Sydney Opera House with lighting effects giving the illusion of giant jellyfish over the bay

University of Sydney Direct Enroll

The University of Sydney Study Abroad Program provides you with the exciting opportunity to add an international perspective to your MIT education while studying in English!

Through the program, you can take courses in your major, minor or HASS concentration and experience an Australian university with a reputation for excellence in teaching and research. You can study for one or two semesters from a wide-ranging selection of units of study and receive transfer credit.

More Information on the University of Sydney Direct Enroll Program

The University of Sydney is ranked 42nd in the world, with 40 subject areas ranked in the QS top 50, and has also been named among the world’s top 10 most beautiful campuses. The University is located in the heart of Sydney. In addition to student life at the University, you can experience Sydney, a fascinating city, and immerse yourself in Australian culture.

For more information on the study abroad program at the University of Sydney click here.

Being in the southern hemisphere, Australian universities typically have an academic calendar quite different from MIT's.

Semester 1 (an equivalent of MIT's spring semester): Late February to late June

Semester 2 (an equivalent of MIT's fall semester): Early August to the end of November

We recommend verifying program start and end dates directly with the University of Sydney: Academic Calendar

You must meet the admissions standards outlined by the program to which you are applying. Requirements vary; refer to the University of Sydney website for details.

MISTI applicants need to:

  • Have a GPA of 4.0 or above
  • In good academic standing
  • In good judicial standing
  • Up to date with the Communication Requirement
  • Up to date with HASS courses

Contact MISTI if you have questions about your particular situation.

Application process is a two-part process:

  1. Apply directly to the University of Sydney program by the stated deadline for the program/term you wish to study abroad.
  2. Apply through MISTI for approval to study abroad. Apply by the deadline for the term in which you plan to study abroad.

Course Options

The interdisciplinary nature of the faculties (academic departments) and schools at the University of Sydney allows them to offer a huge range of study options, giving you flexibility to personalize your experience. Most units of study (equivalent of MIT's subjects) provide hands-on experiential learning in an Australian cultural context. All units of study are taught in English.

To explore courses at USydney, access the Unit of Study Lists (scroll to 'Guides' at the bottom).

  • You can view course availabilities in 3 different ways - via the Master Lists, Thematic Lists or Faculty/Department Lists - either on the Units of Study Tool or the website Course search by Unit of Study
  • Click on the link relevant to the list you want to see, and you will be redirected to a Google doc. In the doc, you will be able to see the Area of Study, when the course is offered, the Unit Code, Unit name, and a link to more information (including the course description and pre-requisites).
  • Please be sure you are only selecting courses offered at the undergraduate level (indicated by UG within the Google doc). You can take courses in any department, provided that you meet the prerequisites of the course.
  • More comprehensive course outlines (syllabi) may be available at the Study Portal or on the relevant faculty/department home page.

Additionally, students coming for semester 1 or 2 need to enrol in a full time load of 18-24 credit points. Most units are worth 6 credit points and students must have permission from their home institution for 18 credit point study load. Therefore, you should plan to take 4 courses at 6 credits each.

Transfer Credit

Information on the transfer credit process at MIT can be found here.

For this program, you will pay for tuition, accommodation, and other living expenses directly to the University of Sydney or in country (depending on the category of expense) and not to MIT. 

Financial aid is portable for this program. A few months before departure, SFS and MISTI will share with students the most up-to-date budget for participation on the program based on an agreement with the University of Sydney.

Admitted students who receive financial aid should make an appointment with the financial aid representative to whom they are assigned to discuss the particulars.

The University of Sydney offers study abroad students guaranteed housing in student accommodation buildings within a 15-minute walk to campus and located on the doorstep of downtown Sydney. There are a number of accommodation options as part of this offer including: University residences, residential colleges, and independently-run student housing. For more information click here.

You will need to secure a student visa for your study abroad program at the University of Sydney. For more information click here.

Meet Your Program Manager

Contact Us
Sean Gilbert presenting at a podium

Get in touch with Sean Gilbert, Managing Director for MIT-Australia | New Zealand | China | Singapore, to get your questions answered.

seang [at] mit.edu (seang[at]mit[dot]edu) | 617-253-5068

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