UNSW College launched its first applied bachelor degrees for international students in 2026, with the first intake scheduled for Term 1, 2027. These are three-year AQF level 7 bachelor programmes awarded by UNSW College, an institute of higher education owned and backed by UNSW Sydney. They are not UNSW degrees, and the distinction matters. This page sets out the provider status, the three programmes, how the degrees are structured and assessed, fees, entry requirements and key dates.
Who awards the degree
UNSW College is a registered institute of higher education (TEQSA provider ID PRV13020) owned and backed by UNSW Sydney. Students study at the UNSW College campus in Kensington, NSW, and can access UNSW facilities, clubs and societies while enrolled.
The degrees are awarded by UNSW College, not by UNSW Sydney. The qualification is an AQF level 7 bachelor degree, the same level as a traditional university bachelor, but the awarding body is the college. Anyone comparing this with a UNSW Sydney degree should treat them as separate qualifications.
The three programmes
All three programmes run for three years (156 weeks) and carry 144 units of credit (UOC), with 48 UOC per year across six semesters. Each year is split into two eight-week terms per semester, with two courses per term and eight courses per year.
| Programme | CRICOS code | Field of education |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Applied Business (Business Management) | 120245C | Business and Management |
| Bachelor of Information Technology (Cyber Defence and Networking) | 120253C | Security Science (within IT) |
| Bachelor of Information Technology (Software Development) | 120244D | Computer Science |
Note on the Software Development code: the launch presentation printed 120243E for this programme, but that code belongs to the Associate Degree of Information Technology (Software Development) in the CRICOS register. The correct bachelor code is 120244D.
How the degrees are structured
The three-year structure is built around twelve eight-week terms, two terms per semester. Students take two courses per term, which means eight courses per year and 24 courses across the degree. The first year covers foundational subjects; the second and third years move into specialisation and applied project work.
The Bachelor of Applied Business (Business Management) covers management fundamentals, accounting, marketing, business law, economics and data insights in the first year, then moves into strategic analysis, people performance, digital business strategy, corporate financial literacy and business analytics. The third year includes leading change, enterprise risk and governance, strategic human resource management, project management, digital transformation and a capstone business project.
The Bachelor of Information Technology (Cyber Defence and Networking) starts with programming, database management, cyber security foundations, data science tools and networking fundamentals. The second year covers systems security, cloud computing, security operations, governance and compliance, vulnerability management, secure cloud architecture and the Internet of Things. The third year includes enterprise security, incident response, cyber security policy, digital forensics and a capstone IT project.
The Bachelor of Information Technology (Software Development) shares the same first-year base as the cyber programme, then moves into object-oriented programming, artificial intelligence and machine learning, software engineering, secure cloud architecture and visualisation technologies. The third year covers AI development, natural language processing, mobile application development, operating systems programming and a capstone IT project.
Assessment model
The programmes use project-based applied assessment with no traditional final exams. The provider describes this as applied learning with an academic structure, in contrast to theory-focused degrees assessed through exams and essays. Class sizes are around 20 students, compared with 25–35 in a traditional degree.
Work-integrated learning
Each degree includes an Industry Project or Industry Placement component worth 12 UOC, taken in Year 2 or Year 3 at the student’s choice. The CRICOS register records the work component as 20 hours per week over eight weeks, totalling 160 hours. The provider describes this as work-integrated learning embedded in the degree, including up to 160 hours of experience.
Delivery options include self-sourced placements, UNSW College-facilitated opportunities, work-based experiences and industry or project-based alternatives. Each degree also ends with an eight-week capstone project in the final year.
For the two IT programmes, the provider lists alignment with AWS Academy, Microsoft Learn for Educators, CompTIA Academic Partner Program and (ISC)². Eligible students receive one funded certification exam per relevant course completion, according to the programme pages.
Fees
Tuition for 2026 is A$34,080 per year, putting the three-year tuition total at A$102,240. The CRICOS register additionally records A$1,000 of non-tuition fees, for an estimated total cost of A$103,240.
Two qualifications on the fee figure. First, A$34,080 is the 2026 rate; the provider states 2027 tuition fees are still to be updated. Second, tuition fees are reviewed annually and may vary depending on courses chosen. The figures assume typical full-time enrolment.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements below are the published minimums to apply. They are not admission guarantees and not averages of admitted students. The provider’s own materials carry the note “Summary data only; please check our website for full details”, and the official entry requirements page governs.
English language requirements
Applicants must meet both the overall score and the individual component requirements where applicable.
| Test | Overall | Writing | Other components |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS | 6.5 | 6.0 | 6.0 |
| PTE Academic | 64 | 54 | 54 |
| TOEFL iBT | 90 | 23 | Reading 13, Listening 12, Speaking 18 |
| Go8 Foundation English | C+ | – | – |
| Non-Go8 Australian Foundation Studies Program | 70% | – | – |
Academic entry requirements by qualification
| Qualification | Academic requirement | English requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Australia HSC or equivalent | Band 3 in at least 3 relevant HSC subjects | – |
| UNSW College Foundation / Go8 Foundation | Successful completion of Foundation Studies (Pass in Maths for IT streams) | C+ |
| Australia AQF level 5 (Diploma) | Minimum 50% completion of the qualification | English test required if completed outside Australia |
| Australia AQF level 4 (Certificate IV) | Completed Certificate IV in a relevant discipline | Formal English test required |
| IB Diploma | Completion with ≥ 14 over 3 relevant subjects | 4 (HL) or 5 (SL) |
| IBCP | Award with average 4 or higher in 2 IB Diploma subjects | Formal English test required |
| A Levels | 6 — minimum of one A level; maximum of two AS levels | A Level: C |
| China Gao San | 70% average of best 4 academic subjects | Formal English test required |
| China Gao Kao | 60% | Formal English test required |
| China Dazhuan | 75% | Formal English test required |
| China Zhongzhuan | 80% average of best 4 academic subjects | Formal English test required |
| Hong Kong HKDSE | 13 — best 5 Core and Category A subjects | Overall 4, writing 3 |
| Indonesia SMA3 | 7 — average of best 4 academic subjects | Formal English test required |
| Indonesia Vocational High School / MAN | 75% average of best 4 academic subjects | Formal English test required |
| Japan High School Year 3 / Kosen | 60% average of best 4 academic subjects | Formal English test required |
| Malaysia STPM | 6 — best 4: A=7, A-=6, B+=5, B=4, B-=3, C+=2, C=1 | C |
| Malaysia UEC | 12 — total of best 3 academic subjects; A1=1, A2=2, B3=3, B4=4, B5=5, B6=6, C7=7, C8=8 | B3 |
| Malaysia MARA Polytechnic Diploma | GPA 2.4 based on overall CGPA | Formal English test required |
| Philippines Senior High School Diploma (Y12) | 82% average of best 4 academic subjects | 85% |
| Singapore A-Levels | 6 — minimum of one H2; maximum of two H1 | D or higher |
| South Korea High School Year 3 / Vocational High School | 70% average of best 4 academic subjects | Formal English test required |
| South Korea CSAT | 270 — total of standard core subjects | Formal English test required |
| South Korea GEE | 75% average of best 4 academic subjects | Formal English test required |
| Thailand Matayom 6 | 2.5 average of best 6 academic subjects | Formal English test required |
| Vietnam Diploma of General Education (Y12) | 30 — total of best 4 academic subjects | Formal English test required |
| Saudi Arabia GSEC | 90% average of best 4 academic subjects | Formal English test required |
Intakes and key dates
The first international intake is Term 1, 2027, with new students commencing in Terms 1 and 4. Class start dates are 1 March 2027 and 18 October 2027.
| Term | Orientation | Week one starts | Census date | Term ends |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Term 4, 2026 | 1 Oct 2026 | 5 Oct 2026 | 23 Oct 2026 | 27 Nov 2026 |
| Term 1, 2027 | 25 Feb 2027 | 1 Mar 2027 | 19 Mar 2027 | 23 Apr 2027 |
| Term 2, 2027 | – | 17 May 2027 | 4 Jun 2027 | 9 Jul 2027 |
| Term 3, 2027 | – | 2 Aug 2027 | 20 Aug 2027 | 24 Sep 2027 |
| Term 4, 2027 | 15 Oct 2027 | 18 Oct 2027 | 5 Nov 2027 | 10 Dec 2027 |
An online English pathway (UEEC10) is available for students who need to meet the English requirement from home. Three packages run before the 2027 intakes: 12 October to 18 December 2026, leading to the 1 March 2027 start; and 24 May to 30 July 2027 or 28 June to 3 September 2027, both leading to the 18 October 2027 start. The provider lists applying for a visa and booking accommodation and flights as activities for the gap between the English course and classes.
Scholarships
The Applied Leadership Award offers up to A$10,000 per year, awarded on merit to a limited number of students. Applicants submit a 500-word personal statement on their motivation for studying a UNSW College applied degree, plus a resume or CV.
The UNSW College Family Discount offers up to a 10% tuition discount for a student with a relative who graduated from UNSW College or is currently enrolled in Foundation Studies or a Diploma there. Applied degree students can apply for it. The official family discount page has not yet been updated to cover the applied degrees; the launch presentation confirms the discount applies to them. Conditions include providing proof of the relative’s graduation or enrolment and the family relationship, maintaining satisfactory academic progress with no outstanding fees, and the discount cannot be combined with the UNSW International Student Award. Additional scholarships may be announced in future; the provider advises checking the website for full details.
Sources
- UNSW College Applied Degrees overview
- Bachelor of Applied Business (Business Management)
- Bachelor of IT (Cyber Defence and Networking)
- Bachelor of IT (Software Development)
- UNSW College entry requirements
- CRICOS register 120245C
- CRICOS register 120253C
- CRICOS register 120244D
- CRICOS register 120243E (Associate Degree)
- UNSW College Family Discount
- UNSW College scholarships