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Apply for the University of Sydney Vice-Chancellor's International Scholarships Scheme 2027. International students pursuing eligible Bachelor's or coursework Master's degrees can be automatically considered for scholarships worth up to A$60,000. Check eligibility, deadlines, funding and application steps.
Semester 1, 2027
Round 1: 17 August 2026
Round 2: 5 October 2026
Round 3: 16 November 2026
Semester 2, 2027
Round 1: 15 February 2027
Round 2: 22 March 2027
Round 3: 3 May 2027
Eligible candidates must have secured an unconditional offer by the applicable closing date.
Who Can Apply?
have applied for an eligible University of Sydney undergraduate or postgraduate coursework degree
have not yet commenced that degree
are applying for a CRICOS-registered award program normally delivered onshore
receive an unconditional offer of admission by the applicable deadline.
Students commencing a second University of Sydney degree may also qualify provided they have not previously held VCIS.
Recipients of scholarships funded by the Australian Government are not eligible.
Scholarship Benefits
A$60,000
payable for one year
split into two equal semester instalments
A$40,000
payable for one year
split into two equal semester instalments
A$20,000
payable for one semester
A$10,000
payable for one semester
A$5,000
payable for one semester.
The university states that availability of some amounts can be limited to particular cohorts.
Selection Criteria
The scholarship is awarded based on academic merit, assessed through the applicant's application for admission to an undergraduate or postgraduate coursework program.
A University selection committee determines recipients.
Required Documents
There is no separate VCIS scholarship application, so there is no standalone VCIS document list.
For the underlying University of Sydney admission application, international applicants generally need documentation including:
evidence of academic qualifications
evidence of English-language proficiency where applicable
identification/application information
any additional course-specific documents
Some programs may impose additional requirements.
TripDoc warning: Applicants should check the exact admission requirements of their chosen program rather than assuming one document list applies to every degree.
Application Steps
Step 1: Find an eligible undergraduate or postgraduate coursework degree at the University of Sydney.
Step 2: Confirm that the program is a CRICOS-registered award program eligible for VCIS.
Step 3: Check the course's academic and English-language entry requirements.
Step 4: Apply to the University of Sydney.
Step 5: Complete all outstanding admission conditions.
Step 6: Obtain an unconditional admission offer before the relevant VCIS closing date.
Step 7: No separate VCIS application is required. Eligible admission applicants are automatically considered.
⚠️ Important Warnings
1. It is NOT automatically A$60,000
A$60,000 is the maximum award.
Other candidates may receive A$40,000, A$20,000, A$10,000 or A$5,000.
2. It is NOT a renewable A$60,000-per-year scholarship
VCIS is awarded at commencement during the first year only and is not renewable in subsequent years.
3. It is competitive
Meeting basic eligibility does not guarantee selection.
Awards are based on academic merit and availability of funds.
4. Scholarship payment isn't necessarily available before enrolment
For awards split into two instalments, the University states that payment is made on or after the relevant census date.
This matters enormously.
International applicants should not assume VCIS eliminates all upfront financial requirements.
The University's international admission guidance says successful students normally accept their offer and pay their required first-semester fees before receiving the electronic Confirmation of Enrolment used for the student visa process.
5. Living expenses are not listed as a separate VCIS benefit
Therefore, I cannot confirm that any of these are covered by VCIS.
University guidance separately warns that international tuition fees don't include health cover, accommodation, living costs, textbooks and similar expenses.
