About the University of Sydney

A history of thinking forward

The University of Sydney was founded in 1850 on the principle of providing people from all backgrounds with the opportunity to realise their potential to make a positive impact in the world through education. The University’s regular ranking in the top 50 universities worldwide reflects our outstanding reputation (QS World University Rankings 2022). Our community includes more than 70,000 students, 8,100 staff and 350,000 alumni in more than 170 countries.

We’re also a world-renowned research institution, with 100 percent of our research ranked at world standard or above by the Australian Government’s Excellence in Research for Australia report. Our research is driven by the big picture and a desire to make a positive impact. We tackle problems by looking at them from all angles, combining expertise and talents of scholars from many disciplines.

Our founding principle as Australia’s first university was that we would be a modern and progressive institution. It’s an ideal we still hold dear today.