In 1949, the University was incorporated by Act of the Parliament of New South Wales in Sydney, initially named The New South Wales University of Technology. It was formed from Sydney Technical College that had been established in 1878 for 'the diffusion of scientific and special knowledge'. It was, and continues to be, Australia's recognition of the importance of scientific and technological endeavour in tertiary education.

In 1958 the University changed its name to The University of New South Wales, and broadened its areas of scholarly and student base with the establishment of a Faculty of Arts, soon to be followed, in 1961, by Medicine, then in 1971 by Law.

It now offers the widest range of Faculties, its initial emphasis on the Physical, Life and Technological Sciences now sharing excellence with disciplines as various as Arts, Fine Arts, the Built Environment, Engineering, Commerce, Law, Medicine and Management.


The Faculty of Science will progress UNSW in the 21st century as a leader in education and research in the many pure, applied and interdisciplinary areas of science, technology and innovation.

For more information about the history of the university, see the UNSW History online.