The University of Sydney Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarships Scheme (VCIS) 2027 provides scholarships of up to AUD 60,000 to exceptional international students commencing eligible undergraduate or postgraduate coursework degrees at the University of Sydney in Australia.
For Semester 1, 2027, the first scholarship round closes on 17 August 2026, followed by additional rounds on 5 October 2026 and 16 November 2026. For Semester 2, 2027, the closing dates are 15 February, 22 March and 3 May 2027.
Unlike many scholarships, the VCIS does not require a separate scholarship application. Eligible students are automatically considered when they have obtained an unconditional offer of admission by the relevant closing date.
Important: AUD 60,000 is the maximum scholarship amount, not a guaranteed award for every successful applicant. The University offers five scholarship values based on ranking: AUD 60,000, AUD 40,000, AUD 20,000, AUD 10,000 and AUD 5,000.
University of Sydney Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarships 2027 Overview
| Scholarship Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Scholarship | Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarships Scheme |
| University | University of Sydney |
| Country | Australia |
| Degree level | Undergraduate and postgraduate coursework |
| Eligible students | International students |
| Maximum scholarship | AUD 60,000 |
| Other award values | AUD 40,000, AUD 20,000, AUD 10,000, AUD 5,000 |
| Selection basis | Academic merit |
| Separate scholarship application | No |
| Admission requirement | Unconditional offer |
| Course requirement | CRICOS-registered coursework degree |
| Semester 1, 2027 Round 1 | 17 August 2026 |
| Semester 1, 2027 Round 2 | 5 October 2026 |
| Semester 1, 2027 Round 3 | 16 November 2026 |
| Semester 2, 2027 Round 1 | 15 February 2027 |
| Semester 2, 2027 Round 2 | 22 March 2027 |
| Semester 2, 2027 Round 3 | 3 May 2027 |
| Scholarship availability | Subject to availability of funds |
The University of Sydney confirms that the VCIS is available to commencing international students undertaking eligible coursework degrees and that scholarship consideration is automatic for students meeting the relevant conditions.
What Is the University of Sydney Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarship?
The Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarships Scheme is a University of Sydney scholarship for exceptional international students commencing eligible undergraduate or postgraduate coursework studies.
The scholarship is awarded based on academic merit and is assessed using the student’s application for admission to the University.
The scheme is available across eligible coursework study rather than being restricted to one academic field. Therefore, applicants can consider it for eligible programmes in areas such as:
- Computer Science
- Information Technology
- Data Science
- Engineering
- Business
- Economics
- Health
- Social sciences
- Humanities
- Other eligible coursework disciplines
The scholarship itself is not an IT-specific scholarship. Eligibility depends on the chosen University of Sydney course meeting the scholarship’s requirements.
How Much Is the University of Sydney Scholarship Worth?
The VCIS has five possible scholarship amounts.
AUD 60,000
The highest award is AUD 60,000, paid over one year in two equal instalments per semester.
AUD 40,000
The second-highest award is AUD 40,000, also paid over one year in two equal semester instalments.
AUD 20,000
The third award is AUD 20,000, payable for one semester.
AUD 10,000
The fourth award is AUD 10,000, payable for one semester.
AUD 5,000
The fifth award is AUD 5,000, payable for one semester.
The University determines the award amount according to the applicant’s ranking against the scholarship’s selection criteria. The availability of some award amounts may also be limited to specified cohorts.
Is the AUD 60,000 Scholarship Guaranteed?
No.
Applicants should not interpret the scholarship as a guaranteed AUD 60,000 award.
The University offers five different values, and applicants are ranked according to the selection criteria. Therefore, an eligible applicant could receive an award of AUD 60,000, AUD 40,000, AUD 20,000, AUD 10,000 or AUD 5,000, subject to the applicable conditions and available funding.
Who Can Apply for the Scholarship?
Applicants must satisfy the University’s international-student and course requirements.
According to the official scholarship terms, applicants must:
- Be an international student under the relevant Australian legislation.
- Have applied for, but not yet commenced, an eligible undergraduate or postgraduate coursework degree.
- Be applying for a CRICOS-registered award programme, usually delivered onshore at the University of Sydney.
- Receive an unconditional offer of admission by the applicable scholarship closing date.
The scholarship is therefore intended for commencing international students, rather than students who have already started the eligible degree.
Are Students From Around the World Eligible?
The VCIS is an international scholarship and is not restricted to a short list of named developing countries.
The University’s official eligibility criteria specify that applicants must be international students as defined under the Higher Education Support Act 2003.
This makes the scholarship relevant to international applicants from a wide range of countries, provided they satisfy the University’s admission and scholarship requirements.
However, international applicants must still meet the admission requirements of their specific degree.
What Degrees Are Eligible?
The scholarship is available for eligible undergraduate and postgraduate coursework full degrees at the University of Sydney.
The official terms specify that the applicant must have applied for an undergraduate or postgraduate coursework degree that is a CRICOS-registered award programme, usually delivered onshore.
Undergraduate study
International students applying for an eligible bachelor’s degree can potentially receive the VCIS.
Postgraduate coursework
International students applying for an eligible coursework Master’s degree can also potentially receive the scholarship.
Research degrees
The VCIS is a coursework scholarship. Applicants seeking a PhD or other higher-degree-by-research programme should look at the University of Sydney’s separate international research scholarships instead. The University offers dedicated research scholarship options for international students.
Can Computer Science Students Apply?
Yes, potentially.
The VCIS is not restricted to a particular academic discipline. Therefore, an international student applying for an eligible University of Sydney Computer Science or another technology-related coursework degree can be considered, provided the course and applicant satisfy the scholarship conditions.
Applicants should check the individual degree page because admission requirements differ between programmes.
For example, an applicant interested in Computer Science should verify:
- Academic prerequisites
- Previous degree requirements
- Mathematics requirements where applicable
- English-language requirements
- Course-specific selection criteria
- CRICOS registration
- Application deadlines
The scholarship does not replace the University’s normal admission requirements.
Is There a Separate Scholarship Application?
No.
This is one of the most important features of the VCIS.
Eligible applicants are automatically considered if they have secured an unconditional offer of admission by the relevant closing date.
Applicants therefore do not need to submit a separate VCIS scholarship form.
What applicants still need to do
Applicants must:
- Select an eligible University of Sydney degree.
- Apply for admission.
- Provide all required admission documents.
- Obtain an unconditional offer.
- Meet the relevant scholarship closing date.
Failing to obtain the unconditional offer by the relevant closing date can prevent automatic scholarship consideration for that round.
What Is an Unconditional Offer?
An unconditional offer is an admission offer from the University that does not have outstanding conditions that the applicant must satisfy before admission.
The University specifically requires eligible applicants to receive an unconditional offer of admission by the relevant scholarship closing date.
Applicants should therefore not assume that submitting an application before the deadline is enough.
The relevant requirement is obtaining the required unconditional offer by the applicable closing date.
University of Sydney Scholarship Deadlines 2027
The University provides multiple scholarship consideration rounds for both semesters.
Semester 1, 2027
| Round | Closing date |
|---|---|
| Round 1 | 17 August 2026 |
| Round 2 | 5 October 2026 |
| Round 3 | 16 November 2026 |
The University notes that an additional offer round is associated with International Baccalaureate graduates after the release of 16 December 2026 results and with International UAC students following the 23 December 2026 offer round.
Semester 2, 2027
| Round | Closing date |
|---|---|
| Round 1 | 15 February 2027 |
| Round 2 | 22 March 2027 |
| Round 3 | 3 May 2027 |
The scholarship is offered subject to the availability of funds.
Which Deadline Should You Use?
Applicants should use the closing date corresponding to the semester and offer round for which they want scholarship consideration.
For Semester 1, 2027, the first deadline is 17 August 2026.
If an applicant misses the first round, later rounds are scheduled for 5 October 2026 and 16 November 2026, subject to the applicable conditions and availability of funding.
Therefore, the scholarship should not simply be described as having a single 17 August 2026 deadline.
How Is the Scholarship Awarded?
The VCIS is awarded on the basis of academic merit.
The University assesses academic merit from the student’s application for admission to an eligible undergraduate or postgraduate coursework degree. Scholarship nominations are made by a selection committee.
The official terms do not specify a universal GPA threshold that guarantees a scholarship.
Therefore, applicants should not rely on unofficial claims that a particular GPA automatically qualifies them.
What Academic Performance Is Required?
The University describes the VCIS as being awarded to exceptional international students and states that selection is based on academic merit.
There is no single published GPA threshold in the scholarship terms that guarantees an award.
The competitiveness of an application can depend on:
- Academic results
- Previous qualifications
- The applicant pool
- The chosen programme
- Available scholarship funding
- Ranking against other eligible applicants
Applicants should focus on meeting the admission requirements and presenting their strongest academic record.
Is IELTS Required?
There is no separate IELTS requirement stated for the VCIS scholarship itself.
However, international students must meet the English-language requirements for their chosen University of Sydney course.
The University’s English-language requirements vary according to the degree. Some courses use standard English requirements, while others may require higher levels or additional evidence.
Applicants should therefore check the official English-language requirements for their exact course.
Can applicants use alternatives to IELTS?
The University accepts several forms of English-language evidence depending on the applicable course requirements.
Applicants should check the University’s current English-language requirements rather than assuming that IELTS is the only accepted test.
The correct statement for this scholarship is:
IELTS is not a separate VCIS scholarship requirement; applicants must satisfy the English-language requirements of their chosen University of Sydney degree.
Can Students Apply Without IELTS?
Potentially, depending on the applicant’s circumstances and the English-language rules of the selected course.
The VCIS itself does not establish a universal IELTS requirement. The relevant University of Sydney course determines the English-language evidence required for admission.
Applicants should verify whether their previous education or another accepted English-language qualification satisfies the requirement.
What Happens After Receiving the Scholarship?
Scholarship recipients must accept their unconditional offer according to the relevant deadline and remain enrolled after the census date.
For recipients whose scholarship is paid in two instalments, the University requires them to maintain a minimum semester average mark (SAM) of 65 and have no outstanding fees to receive the next payment.
Students undertaking an exchange during the scholarship period must achieve a Satisfied Requirements (SR) grade to receive the next payment.
Is the Scholarship Renewable?
No.
The VCIS is awarded once during the student’s first year of commencement and is not renewable for subsequent years.
This means students should not calculate the scholarship as AUD 60,000 every year of a multi-year degree.
For example, an AUD 60,000 award is paid over one year, rather than AUD 60,000 annually for the entire degree.
Can the Scholarship Be Deferred?
The University states that deferral or suspension of the scholarship is not permitted except in exceptional circumstances.
Applicants should therefore carefully plan their commencement before accepting the scholarship.
Can Students Receive Another Scholarship?
There are restrictions on holding the VCIS with other scholarships.
Students receiving an Australian Government scholarship are not eligible for the VCIS.
Students receiving the Sydney International Student Award can receive a VCIS with a maximum value of AUD 40,000.
The scholarship can also be terminated if a recipient accepts another scholarship administered by the University of Sydney, funded by the University or a third party, exceeding AUD 20,000 per year, subject to the terms and conditions.
Can Students Applying for a Second Degree Apply?
Yes, under a specific condition.
The official terms state that applicants commencing a second degree at the University of Sydney can be eligible provided they have not previously held the Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarship.
What Can Cause the Scholarship to Be Terminated?
The University can terminate the scholarship if the recipient:
- Withdraws from the eligible course
- Fails to enrol
- Becomes a domestic student
- Commences part-time study without prior approval
- Fails to maintain satisfactory academic performance
- Is found guilty of serious misconduct
- Accepts certain conflicting scholarships
- Fails to resume study after approved leave
- Violates another applicable scholarship condition
The University also reserves the right to request repayment of scholarship funds in certain circumstances, including serious misconduct or withdrawal from the relevant course.
How to Apply for the University of Sydney Scholarship 2027
Step 1: Choose an eligible course
Find an eligible undergraduate or postgraduate coursework degree at the University of Sydney.
For technology applicants, this could include an eligible programme in areas such as Computer Science, Data Science, Information Technology or Engineering.
Step 2: Check the course requirements
Review:
- Academic requirements
- Previous qualification requirements
- English-language requirements
- Course-specific prerequisites
- CRICOS registration
- Intake
- Admission deadline
Step 3: Prepare your admission documents
Prepare the documents required for your chosen University of Sydney course.
The exact documents depend on the degree and applicant’s educational background.
Step 4: Apply for admission
Submit your application for the eligible University of Sydney coursework programme.
There is no separate VCIS scholarship application.
Step 5: Obtain an unconditional offer
You must receive an unconditional offer by the relevant scholarship closing date to be automatically considered.
Step 6: Accept your offer
Follow the University’s instructions for accepting the offer and meeting any associated requirements.
Step 7: Wait for scholarship consideration
Eligible applicants are automatically considered based on academic merit.
The University then ranks eligible candidates and awards available scholarship amounts according to the selection criteria and available funding.
What Documents Are Required?
The VCIS does not have a separate scholarship application and therefore does not provide a separate universal scholarship-document checklist.
Applicants must submit the documents required for admission to their selected University of Sydney degree.
Depending on the programme and applicant, admission documents may include:
- Academic transcripts
- Degree certificates
- Passport or identity documents
- English-language evidence
- Evidence of previous study
- Other course-specific documents
The exact requirements must be checked on the official course admission page.
Can International Students Apply for Both Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees?
Yes.
The VCIS is available to commencing international students applying for eligible undergraduate or postgraduate coursework degrees.
However, the applicant must satisfy the academic and admission requirements of the chosen degree.
Is the Scholarship Fully Funded?
No.
The VCIS should not be described as a fully funded scholarship.
It is a partial financial scholarship with a maximum value of AUD 60,000.
The award does not automatically mean that all tuition fees, accommodation, living costs, flights, health insurance and other expenses will be fully covered.
The actual financial impact depends on:
- Scholarship amount received
- Tuition fees for the chosen course
- Course duration
- Living expenses
- Accommodation
- Travel
- Other personal expenses
The University describes the award values as fixed scholarship amounts rather than a comprehensive full-funding package.
Important Mistakes to Avoid
Do not say every applicant receives AUD 60,000
The maximum award is AUD 60,000. Five award values are available, and selection is based on ranking.
Do not call it a fully funded scholarship
The VCIS is a financial award, not a guarantee that all study and living expenses will be covered.
Do not say there is only one deadline
There are multiple rounds for both Semester 1 and Semester 2, 2027.
Do not say students submit a separate scholarship application
Eligible applicants are automatically considered after obtaining an unconditional offer by the relevant closing date.
Do not claim IELTS is universally required
English requirements depend on the chosen University of Sydney course.
Do not assume admission guarantees the scholarship
The scholarship is awarded competitively based on academic merit.
Do not claim the scholarship is renewable
The VCIS is awarded once during the first year of commencement and is not renewable for following years.
University of Sydney Scholarship 2027 for Computer Science and IT Students
The VCIS is particularly useful for international students interested in technology because the scholarship is not limited to a single academic discipline.
Applicants interested in:
- Computer Science
- Information Technology
- Data Science
- Artificial Intelligence
- Software-related fields
- Engineering
can investigate eligible University of Sydney coursework programmes and then seek automatic scholarship consideration through the VCIS.
However, the scholarship is not itself a Computer Science scholarship. Eligibility depends on the individual degree and the applicant’s admission status.
Students should therefore check the exact course requirements before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the University of Sydney Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarship?
It is a merit-based scholarship for exceptional international students commencing eligible undergraduate or postgraduate coursework degrees at the University of Sydney.
How much is the University of Sydney Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship worth?
The maximum award is AUD 60,000. Other award values are AUD 40,000, AUD 20,000, AUD 10,000 and AUD 5,000.
What is the deadline for the University of Sydney Scholarship 2027?
For Semester 1, 2027, the first closing date is 17 August 2026. Additional rounds close on 5 October 2026 and 16 November 2026.
Is there a separate application for the VCIS?
No. Eligible students are automatically considered after securing an unconditional offer by the relevant closing date.
Can international students apply?
Yes. The scholarship is specifically for international students who meet the eligibility requirements.
Can Pakistani students apply?
The VCIS is not restricted to a specific short list of nationalities. Pakistani applicants can be considered as international students if they meet the University’s eligibility and admission requirements.
Can Computer Science students apply?
Yes, potentially. The scholarship is available across eligible coursework degrees rather than being restricted to one field. Applicants must satisfy the requirements of their chosen Computer Science or related programme.
Is IELTS required?
There is no separate IELTS requirement for the VCIS itself. Applicants must satisfy the English-language requirements of their chosen University of Sydney course.
Is the University of Sydney VCIS fully funded?
No. The maximum scholarship is AUD 60,000, but the award should not be interpreted as a guarantee that all tuition and living expenses will be covered.
Is the AUD 60,000 paid every year?
No. The AUD 60,000 award is payable over one year in two equal semester instalments.
Is the scholarship renewable?
No. The VCIS is awarded once during the first year of commencement and is not renewable for subsequent years.
Do I need an unconditional offer?
Yes. Eligible applicants must receive an unconditional offer by the relevant scholarship closing date to be automatically considered.
Can I apply for the scholarship after starting my degree?
No. The scholarship is for commencing students who have applied for but have not yet commenced the eligible degree.
Can I receive the VCIS with the Sydney International Student Award?
Yes, but the VCIS is capped at AUD 40,000 for students who receive the Sydney International Student Award.
What academic results are required?
The scholarship is awarded based on academic merit, but the University does not publish one universal GPA threshold that guarantees an award.
When are the Semester 2, 2027 deadlines?
The Semester 2 deadlines are 15 February, 22 March and 3 May 2027.
Final Takeaway
The University of Sydney Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarships Scheme 2027 provides international students with an opportunity to receive up to AUD 60,000 toward eligible undergraduate or postgraduate coursework study in Australia.
The scholarship is particularly attractive because there is no separate scholarship application. Eligible students are automatically considered when they obtain an unconditional offer by the relevant closing date.
For Semester 1, 2027, the first deadline is 17 August 2026, with further rounds on 5 October and 16 November 2026. Semester 2, 2027 has three additional rounds ending on 15 February, 22 March and 3 May 2027.
Applicants should remember that:
- AUD 60,000 is the maximum award, not a guaranteed amount.
- The scholarship is not fully funded.
- There is no separate scholarship application.
- An unconditional offer is required by the relevant closing date.
- Selection is based on academic merit.
- The scholarship is awarded only during the first year and is not renewable.
- English-language requirements depend on the selected University of Sydney course.
- Scholarship availability is subject to funding.
Official Sources
- University of Sydney — Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarships Scheme
- University of Sydney — International Student Scholarships
- University of Sydney — Scholarships
Last verified: 16 August 2026.
Disclaimer: Scholarship values, deadlines, eligibility requirements, available courses and funding availability can change. Applicants should verify the latest information on the official University of Sydney website before submitting an admission application.
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