University of Sydney

The University of Sydney (USYD) is a public research university located in Sydney, Australia.

It holds the distinction of being the oldest university in both Australia and Oceania. The institution is categorized as one of Australia's six sandstone universities. It gained early fame for its progressive admission policies. Specifically, it was among the first universities globally to admit students based solely on academic merit. It also opened its doors to women on the same basis as men.

The university operates through a structured academic system. It comprises eight academic faculties and various university schools. These divisions allow students to pursue different levels of higher education. These levels include bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees. This academic structure supports deep research and specialized study. The university is a member of several prestigious organizations. These include the Group of Eight, CEMS, the Association of Pacific Rim Universities, and the Association of Commonwealth Universities.

The university's origins began with a proposal in 1848. Two Legislative Council members, William Wentworth and Sir Charles Nicholson, suggested expanding Sydney College. Wentworth was an alumnus of the University of Cambridge. Nicholson was an alumnus of the University of Edinburgh Medical School. Wentworth argued for a state secular university. He believed such an institution was necessary for a society seeking self-government. He wanted the school to serve the "child of every class" rather than just the wealthy.

Formal establishment occurred through the University of Sydney Act 1850. This act was passed on 24 September 1850. Governor Sir Charles Fitzroy assented to the act on 1 October 1850. The university was officially inaugurated on 11 October 1852. The ceremony took place in the Big Schoolroom of the current Sydney Grammar School. In 1858, Queen Victoria granted the university a royal charter. This charter ensured its degrees held equal rank to those in the United Kingdom.

The university has a long history of academic and social change. In 1881, it began admitting women on an equal basis with men. By 1885, Mary Elizabeth Brown and Isola Florence Thompson became the first women to earn BA degrees. Thompson later became the first woman to earn an MA in 1887. In 1947, the university began discussing PhD research degrees. The first PhD was awarded in 1951 to William H. Wittrick from the Faculty of Engineering.

Many notable figures have been affiliated with the university. It has educated eight Australian prime ministers, including the incumbent Anthony Albanese. It has also educated 26 justices of the High Court of Australia. The university has produced 110 Rhodes Scholars and 19 Gates Scholars. Five Nobel laureates and two Crafoord laureates have been affiliated as graduates or faculty. One famous alumnus, John Bradfield, was a lead engineer for the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Modern developments continue to shape the campus. In 2007, the university began developing the Charles Perkins Centre. This center is named for Charles Perkins, the first Indigenous Australian man to graduate from the university.

In 2010, the university received a Pablo Picasso painting titled "Jeune Fille Endormie." The painting was sold at auction for £13.5 million. These funds helped establish several professorial chairs at the Charles Perkins Centre. The university also updated its logo in 2010, though it still uses its original 1857 Coat of Arms for formal ceremonies.