How to Apply

Studying at UNSW Built Environment provides access to the resources of Australia's biggest and best agglomeration of academics in the built environment. Whether you are interested in an Undergraduate, Postgraduate or Research degree, we are committed to providing a sound platform of knowledge reflected in intellectual and practical skills to underpin a lifelong interest in personal development. Your future success is our contribution to a better designed and managed built environment with a focus on all aspects of more sustainable professional practice.

What type of degree are you applying for?

Explore below for more information on how to apply to your preferred area of study.

Undergraduate

Domestic students
If you are an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or New Zealand citizen, you apply online through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC).

Find out more about applying for a bachelor degree at UNSW.

International students
If you are an international student, and you’re completing an Australian Year 12, the NZ NCEA Level 3 qualification, or the International Baccalaureate (IB) in Australia or overseas, you apply online through UAC International.

All other international students apply directly to UNSW.

Transferring within UNSW
You can apply to transfer between UNSW degrees after completing a minimum of 6 courses (36 UOC) through UNSW Internal Program Transfer.

Assessment is based on the achievement of a pre-determined average grade.

Alternatively, you can apply for transfer between UNSW degrees through UAC (domestic students) or directly with UNSW (international students) after completing a minimum of 6 courses (36 UOC). Assessment is based on your ATAR (or equivalent) and/or studies at UNSW.

If you gain entry into a program at UNSW, you can then be assessed for transfer credit for courses (subjects) studied in your previous degree. 

Transferring from outside UNSW
You can apply for transfer into a UNSW degree if you meet the entry requirements for that degree. Assessment is based on your ATAR and/or results from university studies. For your university studies to count towards your new assessment you must have completed a minimum of 6 courses (36UOC) at the other University.

Note: Certificate IV and Diplomas (from TAFE or private providers) are only considered if they are AQF accredited and completed.

Apply online through UAC (domestic students) or directly with UNSW (international students).

If you gain entry into a program at UNSW, you can then be assessed for transfer credit for courses (subjects) studied in your previous degree or diploma. 

Postgraduate Coursework

All domestic and international students can apply for postgraduate coursework online:

Application deadlines:

  • Term 1 (February) - apply by 30 November*
  • Term 3 (September) - apply by 31 July

Late applications may be accepted after the closing dates subject to the availability of places.

If you gain entry into a program at UNSW, you can then be assessed for transfer credit for courses (subjects) studied in your previous degree. 

Postgraduate Research

Before formally applying for enrolment in a PhD, MRes or an MPhil through UNSW Apply Online, UNSW Built Environment requires that you complete the following 4-Step process: 

Step 1: Meet Entry Requirements

Make sure that you meet the entry requirements for the degree for which you are applying, including any English Requirements.

Step 2: Find a Supervisor

You need to contact prospective supervisors to determine in advance if they are in a position to supervise your research topic. Seek out an appropriate supervisor for your chosen research topic from the UNSW Built Environment website (Find a Supervisor) or UNSW Find a Researcher. Once you have identified an appropriate academic staff member, send him/her, via email, the following:

If the prospective supervisor you have contacted expresses initial interest in supervising your research proposal, then you can progress to Step 3.

Step 3: Meet with Supervisor

Arrange a face-to-face interview to discuss your research proposal in detail and determine who your joint or secondary supervisor/s might be. If you are a local student, you should arrange a meeting. If you are an international student, arrange a discussion via Skype.

  • Please note that this is a crucial step in the process. It is a requirement for university admission and counts towards your ranking for a scholarship.
  • Remember too that an interview provides an opportunity to ensure that you and your supervisor are the right “fit” for each other. After all, the relationship you establish with your supervisor will be critical to the progress of your research project.

It is an extra requirement, for those applying for enrolment in a Practice-based PhD, to clearly establish what extra resources, if any, will be required to undertake the research project. For example, the project might require access to a particular facility in the workshop. If this is the case, the applicant, in consultation with the nominated supervisor, must compose a detailed list of the additional resources required. This list must be countersigned by the supervisor before it is submitted with the Expression of Interest form (See Step 4).

Step 4: Application Assessed at Higher Degree Committee (HDC)

Send the following documents to Dr Riza Yosia Sunindijo, Director of Postgraduate Research at r.sunindijo@unsw.edu.au:

  • Completed BE HDR Expression of Interest Form
  • Research proposal
  • Academic transcripts
  • CV
  • Proof of meeting English requirements
  • Details for two academic referees
  • Email from the prospective supervisors stating that they agree to supervise you upon successful admission into the degree

Your application will be considered by the Faculty’s HDC. The Committee meets on the 2nd Wednesday of every month - with the exception of January when no meeting is held.

If the HDC supports your application, you will be advised to formally apply for enrolment through UNSW Apply Online.

Please Note: While completion of these 4 steps does not guarantee that your application for enrolment will be successful, it will certainly assist you in achieving that end and will set a solid foundation for your candidature.

Deadlines

Please take into account the 4-Step process described above when planning your application. The deadline for EOI submission is 5pm on the Thursday before the HDC meeting to be considered at that month’s meeting.

You need to allow enough time for this process to be completed BEFORE undertaking your formal application for enrolment through UNSW Apply Online. Your formal application will not be processed by the Graduate Research School without providing a successful expression of interest outcome from the Faculty.

If you intend to apply for a scholarship, there are set deadlines. See deadlines for UNSW Apply Online applications and scholarships here.

Please note that the university closes down over Christmas/New Year and many academic and administrative staff take their recreation leave during the month of January.

Scholarships

Postgraduate Research Scholarships (RTP, UPA, TFS): allow at least eight weeks from the time of submitting your application to the Faculty HDC to the closing date for the university’s scholarship rounds. For more information please see the Graduate Research School website. See deadlines for UNSW Apply Online applications and scholarships here.

See the BE website for information regarding Faculty scholarships.

Contact the Faculty of Built Environment HDR Team if you have any queries related to the Faculty application process: be.hdr@unsw.edu.au

Contact the Graduate Research School if you have any queries related to UNSW Apply Online or visit their website: 

For domestic students: domestic.grs@unsw.edu.au
For international students: international.grs@unsw.edu.au