Information for combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies students

There is no impact on students enrolled in a combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies degree. The change only applies to new admissions from 1 January 2027. 

You can continue and complete your combined degree as planned. The University is committed to ensuring you are not disadvantaged and will provide you with a high-quality learning and teaching experience throughout your studies, with access to all the learning experiences and support services you need to complete your degree. 

If you have any questions, please submit an online enquiry or call us on 1800 SYD UNI (1800 793 864) (in Australia). 

Yes. All currently enrolled students, including those commencing in Semester 2, 2026 can complete their combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies degrees as planned and will receive their qualifications as expected. 

Yes. The standing, recognition, and value of your combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies degree are completely unchanged. The discontinuation applies only to future admissions and has no impact on current students or graduates.

If you are currently enrolled in a combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies degree and are considering discontinuing, it is important to know that you can continue your degree as planned, with access to all the resources, learning experiences, and support services you need to complete your studies successfully.

Before making any decision, we strongly encourage you to seek advice. Speaking with an academic advisor or support service can help you explore your options, including alternative pathways or adjustments within your degree that may better suit your circumstances.

There is a range of support services available to assist you, including: 

• Academic guidance
• Health and wellbeing services 
• Course planning support. 

If you are still considering discontinuing your course, it is important to understand the academic, financial, and (if you are international student) visa or eCoE implications before proceeding. 

International students should contact our compliance officers by emailing student.compliance@sydney.edu.au or visit our student visas webpage. 

Further information on discontinuing your course is available on our website. 

If you have suspended your studies, you will be supported to continue your studies on your return where possible. The University is committed to ensuring students suspending their studies are not disadvantaged by the discontinuation.

Your situation may require individual assessment depending on the timing of your return and the availability of relevant units of study. You are encouraged to speak to an academic advisor before returning to fully understand your options. 

Further information on suspending your studies is available on our website. 

If you are considering suspending your studies, we encourage you to think carefully about the timing, given that new admissions to combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies degrees cease from 1 January 2027.

Students may suspend for up to 12 months. However, if a longer suspension is required, you will need to provide an explanation and supporting documents with your application so that they can be considered by the relevant associate dean. You are strongly encouraged to speak to an academic advisor before applying for suspension. 

Further information on suspending your studies is available on our website. 

Bachelor Honours degree options remain available and are not affected by the discontinuation. 

If you commenced a combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies degree prior to 1 July 2024, you can choose between applying for admission to:

• a discipline appended Bachelor Honours degree (for example, Bachelor of Arts (Honours) or Bachelor of Science (Honours)); or

• the Bachelor of Advanced Studies (Honours).

The discontinuation applies only to new admissions to combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies degrees, not to your progression opportunities. Please visit our website for more information on Bachelor Honours degree admission and planning. 

Bachelor Honours degree options remain available and are not affected by the discontinuation. 

If you commenced your combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies degree on or after 1 July 2024, you can apply for admission to study a Bachelor Honours degree in the form of a discipline appended Bachelor Honours degree (for example, Bachelor of Arts (Honours) or Bachelor of Science (Honours)), following the completion of your Bachelor's degree. 

Please visit our website for more information on Bachelor Honours degree admission and planning. 

Yes. Combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies students remain eligible to participate in global mobility programs, subject to standard eligibility requirements.

We encourage you to consider the timing of any exchange or global experience carefully in relation to your combined degree progression. Advice and information to support your planning is available on our study abroad and exchange webpages. 

If you are an international student studying on a student visa, the following information is important in relation to changes to the combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies degrees: 

• Your electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCoE) will remain valid if you continue in your current combined degree or transition to an approved alternative course offered by the University 
• The University will support you to complete your studies as planned, in accordance with its obligations under the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) framework
• Of course, you must continue to meet the conditions of your student visa, including maintaining enrolment in a registered degree and making satisfactory course progression
• As always, if you are considering any changes to your course or enrolment, you are strongly advised to get in touch with our compliance team by emailing student.compliance@sydney.edu.au before proceeding, as changes may have implications for your visa and enrolment status
• Where course changes occur, the University will ensure that you are not disadvantaged and will work with you to provide appropriate transition options to support the continuation and completion of your studies.

If you have any visa-related questions, please refer to our student visa webpage. The University is unable to provide specific advice related to visa arrangements. 

The Student Centre is available to assist you with any questions about your enrolment, degree options, or the impact of the discontinuation on your studies.

Submit an enquiry online or call us on 1800 SYD UNI (1800 793 864) (in Australia). 

Support services are also available to assist with academic advice and your health and wellbeing. 

If you're interested in commencing a combined Bachelor Degree in 2026, you can apply or request a course transfer through the usual process while applications remain open. Find out more about changing your course. 

If you were considering applying, or transferring to, one of the combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies degrees, there are several alternatives available. Refer to the tables below: 

Degrees with last intake in Semester 2 , 2026: 

Previously discontinued degrees and streams:

We are not accepting requests for deferrals for the combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies. If you are planning to start your studies in Semester 2, 2026, this change will not affect you. You will be able to start and complete your combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies degree as planned.

If you have concerns about your ability to start in Semester 2, 2026, please contact us before accepting your offer. 

Our admissions team can discuss options with you and ensure you have all the information you need. You may wish to consider applying for an alternative degree in a similar area of study, for example. 

• Domestic students, please contact domestic.admissions@sydney.edu.au
• International students, please contact international.admissions@sydney.edu.au 

The University identified the potential for confusion about the number of, and Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) level of, qualifications achieved by graduates of the combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies degrees. We undertook a range of actions throughout 2024 and 2025 to ensure that graduates and students receive degree testamurs that accurately reflect their learning outcomes.

To address the administrative issues, students in the combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies degrees are awarded two testamurs. The two testamurs reflect the two qualifications completed. Additionally, students who commenced their studies in the combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies degrees prior to 1 July, 2024 and who would like to study a Bachelor Honours Degree must apply directly for admission to a disciplinary appended honours degree (e.g. Bachelor of Arts (Honours) or the appended Bachelor of Advanced Studies (Honours)).

This depends on whether you complete advanced coursework or choose to study a Bachelor Honours Degree.

Advanced coursework

If you complete the advanced coursework pathway, you will receive two AQF level 7 awards, a 'Bachelor of X' and a 'Bachelor of Advanced Studies' on two separate testamurs (where X is the relevant degree, such as Bachelor of Arts).

Honours

If you would like to study Honours, you need to apply for admission to an appended Bachelor Honours Degree (e.g. Bachelor of X (Honours)). If your application is successful and you accept the offer, you will exit with a 'Bachelor of X' and enrol in the appended Bachelor Honours Degree.

You will be awarded the discipline Bachelor Degree (e.g. Bachelor of Arts) regardless of whether you select the advanced coursework or the Honours option. If you select to study advanced coursework, you will be awarded the discipline Bachelor Degree and Bachelor of Advanced Studies. 

If you commenced a combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies degree prior to July 1, 2024, you can choose between applying for admission to a discipline appended Bachelor Honours Degree (e.g. Bachelor of Arts (Honours) or Bachelor of Science (Honours)) or the Bachelor of Advanced Studies (Honours).

If you commenced your studies in a combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies degree on or after July 1, 2024, you can apply for admission to study Honours in the form of a discipline appended Bachelor Honours Degree (e.g. Bachelor of Arts (Honours) or Bachelor of Science (Honours)). You can’t apply for admission to the appended Bachelor of Advanced Studies (Honours), as this option is only available to students who commenced prior to 1 July, 2024. 

To be eligible for admission to a Bachelor Honours Degree, you need to apply directly and meet the relevant academic requirements applicable to the Bachelor Honours Degree.

Important note: to be eligible for admission to the Bachelor of Advanced Studies (Honours), you will need to have enrolled in a combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies degree prior to 1 July, 2024 and will need to complete two majors before being eligible for admission.

If you are enrolled in a combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies degree and commenced your studies prior to 1 July, 2024, you will receive an email from the University outlining your options with links to submit a direct application.

Emails regarding honours will be sent to you in the lead up to the relevant application opening period. You can expect to receive this email in early September where you can apply for admission for Semester 1 of the following year, and April where you can apply for admission for Semester 2 of the same year.

Important note: some discipline and subject areas do not have Semester 2 Honours intake. Please check the relevant course page for more information. 

The key differences are:

• the name of the qualification listed in front of ‘(Honours)’ on your testamur
• eligibility for admission to the Bachelor of Advanced Studies (Honours) requires the completion of two majors in the Bachelor Degree.

This is a personal consideration for you and should be based on your preference for the respective name to attribute to the appended Bachelor Honours Degree.

If you complete honours in a Table S major, you will receive your Bachelor Degree and the Bachelor of Advanced Studies (Honours) which will reflect the Honours area of study.

We will be able to adjust your application between the appended discipline Bachelor Honours Degree or the Bachelor of Advanced Studies (Honours) degree during the application and admission process at your request.

If you’re enrolled in a combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies degree and planning to apply to commence Honours next semester, you will receive an email with a link to book a direct consultation with one of our specialist staff.

For all other enquiries, please submit an online enquiry or call us on 1800 SYD UNI (1800 793 864) (in Australia).

Support services are available to assist you with academic, wellbeing, and study-related matters. Please visit our website for more information. 

We want to reassure our alumni community that this change applies only to future admissions. Your combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies qualification remains exactly as it was awarded and is not affected in any way. The value, standing, and recognition of your degree are unchanged. We are proud of what you achieved, and your combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies degree reflects that.