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One of Australia’s highest-ranked universities is set to expand its footprint by unveiling its plans to establish a new multi-faculty campus in Parramatta, with a law degree set to be its first offering.
UNSW is set to expand its presence with a second campus in Parramatta, a move described by the university as a step towards bringing “more world-class education” closer to students in Western Sydney.
Drawing on more than 70 years of history, the university has pledged a $65 million investment over 10 years to develop a new multi-faculty campus in the heart of Western Sydney.
The Parramatta campus is expected to accommodate up to 350 students per day once operational.
The expansion comes as UNSW celebrates a landmark achievement, having been ranked Australia’s most comprehensive and representative university for the first time in the 2027 Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings.
UNSW vice-chancellor and president, professor Attila Brungs, shared how the Parramatta campus underscores the university’s commitment to widening participation and improving access to education in high-demand regions.
“This is an investment that sits at the core of our mission to advance social equality and economic prosperity through increased access to quality education,” Brungs said.
Brungs said that the need for universities to no longer operate as “ivory towers,” arguing that with 56 per cent of Sydney’s higher education enrolments in Western Sydney, world-class education must be embedded in communities and delivered where the demand and talent already are.
“Modern universities are not behind ivory towers but are integrated across communities. When 56 per cent of all higher education enrolments in Sydney are in Western Sydney, the case is clear: world-class education should meet people where they are,” Brungs said.
“We must support the talent, ambition and the communities we serve. That is what our Parramatta Campus is all about.”
The first program to be offered at the expanded Parramatta campus will be a Juris Doctor, with the postgraduate law degree scheduled to commence in 2027 through UNSW’s Faculty of Law & Justice.
Dean of UNSW Law & Justice, professor Andrew Lynch, explained that the new campus and program will give students access to practical legal education closer to home while strengthening connections with the region’s legal profession.
"We bring experienced academics and a strong reputation with employers, and we're looking forward to contributing to and learning from the local community,” Lynch said.
“We are excited that our program can now meet many of our students where they are, and to facilitate their gaining of practical knowledge through engaging with the energy and strength of the legal profession in Western Sydney.”
The importance of bringing education closer to students was echoed by UNSW graduate Basma McCredie, who said the Parramatta campus would not only eliminate lengthy commutes for many Western Sydney students but also help cultivate a more diverse student body and legal profession.
“I am thrilled to learn that a world-class education is now close to where we live. This campus will save students hours of commuting, time that can be better spent studying, working or with our families,” McCredie said.
“Western Sydney is a diverse community and having UNSW Law & Justice in Parramatta will mean a diverse student cohort – and contribute to a more diverse legal profession in Western Sydney and the wider city.”
