Australia · New South Wales

Sydney city

The capital of New South Wales, built around one of the world’s great harbours, and Australia’s biggest city.

#4 in the worldEIU Global Liveability Index 2026

3 universitiesin the QS 2027 world top 100

59,055Nepal-born people in Greater Sydney (2021 Census)

Feb and Julmain university intakes

In short

Studying in Sydney: the short answer

Sydney is the capital of New South Wales and Australia’s biggest city. It was ranked the world’s fourth most liveable city in 2026 and has three world top-100 universities (UNSW, Sydney and UTS). It is home to Australia’s largest Nepali community: 59,055 Nepal-born people at the 2021 Census, almost half of all Nepal-born people in Australia. Students can work up to 48 hours a fortnight during study, and you need to show at least AUD 29,710 a year for living costs for your visa. The main intakes are February and July.

Universities

Universities in Sydney

Ranks are from the QS World University Rankings 2027.

University	QS 2027	Main Sydney campus
UNSW Sydney	#19	Kensington (east)
The University of Sydney	#28	Camperdown and Darlington (inner west)
University of Technology Sydney (UTS)	#87	Ultimo (city)
Macquarie University	#126	Macquarie Park (north-west)
Western Sydney University	#370	Parramatta and other western Sydney campuses

Source: QS World University Rankings 2027. Checked 14 November 2026.

Living in Sydney

Costs, transport and work

Money to show

AUD 29,710

a year for living costs, the student visa minimum. Sydney rents are among Australia’s highest, so sharing is the usual choice.

Transport

Opal

One card, or your contactless bank card, for trains, buses, light rail and harbour ferries. Plan trips on Transport for NSW.

Work while you study

48 hours

a fortnight during study periods, and full-time during scheduled breaks.

Where to live

Live near your campus

Sydney is spread out, so living near your campus or a train line saves a lot of travel time.

Kensington and Randwick

Eastern suburbs around UNSW, close to Coogee and the beaches.

Camperdown, Newtown and Glebe

Inner-west suburbs around the University of Sydney, busy and student-friendly.

Ultimo and Haymarket

City-centre living near UTS and Central Station, usually the most expensive.

Macquarie Park and Parramatta

Macquarie Park for Macquarie University; Parramatta in the west for Western Sydney University.

Landmarks

Sydney in pictures

Places you will get to know in your first few weeks.

Sydney Opera House, Sydney — **Sydney Opera House**The city’s most famous building, on the harbour at Bennelong Point.

State Library of NSW, Sydney — **State Library of NSW**Free to visit and study in, with the grand Mitchell Reading Room.

Bondi Beach, Sydney — **Bondi Beach**Australia’s best-known beach, with the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk.

The Rocks, Sydney — **The Rocks**Sydney’s oldest neighbourhood, with weekend markets by the harbour.

Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney — **Royal Botanic Garden**Free gardens on Farm Cove, between the Opera House and the city.

Circular Quay, Sydney — **Circular Quay**The ferry hub under the Harbour Bridge. Ferries to Manly leave from here.

Blue Mountains, Sydney — **Blue Mountains**The Three Sisters, an easy day trip by train from Central Station.

Darling Harbour, Sydney — **Darling Harbour**Waterfront restaurants, events and the Nepal Festival in Tumbalong Park.

Photo credits

Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Sydney Opera House by Benh LIEU SONG (CC BY-SA 4.0); The Rocks, Royal Botanic Garden, Blue Mountains and Darling Harbour by Dietmar Rabich (CC BY-SA 4.0); State Library of NSW by Geoff Barker (CC BY-SA 4.0); Bondi Beach by Maksym Kozlenko (CC BY-SA 3.0); Circular Quay by JJ Harrison (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Student life

Things students love about Sydney

⛴

Harbour ferries

Ferries are part of the Opal network, so the same card takes you across the harbour to Manly.

🏖

World-famous beaches

Bondi, Coogee and Manly are a bus or ferry ride away, with free coastal walks between them.

📚

Free places to study

The State Library of NSW is free and open to everyone, with Wi-Fi and quiet reading rooms.

🍜

Food from home

Find Nepali, Indian and other South Asian food across Sydney, from the city to suburbs like Harris Park.

⛰

Day trips

Take the train to the Blue Mountains for bushwalks and lookouts in a single day.

✨

Free festivals

Most of the Vivid Sydney light walk is free, and many New Year’s Eve harbour viewing spots are too.

What’s on

Festivals, sport and concerts through the year

Sydney has something on almost every week. These are the big ones.

January

Sydney Festival

Theatre, music and art across the city each summer.

February to March

Mardi Gras

The famous Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade and festival.

Easter

Royal Easter Show

One of Australia’s biggest events, at Sydney Olympic Park.

May to June

Vivid Sydney

Light shows on the Opera House and around the harbour, mostly free.

August

City2Surf

The famous 14 km fun run from the city to Bondi Beach.

31 December

New Year’s Eve

The world-famous fireworks over the Harbour Bridge.

Throughout the year

Concerts

Big tours play Qudos Bank Arena, Accor Stadium and the Sydney Opera House.

Community

Nepal Festival

Nepali food, music and culture in Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour. The 2026 festival was held in November.

Months are usual timings; check each event’s website for exact dates.

Questions

Questions about studying in Sydney

Is Sydney good for Nepali students?

Yes, for many. Sydney ranked fourth in the world in the EIU Global Liveability Index 2026, has three world top-100 universities and Australia’s largest Nepali community (59,055 Nepal-born people in Greater Sydney at the 2021 Census). It is also one of Australia’s most expensive cities, so plan your budget carefully.

Which universities in Sydney are in the world top 100?

UNSW Sydney (#19), the University of Sydney (#28) and UTS (#87) in the QS World University Rankings 2027. Macquarie University and Western Sydney University are also ranked.

How much money do I need to live in Sydney?

For a student visa you must show at least AUD 29,710 a year for living costs. Rent is the biggest cost, and sharing a house or flat is the cheapest option. See the full money-to-show guide.

How do students get around Sydney?

With an Opal card or a contactless bank card on trains, buses, light rail and ferries. Plan trips on the Transport for NSW website.

Can I work while studying in Sydney?

Yes. International students can work up to 48 hours per fortnight during study periods and full-time during scheduled breaks.

Sydney or Melbourne: which is better?

Both are excellent. Sydney has the larger Nepali community and the harbour and beaches; Melbourne ranked slightly higher for liveability in 2026. See our Melbourne guide or talk to a counsellor.

Next step

Planning to study in Sydney in 2027?

Get a free plan from an NEC counsellor: the right course and university, the money to show and a timeline for February or July 2027.

Get my free 2027 plan Back to Study in Australia

More cities

Other cities in Australia

Not sure Sydney is right for you? Compare the other main student cities.

Victoria

Melbourne

Ranked #3 for liveability in the world (EIU 2026)

Melbourne city guide →

Western Australia

Perth

Free buses and trains in the city centre

Perth city guide →

Queensland

Brisbane

50-cent fares on all public transport

Brisbane city guide →

South Australia

Adelaide

Free city trams and buses

Adelaide city guide →

Compare all five cities side by side → · Study in Australia guide →

Last updated: 14 November 2026, by the NEC counselling team in Kathmandu. Sources: QS World University Rankings 2027; EIU Global Liveability Index 2026; Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2021 Census; Department of Home Affairs, Student visa (subclass 500) for the AUD 29,710 living-cost figure. City photos: Adelaide by Yu Chu Chin, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0). Fees, rules and event dates change, so check official sites before you apply.

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