Sydney is loved by many worldwide, especially anyone who favours living life first and working second as their way of life. Students are no exception to this, as they go to study in Sydney and get to experience prestigious higher education institutions, coupled with student-friendly spaces and an inclusive culture that makes the city truly feel like home.

That said, the University of Sydney is one of the top universities in Australia and one of the very first universities in the country. It’s also the alma mater of many brilliant, notable alumni in all fields and careers, including Gough Whitlam and Victor Chang.

The university ranks #2 among the top universities in Australia and #25 worldwide in the QS World University Rankings 2026 and ranks among the world's top 50 universities across more than 30 disciplines.

If you’re interested in joining the University of Sydney and want to explore your options, our breakdown of the university’s main academic divisions will help you narrow down your options.

Studying at the University of Sydney

The University of Sydney (USyd) is made up of multiple faculties, specialised professional schools, and the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, offering a diverse range of study options and career paths.

Not only does the university offer various career choices, but you also have the freedom to combine your interests into one degree: you can major or minor in a field that’s very different from your main one, as long as your degree allows it. For example, you can study a Bachelor of Music and major in criminology.

Being able to customise your degree is a great advantage that will prepare you for the real world and give you a competitive edge in your dream career.

These are the fields of study available at the University of Sydney:

• Arts and social sciences

• Architecture, design and planning

• Business

• Engineering and computer science

• Law

• Medicine and health

• Music

• Science

Faculties and Schools at the University of Sydney

These fields are organised across several faculties, specialised professional schools, and the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, as follows:

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences is powered by a strong network of research centres and partnerships. Its leading hub, the Sydney Social Sciences & Humanities Advanced Research Centre (SSSHARC), hosts international fellows, runs pop-up labs, and funds major fellowships. 

Other key centres, including the CREATE Centre, the China Studies Centre, the Centre for AI, Trust and Governance, and the Contemporary Inequalities Centre, offer students and researchers access to innovative, cross-disciplinary work with global relevance.

The faculty has a wide selection of schools:

• School of Art, Communication and English

• School of Economics

• Sydney School of Education and Social Work

• School of Humanities

• School of Languages and Cultures

• School of Social and Political Sciences

Faculty of Engineering

The Faculty of Engineering at the University of Sydney offers cutting-edge research labs and facilities, as well as industry-integrated learning for an inclusive learning experience. 

Committed to enhancing human capabilities and, in turn, developing innovative and sustainable solutions to tackle modern real-world challenges, it aims to improve the way of living as we know it.

Faculty key research centres aim to solve current challenges through innovative solutions: 

• The Australian Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis provides access to advanced microscopy tools and expert technical guidance for research. 

• The Australian Centre for Robotics specialises in designing, developing, and applying autonomous and intelligent robotic systems, collaborating with industry partners to maximise their practical impact.

USyd Engineering offers a wide variety of engineering disciplines under one umbrella in these schools:

• School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering

• School of Biomedical Engineering

• School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

• School of Civil Engineering

• School of Computer Science

• School of Electrical and Information Engineering

• School of Project Management

Faculty of Medicine and Health

The Faculty of Medicine and Health brings together world-class teaching, research, and clinical training and is committed to advancing healthcare.

USyd’s partnerships with leading hospitals, research centres, and community health organisations help students get plenty of real-world experience through clinical placements and electives.

Centres focus on translational medicine, public health, nursing, physiotherapy, pharmacy, and biomedical research, including cutting-edge projects in regenerative medicine and global health.

If you’re interested in medicine and health at the University of Sydney, these are the schools:

• Sydney Medical School

• School of Medical Sciences

• Sydney Dental School

• Sydney School of Health Sciences

• Sydney Pharmacy School

• Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery

• Sydney School of Public Health

Faculty of Science

USyd’s Faculty of Science offers programmes across the physical, biological, and computational sciences. Students benefit from flexible majors, interdisciplinary projects, and hands-on laboratory experience.

Studying at the Faculty of Science opens up diverse career paths, and research is backed by various talents in the fields of quantum physics, environmental sustainability, animal health, mathematics, chemistry, and psychology. 

Research facilities and research centres take on global challenges, including the Sydney Institute for Astronomy and the Institute of Medical Physics, both of which are specialised in research and cutting-edge technology in their respective fields.

The schools of the Faculty of Science are as follows:

• School of Chemistry

• School of Physics

• School of Geosciences

• School of History and Philosophy of Science

• School of Life and Environmental Sciences

• School of Mathematics and Statistics

• School of Psychology

• School of Veterinary Science

University of Sydney Business School

Sydney Business School offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in business, finance, marketing, management, and entrepreneurship to build successful and sustainable organisations. 

Students can gain practical insights into technology trends, including artificial intelligence, digital strategy, and business applications of emerging tools like generative AI, through specialised courses and executive programmes.

These allow students to understand how automation and the shift to renewable energy will change how we work and live.

The business school is home to: 

• The Australian Centre for Gender Equality and Inclusion at Work, which focuses on workplace equity and inclusion research.

• Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies (ITLS), which undertakes advanced research in logistics, supply chain management, and transport systems.

Sydney Law School

Sydney Law School offers legal education: legal practice, international law, commercial law, and public policy. Studying law develops your critical thinking, analytical, and advocacy skills.

Research at Sydney Law School addresses real-world legal and societal challenges at local, national, and international levels. Key focus areas include:

• Climate, sustainability, and public health law

• Commercial, corporate, and tax law

• Crime, justice, and societal impacts

• Governance, legal institutions, and human rights

• Regional and international law

• Legal theory and education

• Technology, media, and law

Sydney School of Architecture, Design and Planning

The Sydney School of Architecture, Design and Planning offers programmes in architecture, urban design, interior design, landscape architecture, and planning, where students engage in creative problem-solving, evidence-based research, and sustainable design projects.

At the school, centres are all about urban sustainability, heritage conservation, and design innovation, connecting students with industry and community partners, and undertaking research across a range of areas that shape the built environment and urban life.

Key themes include:

• Architecture theory and practice

• Building performance, including indoor environmental quality, lighting, and acoustics

• Digital and emerging design technologies

• Sustainable and flourishing cities

• Architectural and urban histories

• Future housing solutions

• Place-making and spatial design

• Smart urbanism and infrastructure

• Social design and community impact

Sydney Conservatorium of Music

The Sydney Conservatorium of Music is where you can become a music professional. It’s where musicians, composers, and music educators are trained through performance, composition, and music research programmes.

At the university, research areas focus on music performance, composition innovation, music technology, and ethnomusicology.

Living and Learning at the University of Sydney

Choosing the right faculty is just the first step in your journey, since finding good student accommodation near the University of Sydney goes hand in hand. If you need more guidance, our Student Accommodation Terminology blog has you covered.