UNSW International Student Award 2027: 20% Fee Waiver

The UNSW International Student Award gives international students a 20% contribution towards their tuition fees in every term, for the whole duration of the program. It is open to students from India and about a hundred other eligible countries who start an undergraduate or postgraduate coursework degree at UNSW Sydney in 2026 or 2027.

This is a rare kind of award: the 20% cut applies each term until you finish, not just for the first year, and you can hold it alongside other UNSW scholarships as long as those do not cover your full tuition. There is no separate scholarship form – you write a 500-word personal statement and upload it with your admission application.

This page carries the value, the full eligibility rules, the excluded programs, the application steps and the conditions, taken from UNSW’s official award page and its eligible-countries list, FAQ and terms and conditions.

UNSW International Student Award 2027 - 20% tuition fee reduction every term for eligible international students including India

Table of Contents

UNSW International Student Award 2027: quick facts

Quick facts2026-27

Scholarship from	University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, Australia
Scholarship value	20% contribution towards tuition fees every term, for the duration of the program
Study level	Undergraduate and postgraduate coursework (and UNSW Diploma) programs
Who can apply	International students who are citizens of an eligible country – India is on the list – with an offer for a new UNSW coursework program
Number of awards	Not fixed – an award, not a competition with a fixed number of seats
Last date to apply	No separate scholarship deadline. The award is for students commencing in 2026 or 2027 – apply for admission and upload the 500-word personal statement with your application
Official website	scholarships.unsw.edu.au – International Student Award

Go to official website

What is the UNSW International Student Award?

The International Student Award is UNSW’s award that recognises the contribution of international students and makes studying at the Sydney campus more affordable. UNSW describes it as a 20% contribution towards your tuition fees each term for the duration of your program, and it is available to students from eligible countries who begin their studies at UNSW in 2026 and 2027.

The award is granted as a fee reduction on your tuition account, not as cash. Your tuition fee liability is reduced by 20% each term, and the deposit you pay to accept your offer of admission stays the same.

UNSW says the award is assessed from your admissions application itself – your academic merit, your aptitude and your reasons for wanting to study in Sydney. You are told the outcome quickly: within two days of receiving your offer, or within two weeks of uploading your statement if you already hold an offer.

Value: 20% off tuition every term

The award reduces your tuition fees by 20% each term, for the whole duration of your program – so the saving continues in every year of study, not only the first.
The reduction is applied directly to your UNSW tuition account. No amount is paid to you in cash.
Students who began their studies before 2026 receive a 15% contribution; those commencing in 2026 or 2027 receive the current 20% rate.
The award can be combined with other UNSW scholarships – as long as the other scholarship does not cover your full tuition fees. The award then applies to the remaining fees.
The award cannot be combined with special offers or tuition fee arrangements under UNSW’s Sponsor Partners Program.
The award cannot be deferred – it is only for the 2026 and 2027 commencements.

Eligibility: who can get the UNSW International Student Award

To be eligible, UNSW says applicants must meet all of the following criteria:

You must be an international student (not an Australian citizen, permanent resident or New Zealand citizen).
You must be a citizen of an eligible country. India is on UNSW’s official eligible-countries list, along with Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Vietnam, Indonesia, Nigeria, Kenya and around a hundred others. Proof of citizenship is required.
You must hold an offer of admission for a new undergraduate or postgraduate coursework degree at UNSW, where tuition fees are payable to UNSW.
You must be commencing full-time study as a new student on campus, in a UNSW Diploma, UNSW Undergraduate or Postgraduate coursework program.

The award is only for 2026 and 2027 commencements and cannot be deferred to a later intake. If you already completed an undergraduate program at UNSW and are now starting a postgraduate program, UNSW treats you as a new student for the award.

Programs that are eligible and excluded

The award is available for UNSW Diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate coursework programs, including students commencing online in a program that is usually offered on campus.

It is not available for programs offered by AGSM, UNSW Online, UNSW Canberra, UNSW Foundation Programs or the Transition Program Online, nor for Study Abroad students. It applies only to coursework degrees: in a combined coursework and research degree, only the coursework component counts. It also does not apply where tuition fees are not payable to UNSW.

How to apply for the International Student Award

Apply for admission to an eligible UNSW undergraduate or postgraduate coursework program for a 2026 or 2027 intake, through the UNSW Applicant Portal. You must have an offer of admission to be offered the award.
Write a personal statement of no more than 500 words outlining your reasons to study the proposed program at UNSW.
Upload the statement with your application. New applicants upload it through the UNSW Applicant Portal as part of the application. If you already hold an offer, upload it via the UNSW Applicant Portal or myUNSW (UNSW Foundation or UAC applicants).
Wait for the outcome. Each applicant is assessed on their UNSW admissions application – academic merit, aptitude and reasons to study in Sydney. You receive confirmation within two days of getting your offer, or within two weeks of uploading your statement if you are an existing offer holder.
Accept your offer of admission and enrol full-time in an eligible program. If you already accepted, UNSW assumes you want the award unless you decline it in writing.

Conditions you must keep

You must have no outstanding fees to keep receiving the award.
You must maintain full-time enrolment and stay enrolled in an eligible program.
The award stops if you graduate from an eligible program, withdraw or fail to enrol, become a domestic student, or fail to finish your program within the timeframe on your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE).
The award is also terminated for serious misconduct, including giving false or misleading information in your application.
If you transfer to another program, the award continues only if the new program is an eligible program.

Frequently asked questions

What is the value of the UNSW International Student Award?

It is a 20% contribution towards your tuition fees each term for the duration of your program. The reduction is applied to your tuition account, so no amount is paid to you directly.

Is India eligible for the UNSW International Student Award?

Yes. India is on UNSW’s official list of eligible countries for the International Student Award, along with Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Vietnam, Indonesia, Nigeria and around a hundred others. You must be a citizen of one of those countries and hold an offer for an eligible UNSW coursework program.

Do I have to apply separately for the UNSW International Student Award?

There is no separate scholarship form, but the award is not fully automatic. You must submit a personal statement of no more than 500 words, and upload it with your UNSW admission application through the UNSW Applicant Portal.

What is the deadline for the UNSW International Student Award?

UNSW does not set a separate deadline for the award. It is available to students commencing in 2026 and 2027, and it is assessed from your admissions application, so apply for an eligible intake and upload your statement with your application. The award cannot be deferred to a later intake.

Which UNSW programs are not eligible for the award?

Programs offered by AGSM, UNSW Online, UNSW Canberra, UNSW Foundation Programs and the Transition Program Online are excluded, as are Study Abroad students and research-only degrees. In a combined coursework and research degree, only the coursework part counts.

Can I hold the UNSW International Student Award with another scholarship?

Yes, as long as the other scholarship does not cover your full tuition fees. The award then applies to your remaining tuition. It cannot be combined with special offers or tuition fee arrangements under UNSW’s Sponsor Partners Program.

How soon do I know if I have the award?

UNSW says you receive your scholarship confirmation within two days of receiving your offer of admission. If you already hold an offer, you get confirmation within two weeks of uploading your personal statement.

Official links

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