The Sydney International Student Award is a University of Sydney award that pays 20 percent of your tuition fee for the whole duration of your course. It is open to Indian students and applies to new undergraduate and postgraduate coursework students commencing in 2027.
There is no separate scholarship form and no scholarship deadline to chase: you are prompted to apply for the award inside your admission application, and the outcome arrives with your offer of admission.
This page carries the value, the eligible-country rule (India is named on the list), the course exclusions, the personal statement requirements and the conditions for keeping the award, all taken from the University of Sydney’s official award page and its terms and conditions.
Sydney International Student Award 2027: quick facts
Quick facts2026-27
| Scholarship from | The University of Sydney, Australia – for international students from select markets, including India |
| Last date to apply | No separate scholarship deadline – you apply for the award inside your admission application for a 2027 commencement (the award is only for new 2027 commencements) |
| Official website | sydney.edu.au – Sydney International Student Award |
What the award is worth
- A 20 percent contribution towards your tuition fee, calculated on the tuition you owe the University of Sydney.
- It runs for the full duration of your course – this is not a one-semester or first-year-only discount.
- No payment is made to you. The 20 percent is applied to your offer, which reduces your overall tuition fee liability on your admissions offer.
- No other amount is payable under this award.
The practical effect is simple to model: whatever your published international tuition fee is for the degree, you pay 80 percent of it for every semester you remain eligible. The award does not cover living costs, Overseas Student Health Cover, accommodation, textbooks or flights.
Who can apply – the India rule
The award is limited to international students from a named list of markets. The University of Sydney’s eligibility text names countries within Africa, South and Central America, Central Asia (Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and similar), Eastern Europe, and separately Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam.
On top of the country rule, the award page lists these conditions:
- You must be an international student as defined in the Higher Education Support Act 2003 – Australian citizens and Australian permanent residents are excluded.
- You must hold citizenship of one of the listed countries, and proof of residency will be required.
- You must receive admission into a full-time undergraduate coursework or postgraduate coursework degree commencing in 2027.
- You must not be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, or a permanent resident of Australia.
- You must not have already started a degree at the University of Sydney at the time you apply for the award.
The terms and conditions add two clarifications worth knowing: an applicant may hold a conditional award offer (it becomes a full award once every course and award condition is met), and applicants commencing a second degree at the University of Sydney are eligible to apply.
Which courses are excluded
- MBA and EMBA programmes.
- Study Abroad and Executive Education programmes.
- Courses offered in distance mode.
- Students on a Law Dual Degree pathway.
- Any degree where tuition fees are not payable to the University of Sydney.
Applicants who do not meet the award criteria are still offered a place in their course – the place simply comes without the 20 percent contribution. The university also states that a student cannot apply retrospectively for the award after commencing study.
How to apply: the personal statement is the application
- Apply for your chosen degree as an international student through the University of Sydney’s normal application process.
- When you apply, applicants from eligible countries are prompted to apply for the Sydney International Student Award inside that application.
- Submit a personal statement using the university’s template. It has three sections, each capped at 200 words: tell us about yourself; what inspired you to apply to the University; what you want to achieve with your studies (or how they will help you reach your goals).
- Submit everything with your admission application – there is no separate award portal and no separate award deadline.
Selection is not a lottery: to be successful you must meet the entry criteria for your course and complete the personal statement as part of your admission application. Strong statements explain your motivation and your plan, not just your marks.
Keeping the award while you study
- You must have no outstanding fees to continue receiving the award.
- The award can be transferred to another major or degree at the University of Sydney, but not to another university.
- It ends if you withdraw from an eligible course or fail to enrol, become a domestic student or get Australian permanent residency, change to a non-eligible citizenship, or start part-time study without prior approval.
- It also ends if you fail to complete your course within the timeframe on your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE), or if the university finds you guilty of serious misconduct – including giving false or misleading information in your application.
Recipients may be invited to promote their programme and represent the University of Sydney at student, marketing and corporate networking events, so budget some time for that if you are awarded.
Important dates for 2027 entry
| Award applies to | New undergraduate and postgraduate coursework commencements in 2027 |
| Award application | Inside your admission application – applicants from eligible countries are prompted |
| Award outcome | Advised by email with your offer of admission; the 20 percent is applied to your offer |
| Separate scholarship deadline | None published – your course application deadline is the real deadline |
Because the award rides on your admission application, the date that matters is your course application deadline for the 2027 intake you are targeting. Plan the personal statement before you submit, since the award cannot be claimed afterwards.
Official links
- sydney.edu.au – Sydney International Student Award
- Personal statement template (DOCX) for the award
- How to apply as an international student at the University of Sydney
Frequently asked questions
It is a 20 percent contribution towards your tuition fee, applied to your offer for the full duration of your course. It is not a cash payment and covers no other costs such as living expenses or health cover.
Yes. India is named in the University of Sydney’s eligible-country list for the award, alongside Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and others. You must also be an international student and hold an offer for a full-time coursework degree commencing in 2027.
No separate form is used. Applicants from eligible countries are prompted to apply for the award inside the admission application, and no separate award deadline is published – your course application deadline is the one that matters.
MBA and EMBA programmes, Study Abroad and Executive Education programmes, courses offered in distance mode, students on a Law Dual Degree pathway, and any degree where tuition is not payable to the University of Sydney.
Yes. You submit a personal statement in three sections of up to 200 words each: about yourself, why you want to study at the University of Sydney, and what you want to achieve with the degree.
No. The university states that applicants cannot retrospectively apply for the award after commencement, so the application has to be part of your admission application.
Related scholarships and hubs
Hub pages: Study Abroad Scholarships, International Scholarships, Graduation Scholarships.
Related scholarship posts: Sydney Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarship, University of Sydney RTP Stipend Scholarship, UNSW International Student Award.