAS and other adjustment factors

International applicants (including China):

• Gaokao 75%, or international ATAR 89 / IB 35 / A-Level 13 / SAT 1260
• Maths and physics background at the level of Mathematics Extension 1 and Physics
• IELTS 6.5 (6.0 each), TOEFL 90 or PTE 64
• Apply in the offer rounds; Term 1 deadlines have passed, so watch for late offers or apply for Term 2 or 3
• If you fall short, consider the UNSW College Diploma, which leads into second year

Transfer applicants:

• Inside UNSW: IPT (WAM, units of credit, standing); from elsewhere: at least 0.75 FTE of university results, with credit assessed after admission

Sources: UNSW Sydney, Bachelor of Engineering (Honours); Flexible first year; Engineering undergraduate study; Undergraduate program transfers; Alternate pathways; 2027 international undergraduate entry requirements table (PDF); English language requirements; International admissions and offer rounds; Accepted qualifications; Scholarships; Engineering undergraduate scholarships; International Student Award. Information is for 2027 entry; entry scores are indicative and fees are 2026 figures. Check UNSW Sydney for the latest details.