How to Apply to Physics at Western Sydney University: Physics Is the Applied Physics Major Inside the Three-Year Bachelor of Science, with Three Campus Options, and Entry and Prerequisite Requirements for Australian, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Students

Western Sydney University (Western) does not have a stand-alone physics degree. Physics sits in the School of Science as a major, Applied Physics, inside the Bachelor of Science. Below are the 2027 entry points from Western’s official information for Australian applicants, international applicants, applicants from China and transfer students. Related mathematics programs are mentioned only in passing.

1. Degree and majors

• Bachelor of Science: three years full time (part time for domestic students), program code 3754, CRICOS code 041144M, starting 1 March or 19 July 2027. The course page lists Parramatta South (UAC 728169), Hawkesbury (728168) and Campbelltown (728167); the 2027 international fee schedule lists the same three as Campbelltown, Hawkesbury and Parramatta.
• Majors: Agricultural Science, Animal Science, Applied Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Health, Food Science and Innovation, Forensic Science, Environmental Science and Zoology. The page says “not all majors are studied at every campus”; which campus offers Applied Physics is not stated on the pages used, so ask the School of Science.
• Applied Physics major: the description says it gives deep knowledge of physics and its applications, with a grounding in mathematics and strong computing knowledge, and an understanding of the concepts, tools and techniques of physics and where physics meets other sciences. Listed career paths include medical laboratory scientist, forensic scientist, government and related industries, scientific and technical management, research or secondary teaching.
• Structure: students complete eight major subjects from one major (twelve for Environmental Health); electives can complete a major (80 credit points), one or more minors (40 credit points each) or up to 80 credit points from other University units, and a second major is possible. Subject names are in the course handbook and are not given on the pages used for this guide.
• Accreditation and facilities: the course page says that, depending on the major, graduates can apply for membership of bodies including the Australian Institute of Physics; it does not state the accreditation status of the physics major itself. The science degrees overview page mentions the Astrophysical eScience Laboratory at Penrith Observatory, which maps the universe with radio telescopes; whether physics classes are taught at Penrith is not stated.
• Work placement: the course page says that, depending on the major, a Work Internship for Science Professionals provides 100 hours of placement. Whether Applied Physics includes it is not stated; check the website.
• Related degrees: Western also lists the Bachelor of Advanced Science (code 3757, CRICOS 041145K, with Applied Physics among its specialisations in the fee schedule), Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Business (four years each), Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Laws (five years, in the fee schedule) and the one-year Diploma in Science. Entry conditions for these are not given on the pages used; check the website. No physics honours year or master’s pathway is described; the FAQ says only that Bachelor of Science graduates can continue to a Master of Research and other master’s degrees.
• Mathematics: the Applied Physics description mentions a mathematics grounding. Western also lists a Bachelor of Mathematics in the School of Computer, Data and Mathematical Sciences, which is not covered here.

2. How admission works: direct into a major or a general first year?

• You apply to the Bachelor of Science and a campus, not to physics separately. The course page says the degree lets you explore a broad range of scientific disciplines before specialising, and requires completion of one major.
• When you choose a major, whether Applied Physics has a grade threshold and whether places are limited are not stated on the pages used; ask the School of Science (science@westernsydney.edu.au is given on the page).

3. Prerequisites

• Australian applicants (NSW HSC): the course page gives assumed knowledge of at least two units of English, two units of science (any science) and two units of mathematics at Year 12 level, and refers to the handbook. It says “any science”, so physics is not listed as required.
• International applicants: the international entry requirements page and qualifications table give general minimums by country and say certain courses may have special or higher requirements, to be checked in the handbook. Whether the science and mathematics assumed knowledge also applies to international applicants is not given on the pages used, so ask Western’s international admissions.
• Mathematics placement tests, interviews, and AP/IB credit towards physics core subjects are not mentioned on the pages used.

4. Australian applicants

• How to apply: Australian and New Zealand citizens, permanent residents and permanent humanitarian visa holders apply through Western’s own application system, free of charge; Year 12 students can also apply through UAC (the UAC codes are listed above). The “Closing Date” field on the course page is blank; this is not given on the page, so check the website.
• Adjustment factors (formerly bonus points): Western says up to 10 adjustment factors can be added when you apply through UAC, including living in the Western Sydney region (5 added automatically), strong results in relevant HSC or IB subjects (up to 10; Band 5 or 6 for most programs, Band 4 for a small number), the elite athlete and performer scheme (5), the Educational Access Scheme for serious disadvantage, the Schools Recommendation Scheme (an early offer based on Year 11 performance) and the Australian Defence Force scheme (5). It also says “some Western programs are not available for adjustment factors”. Which subject factors apply to this program is on a separate page not used for this guide, so check the website.
• Fees: the course page gives an indicative Commonwealth supported annual student contribution “from AUD 11,885”; HECS-HELP may be available; it excludes the Student Services and Amenities Fee and depends on the band of the subjects you choose.

• Lowest selection rank (LSR): the course page lists 65 at all three campuses. This is the lowest selection rank shown on the page; actual cut-offs depend on the year’s UAC results and are not inferred here.

5. International applicants

• Results and qualification recognition: Western says admission is “highly competitive” and based on academic merit, and international students must meet the same standards as Australian residents. The qualifications table lists only minimum eligibility, not a guarantee, and some courses may require more (see the handbook). The course page says overseas qualifications must be assessed as equivalent to Australian qualifications by the Australian Education International – National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (AEI-NOOSR). In the table (version v07, no year shown), the undergraduate minimum for the International Baccalaureate is an IB Diploma score of 24.
• English: for most undergraduate and postgraduate programs (there is a list of exceptions; see the note for this program below): IELTS Academic 6.5 with no band below 6.0; TOEFL iBT 82 (Writing 21, Speaking 18, Reading 13, Listening 13); or PTE Academic 58 with no communication skill below 50. Tests must be no more than two years old at commencement; online and home-edition versions of IELTS, PTE and TOEFL, and OET@Home, are not assessed. You may be treated as meeting the requirement if English is your first language or you can show English was the medium of instruction in secondary or tertiary study completed within two years of starting; no list of countries is given.
• How to apply: apply through Western’s international application system, free of charge, or through an agent. International students completing an Australian Year 12 (in or outside Australia), the IB in Australia or NCEA Level 3 must apply through UAC International. If you meet all criteria you get a provisional offer; if not, a packaged pathway offer or a conditional offer, and applications that do not meet entry requirements are automatically assessed for a pathway program at The College. Student visa holders must study full time, and the course page notes the part-time option is not available to them.
• Adjustment factors: Western says only two schemes apply to international students: living in the Western Sydney region (5) and strong results in relevant HSC or IB subjects (up to 10). The others are not available to international students.
• Funds: you must be able to cover tuition, living expenses, Overseas Student Health Cover, the student services and amenities fee, school costs for accompanying school-age dependants and travel. The fees page says student visa holders need approximately AUD 29,710 per person per year for living expenses as advised by the Australian Government (partner AUD 10,394, child AUD 4,449, plus annual school costs of AUD 13,502); it is a rough guide.
• 2027 tuition: the 2027 undergraduate international fee schedule (footer: last updated September 2026) lists the Bachelor of Science and the Bachelor of Advanced Science at AUD 41,613 a year (based on 80 credit points). No extra charge for the physics major is mentioned on the pages used. Fees are reviewed each year; the Student Services and Amenities Fee and health cover are extra.
• English exceptions: the exceptions list on the entry requirements page covers nursing, physiotherapy, medicine, education, social work, psychology and similar programs; the Bachelor of Science is not on it, so the general requirement above applies.

6. Applicants from China

• In Western’s international qualifications table (version v07, no year shown), the undergraduate minimum for China is one of:
  • completion of Gao San with an 80% average over three years;
  • a Gaokao score at the Science Stream second-tier university admission threshold for your province;
  • completion of the first year of a bachelor’s degree at a recognised university.
• So Western treats the Gaokao as one accepted basis and names the provincial second-tier line rather than a specific score. The table also lists starting points for university foundation studies and diplomas (for example a Gao Er average of 60% or 65% in the foundation columns and a Gao San average of 60% or 65% in the diploma columns); see the PDF. It adds that these are minimums and some courses may require more. Whether the Bachelor of Science requires more is not stated on the pages used; ask the admissions office.
• Format and certification requirements for Chinese high school certificates, transcripts and exam records are not given on the how-to-apply page, the entry requirements page or the qualifications table, and no China-specific page was found among the pages used for this guide. Contact international admissions at internationalstudy@westernsydney.edu.au or your agent.

7. International scholarships

• Automatic scholarship assessment: no separate application is needed; awards appear in your offer letter, and the scholarships page says awards are valued up to 50% of tuition.
  • Western Sydney International Scholarship (Undergraduate): the scholarships page says AUD 10,000 or 5,000 a year in 2027 for the full duration of your degree, and AUD 6,000 or 3,000 for up to three years in 2026. The how-to-apply page says AUD 6,000 or 3,000 for up to three years and 50% off tuition. Both statements are on Western’s website; your offer letter is final.
  • International UAC Scholarship: a AUD 10,000 multi-year scholarship awarded on academic merit.
  • Vice-Chancellor’s Academic Excellence Undergraduate Scholarship: 50% of tuition for three years, no application needed.
  • International Alumni Scholarship: AUD 10,000 a year for up to three years (undergraduate) for new international students commencing in 2026 and 2027, on academic merit, first-come, first-served. The page says it covers most undergraduate and postgraduate programs with some exclusions and does not say whether this program is excluded.
  • Applicants from North Asia and South East Asia are eligible for a AUD 5,000 or 10,000 Regional Achievement Award; the page says it is available for all 2026 intakes and does not list countries.
  • Scholarships specific to this school are not described on the pages used for this guide; check the website.

8. Transfer students and credit

• The qualifications table says completing the first year of a bachelor’s degree at a recognised university meets the undergraduate minimum.
• The “other study options” on the course page list the one-year full-time Diploma in Science, but the page does not describe how it links to the Bachelor of Science or any credit terms; check the website.
• Detailed advanced standing rules (GPA, required prior subjects, how many credit points can be recognised) are in the course handbook and are not given on the pages used for this guide; ask Western. Deadlines are not published on those pages either.

Checklist

Australian applicants:

• Check the LSR of 65 and whether adjustment factors apply
• Confirm assumed knowledge in the handbook: English, any science and mathematics, two units each
• Ask the School of Science which campus offers Applied Physics

International applicants:

• Prepare IELTS 6.5 (6.0 in each band) or equivalent, no more than two years old
• Apply directly for free; Australian HSC, IB or NCEA students go through UAC International
• Ask admissions whether the science and mathematics assumed knowledge applies to international applicants

Applicants from China:

• A three-year Gao San average of 80%, the Science Stream second-tier Gaokao threshold for your province, or the first year of a Chinese bachelor’s degree
• Ask the international admissions email how transcripts and certificates should be certified

Transfer students:

• One year of bachelor’s study meets the minimum; confirm credit with Western

Sources: Western Sydney University, School of Science; Science degrees; Bachelor of Science; Adjustment factors; International entry requirements; International qualifications table (PDF); International fees and living costs; 2027 undergraduate international fees (PDF); International scholarships; How to apply. Information is for 2027 entry; where a page shows no year, check the website for 2027 entry.