Urban Student

Studying in Sydney

NSW, Australia

Sydney is Australia’s largest city and the country’s most popular destination for international students. It hosts world-ranked universities, major industries across finance, tech, media, and creative sectors, and a famously walkable harbour-and-beaches lifestyle. It’s also Australia’s most expensive city to live in.

Universities and major institutes

  • University of Sydney
  • UNSW Sydney
  • University of Technology Sydney (UTS)
  • Macquarie University
  • Western Sydney University
  • Australian Catholic University
  • Plus a wide range of private colleges and RTOs

Cost of living

Sydney consistently ranks as one of the more expensive cities in the Asia-Pacific. Expect rent for a room in a share house to range from AUD $300–$600 per week depending on suburb and proximity to campus.

Neighbourhoods for students

  • Newtown / Glebe — close to USyd, lots of share houses, café culture.
  • Chippendale / Ultimo — between USyd and UTS, dense and walkable.
  • Kensington / Kingsford — UNSW catchment, large international student population.
  • North Ryde / Macquarie Park — Macquarie Uni catchment, quieter and a bit cheaper.
  • Parramatta — Western Sydney Uni and growing CBD, more affordable.

Institutes in Sydney