How to Apply to Mathematics at UNSW Sydney: The Four-Year Bachelor of Science (Advanced Mathematics) (Honours) with an Embedded Honours Year, or a Mathematics Major in the Bachelor of Science, with Entry and Prerequisite Requirements for Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

Mathematics at UNSW Sydney is taught by the School of Mathematics and Statistics in UNSW Science, face to face at the Kensington campus. UNSW does not list a degree simply called “Bachelor of Mathematics”. There are three routes: the dedicated Bachelor of Science (Advanced Mathematics) (Honours), or a mathematics or statistics major within the Bachelor of Science or the Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours). Based on UNSW’s official information, this guide covers 2027 entry for domestic applicants, international applicants (including those from China) and transfer applicants.

1. Degrees and majors

• Bachelor of Science (Advanced Mathematics) (Honours): four years full time, 192 units of credit (UOC) as a single degree, UAC code 429300, program code 3956, CRICOS 088843G, with Term 1, 2 and 3 entry. Three majors: Applied Mathematics, Pure Mathematics and Advanced Statistics. Structure: a 14-course major (84 UOC), one core course SCIF1131 (6 UOC), one science elective (6 UOC) and an honours year (48 UOC, coursework plus a thesis); the single degree also has six free electives (36 UOC) and two general education courses (12 UOC). It can be taken as a double degree, in which case there are no general education or free elective courses.
• Bachelor of Science: three years, 144 UOC, UAC code 429000, program code 3970, CRICOS 015780K. You can major in Mathematics or Statistics (a Mathematics for Education major exists only for students enrolled in the Bachelor of Education at the same time); majors range from 60 to 78 UOC. The page gives two figures: “28 majors” in one place and “27 majors” in another. After it you may be eligible for the one-year Science (Honours).
• Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours): four years, UAC code 429350, program code 3962, CRICOS 088842G, with a 48 UOC honours year built in; majors include Mathematics and Statistics and range from 66 to 84 UOC. The page gives two figures: “24 majors” in the summary and “25 majors” in the list.
• Areas within mathematics (mathematics study area page): pure mathematics has specialist courses in analysis, algebra, geometry, topology, mathematical physics and mathematical computing, plus a program for prospective high school mathematics teachers; applied mathematics covers computational mathematics, optimisation, nonlinear phenomena and environmental modelling; statistics can be studied inside a mathematics major or as a standalone major. The School’s honours streams listed are Applied Mathematics, Pure Mathematics, Statistics, Physical Oceanography and Quantitative Data Science.
• Double degrees: Advanced Mathematics (Honours) can be combined with Actuarial Studies, Arts, Commerce, Computer Science, Economics, Engineering (Hons) and Law. The Bachelor of Science can be combined with Actuarial Studies, Arts, Commerce, Computer Science, Economics, Education (Secondary), Fine Arts, Law, Engineering (Hons) and Social Sciences (192 UOC over four years); the Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours) with Arts, Commerce, Computer Science, Economics, Engineering (Hons), Fine Arts, Law and Social Sciences (240 UOC over five years).
• Accreditation: UNSW says the Statistical Society of Australia “may” offer accreditation on completion of the Advanced Mathematics degree.

2. How you are admitted to a mathematics pathway

• Direct entry: the Advanced Mathematics degree has its own UAC code, so you apply to it directly. For the Bachelor of Science and Advanced Science you apply to the degree and do not choose a major at application.
• When you choose a major: the mathematics study area page says the first-year requirements are the same for applied mathematics, pure mathematics and statistics (calculus, linear algebra, discrete mathematics and similar core topics), and that you can change your study plan or major at the end of first year. The Bachelor of Science page says you can explore different disciplines in first year before choosing a major. The School’s “choosing your major” page contains videos and student advice but no grade threshold or place limit; not published.
• Admission tests and interviews: none of the mathematics pages used for this guide mention an entrance test or interview; not published, so ask admissions.
• Honours: after the Bachelor of Science, entry to Science (Honours) is “subject to performance”; the cut-off is not published. The honours year is already built into the Advanced Mathematics and Advanced Science degrees.

3. Prerequisites

• Assumed knowledge: NSW Mathematics Extension 1 for the Advanced Mathematics degree; for the Bachelor of Science and Advanced Science, “Mathematics Advanced or Mathematics Extension 1 (depending on chosen area of study) plus one or more of Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Environmental Science, Physics”. It is presented as assumed knowledge. For equivalents outside NSW, the School only says to contact its Student Services Office to check whether your level meets the requirements; the exact equivalents are not published.
• First-year course requirements (School page, expressed in NSW HSC terms): MATH1131 Mathematics 1A assumes Mathematics Extension 1 with at least a Band E3 result; MATH1141 Higher Mathematics 1A assumes Extension 1 and Extension 2 with a Band E4 result in Extension 2; MATH1011, MATH1031 and MATH1041 assume at least a Band 4 result in HSC Mathematics. To enter MATH1131, UNSW says you need one of: HSC Mathematics Advanced 86 or above; a combined mark above 100 in Advanced and Extension 1; or a satisfactory grade in the UNSW mathematics bridging course. Otherwise it advises a TAFE essential mathematics course and MATH1011 first.
• Mathematics bridging course: about 40 hours, AUD 380, offered three times a year (before Term 1 in January and February, in May and in September), for students without Extension 1 knowledge who will take mathematics courses in first year. For the January and February 2027 run, registration closes on 15 January 2027, online materials are available from 1 December 2026 and optional in-person or hybrid tutorials run from 20 January to 5 February 2027. UNSW says taking a bridging course does not mean admission to a degree.
• AP / IB credit against university mathematics courses: not stated on the pages used for this guide; not published. Check the handbook or ask the Faculty of Science.

4. Domestic applicants

• How to apply: Australian and New Zealand citizens, permanent residents and permanent 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.
• Adjustment factors and pathways: 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 (early offers with a reduced ATAR requirement), Indigenous entry programs, the University Preparation Program (for school leavers with an ATAR of 50 or above who have experienced educational disadvantage, and people aged 20 and over returning to study without an ATAR) and UNSW College Diplomas.
• Scholarships (scholarships overview page): the Academic Achievement Award (highest raw ATAR at NSW and ACT schools, AUD 5,000 for one year), Equity Scholarships and the Scientia Scholarship (raw ATAR of 99.90 or above, AUD 10,000 for the duration of the program), among others; see the scholarships website.
• 2026 reference scores: the lowest selection ranks (ATAR plus adjustment factors) shown for 2026 are: Advanced Mathematics (Honours) 93.0, with A-Level 15, IB 37 and a lowest ATAR of 85.4; Bachelor of Science 83.0, A-Level 10, IB 31 and lowest ATAR 68.5; Advanced Science (Honours) 93.0, A-Level 15, IB 37 and lowest ATAR 80.1. UNSW notes these are guides that change each year, and that some lowest ATARs reflect Gateway early conditional offers.
• Fees: for a Commonwealth Supported Place the 2026 indicative student contribution is about AUD 7,500 for the first year and AUD 27,500 for the degree for Advanced Mathematics (Honours); AUD 9,500 and AUD 30,500 for the Bachelor of Science; and AUD 9,500 and AUD 40,500 for Advanced Science (Honours). These are estimates; the actual amount depends on your courses and enrolment year.

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, the IB (in or outside Australia) or New Zealand NCEA Level 3 apply through UAC. After you accept an offer and pay a deposit you receive an electronic confirmation of enrolment (eCoE). The application fee, reference letters and any extra essay are not stated on the pages used for this guide; not published. Check the Applicant Portal or ask UNSW.
• 2027 entry scores (international undergraduate entry table):
  • Bachelor of Science (Advanced Mathematics) (Honours): international ATAR 88; Gaokao 75%; IB 34; A-Level 12; BC GPA 3.6; Ontario OSSD 82; SAT 1240; ACT 26. Advanced Science (Honours) has the same figures.
  • Bachelor of Science: international ATAR 78; Gaokao 70%; IB 29; A-Level 10; BC GPA 3.4; OSSD 76; SAT 1150; ACT 23.
  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 a College Board score report and authorisation to verify.
• Predicted grades: UNSW considers forecast results for CBSE, GCE A-Level, IB, NCUK and Singapore A-Level, on school letterhead with the school’s stamp and signature.
• English (Science 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/C2, LanguageCert Academic and MET (the last two from Term 1 2027) are also accepted, with scores on the English requirements page; results must be recent (within two years of the start).
• International tuition (2026 indicative, tuition only): Advanced Mathematics (Honours) about AUD 61,000 for the first year and AUD 266,500 for the degree; Bachelor of Science about AUD 61,000 and AUD 194,000; Advanced Science (Honours) about AUD 61,500 and AUD 268,500. The full-degree figures include an estimate of about AUD 1,000 a year in study costs. 2027 fees are not published.
• International scholarships (scholarships overview page): 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, paid towards tuition in the second term of the first year), the UNSW College Award (AUD 10,000 for the first undergraduate year, 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). Some scholarships need a separate application, so check each one on the scholarships website.

6. Applicants from China

• The Gaokao is accepted for direct entry. UNSW assesses it as the percentage average of all attempted subjects and publishes a table of provincial maximum marks (it says the maximums are reviewed annually by the Chinese government). For provinces with a 750-point maximum, 70% is 525 and 90% is 675; Shanghai has a 660-point maximum, with 70% to 90% shown as 462 to 594. For Hainan the table gives “630 (70%) to 810 (90%)” but a denominator of 940, which do not agree, so confirm with UNSW.
• Predicted results: the qualifications for which UNSW considers forecast or predicted results are CBSE, GCE A-Level, IB, NCUK and Singapore A-Level. The Gaokao is not on that list; whether predicted Gaokao results can be used is not published, so ask admissions.
• International Student Award and the diversity pathway: the award’s list of eligible countries (PDF) does not include China or Canada. The International Admissions Diversity Pathway (5 extra points on the international ATAR, excluding the Bachelor of Medical Studies/Doctor of Medicine) 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.
• Pathways: the international pathways page says that if you do not meet direct entry, UNSW College offers a 12-month Diploma that gives direct entry into second year of any UNSW bachelor’s degree, and Foundation Studies for first-year entry. Whether a given degree adds conditions is not published; ask admissions.
• Huikao documents, verification bodies, interviews: apart from the Gaokao percentage above, the pages used for this guide do not describe China-specific huikao documents, verification bodies or interviews; not published. Check UNSW’s accepted-qualifications page or contact admissions.
• English: the English exemptions UNSW lists cover qualifications from Germany, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia and Switzerland. Chinese senior secondary qualifications are not among them, so an English test is generally needed.
• Gaokao percentage for these degrees: 75% for Bachelor of Science (Advanced Mathematics) (Honours) and for Advanced Science (Honours), and 70% for the Bachelor of Science (all from the 2027 international entry table).

7. Work experience and research

• The Advanced Mathematics page says you can gain real-world experience through Work Integrated Learning or research internships, with startups, companies, government departments or research teams, and earn course credit. The honours year is a supervised research project plus advanced coursework.
• The Bachelor of Science page says employability courses are built in: you apply science knowledge in a real context from first year, and in second and third year choose from work placements, industry projects or Research Integrated Learning. Hours are not stated.

8. Transfer and credit

• Prior university study: if you have completed at least 0.75 of a full-time year in a single degree (the page says at least one year of full-time study), 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 eligibility reverts to your most recent assessable qualification.
• Diplomas and TAFE: an AQF-accredited Diploma is assessed on 50% of your ATAR (or equivalent) and 50% of the Diploma. UNSW notes that Diploma and Advanced Diploma applicants generally need a Distinction average to be competitive for programs with a lowest selection rank above 90. A TAFE Diploma or Advanced Diploma can lead to credit through Recognition of Prior Learning under the TAFE Pathways Program, reducing the time to complete the degree.
• Detailed advanced-standing rules: not given on the pages used for this guide; check with UNSW.

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 applicants.
• Applicants from countries not on the International Student Award list (this includes China) receive undergraduate offers in rounds. For Term 1 2027 the completed-application deadlines are 14 May, 16 July, 20 August and 24 September 2026, with offers released on 13 August, 10 September, 15 October and 19 November and acceptance deadlines of 8 October, 5 November, 10 December and 24 December 2026.
• A fifth round has an application deadline of 15 November 2026, offers on 10 December and acceptance by 24 December. UNSW says offshore applications for Term 1 2027 stay open until 15 November 2026 and it will try to give an outcome by 10 December, but cannot guarantee this for applications submitted after the standard deadline. The page labels 15 November as a Thursday, but 15 November 2026 is a Sunday, so the date and weekday do not agree; check the page for the latest. Further offers may follow the last round if places remain.
• Terms 2 and 3: UNSW says the undergraduate round dates for these terms will be updated soon; they are not published yet. 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 as assumed knowledge (Advanced Mathematics degree)
• Consider HSC Plus, EAS and other adjustment factors

International applicants (including China):

• Advanced Mathematics (Honours): Gaokao 75%, or international ATAR 88 / IB 34 / A-Level 12 / SAT 1240; Bachelor of Science: Gaokao 70%, or international ATAR 78
• Mathematics background at Extension 1 level; a bridging course is available if you lack it
• IELTS 6.5 (6.0 each), TOEFL 90 or PTE 64
• Apply in the offer rounds; the first four Term 1 deadlines have passed and the last round closes on 15 November 2026; Terms 2 and 3 are also options
• If you fall short, consider a UNSW College Diploma or Foundation Studies

Transfer applicants:

• At least 0.75 FTE of university results; advanced standing is assessed after admission

Sources: UNSW Sydney, Bachelor of Science (Advanced Mathematics) (Honours); Bachelor of Science; Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours); Mathematics study area; School of Mathematics and Statistics: assumed knowledge; Choosing your major in mathematics and statistics; Bridging courses; 2027 international undergraduate entry requirements table (PDF); International entry requirements; English language requirements; International admissions and offer rounds; International admission pathways; Accepted qualifications; Scholarships; International Student Award; International Student Award eligible countries (PDF). Information is for 2027 entry; entry scores are indicative and fees are 2026 figures. Check UNSW Sydney for the latest details.