Sydney College, Northeast Forestry University is a non‑legal‑person Chinese‑foreign cooperatively‑run institution jointly established by Northeast Forestry University (NEFU), China, and the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Australia. Approved by the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China in May 2026, it falls under the administration of Hainan International College, Northeast Forestry University.Sydney College opens admissions for master’s postgraduate programs in Mechanical Engineering and Computer Technology for the intake of 2027. Its overseas partner institution is the University of Technology Sydney, Australia.Commonly abbreviated as UTS, the University of Technology Sydney is a public research‑intensive university emphasizing innovation, practical learning and industry engagement, and ranks among the world’s top‑100 universities.Official website of UTS: https://www.uts.edu.au/
Mechanical Engineering (Program Code: 085501): Drawing on the disciplinary strengths of Mechanical Engineering at Northeast Forestry University, this specialty introduces high‑quality educational resources from the University of Technology Sydney to cultivate high‑level application‑oriented talents with solid professional foundations, global vision and innovative capabilities in engineering practice. Centering on mechanical design and manufacturing, mechatronics, intelligent detection and control, and robotics technology, and incorporating the featured research directions of intelligent forestry equipment and advanced manufacturing, the program equips students with fundamental theories, professional knowledge and technical methodologies of mechanical engineering. Through coursework, project‑based research and engineering practice, students’ competence in tackling complex engineering problems will be enhanced, laying a solid foundation for their future careers in technology R&D, engineering design and technical management at enterprises, research institutes and industrial organizations within mechanical equipment, intelligent manufacturing, robotics and related sectors.
Computer Technology (Program Code: 085404): Built upon the disciplinary strengths of Computer Technology at Northeast Forestry University, this specialty incorporates advanced teaching methodologies, world‑class faculty and curricular resources from the University of Technology Sydney. It enables students to acquire sound basic theories, knowledge and practical skills in computer technology, together with robust scientific thinking and innovation awareness. The program focuses on developing students’ proficiency in applying specialized knowledge of computer and information engineering, including bio‑information processing and analysis, natural language processing and complex data analysis, information processing and intelligent control, intelligent processing and analysis of remote‑sensing images, artificial intelligence technologies and applications, as well as forestry information engineering. To attain the above‑mentioned professional competencies in computer technology, students are required to complete prescribed compulsory and elective courses, preparing them for future employment in enterprises, research institutes, industrial organizations and government authorities within information technology and relevant industries.
Recommended Exemption Enrollment Quotas
Training Model
All degree programs under the planned enrollment follow the 1+1+1 model, namely: one year at NEFU, one year at UTS, and one year at NEFU.
Degrees Awarded
Postgraduate students in Mechanical Engineering and Computer Technology under the planned enrollment who satisfy both the graduation requirements and the conditions for degree conferral shall be awarded the Master's Graduation Certificate and the Master's Degree Certificate of Northeast Forestry University (NEFU), together with the corresponding master's degree certificate of the University of Technology Sydney (UTS).
Locations of Study and Fee Schedule
The domestic location of study is the Hainan International College of Northeast Forestry University (Lingshui Li'an International Education Innovation Pilot Zone, No. 1 Boxue Avenue, Lingshui Li Autonomous County, Hainan Province). The domestic tuition fee is RMB 80,000 per student per academic year.
The overseas location of study is the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), located in Sydney, Australia. Upon commencement of study abroad, tuition shall be charged in accordance with UTS's fee schedule for the year concerned: approximately AUD 52,740 per student per year for courses in Mechanical Engineering, and approximately AUD 57,870 per student per year for courses in Artificial Intelligence and Information Technology. Specific charges shall be subject to the student's admitted program, courses undertaken, credits registered, and the actual invoice issued. No domestic tuition shall be charged after commencement of study abroad.
In addition to meeting the academic performance requirements, students confirmed for study abroad shall complete the assessment and certification process of the Direct Entry Academic English (DEAE) course; the assessment fee is approximately RMB 1,790 per person, and the visa application service fee is approximately RMB 4,000. Postgraduate students under the planned enrollment who satisfy the application requirements are eligible to apply for the National Scholarship and the Postgraduate Academic Scholarship.
Distinctive Strengths and Features
A Partnership of Excellence — Pooling the Quality Teaching and Research Resources of Both Universities
This institution is jointly established and operated by NEFU and UTS, two high-caliber universities. It integrates the teaching and research resources of both universities and aligns with both Chinese and international curricula, enabling students to benefit from the quality education of both institutions and to hold competitive advantages at home and abroad in both further study and career development.
Supported by the Pilot Zone — Sharing Well-Established Educational Facilities
Relying on the core philosophy of “Broad Sharing + Compact Colleges” of the Hainan Lingshui Li'an International Education Innovation Pilot Zone, the institution aggregates the quality resources of both universities and the Pilot Zone. Through the “Broad Sharing” platform, it implements the “Five Mutuals and One Joint” model — mutual learning between Chinese and foreign parties, interdisciplinary integration, interoperability between liberal arts and sciences, mutual course selection, mutual credit recognition, and joint consultation on governance — and shares comprehensive public educational facilities and supporting services.
Dual Supervision — Safeguarding Dual-Degree Postgraduate Training
A dual-supervisor system is adopted, under which NEFU and UTS each appoints one supervisor to jointly direct postgraduate coursework and thesis research. Subject to satisfying the graduation requirements and degree-conferral standards of both institutions, students may be awarded simultaneously the master's degree of NEFU and the corresponding master's degree of UTS.
Joint Governance — Implementing Dual Chinese–Foreign Quality Standards
The institution strictly implements the talent training programs and syllabi jointly formulated by the Chinese and foreign parties. Across all programs, courses introduced from the partner university and core professional courses are delivered such that both the number of core courses taught by foreign faculty and the corresponding teaching hours account for more than one third of their respective totals. The institution will strictly implement the teaching quality assurance standards for regular higher education institutions promulgated by the Chinese Government and the Higher Education Standards Framework established by the Australian Government, so as to ensure the quality of talent cultivation.
English Empowerment — Multidimensional Enhancement of Language Proficiency
The institution offers distinctive academic English courses in lieu of the postgraduate public foreign language module. The teaching team comprises dedicated academic English instructors of both Chinese and international backgrounds, and instruction is delivered continuously throughout the first academic year, systematically developing students' comprehensive academic English proficiency across five dimensions: listening, speaking, reading, writing, and technical writing. Upon completion of the domestic phase of study, students may take the program's Direct English Pathway (DEP) examination; those who achieve an overall score of 70 or above (with no individual component below 65) shall meet the English language entry requirements of the foreign university (UTS requires IELTS 6.5 or above with a writing score of no less than 6.0, or TOEFL iBT with a total score of 79 or above and a writing score of no less than 21).
(Note: The English language requirements of UTS degree programs shall be subject to the information published on the official UTS website for the year concerned. Study in Australia is subject to the student visa requirements of the competent Australian immigration authority, and the regulations in force at the relevant time shall prevail.)
Research Collaboration — An Innovative Transnational Joint Training System
Leveraging the Joint Research Institute, the institution deepens multidisciplinary international research collaboration with overseas universities including the University of Auckland (New Zealand), the University of Technology Sydney (Australia), and James Cook University (Australia), and jointly builds international joint laboratory platforms to promote the translation of cutting-edge research outcomes and the deep integration of industry, academia, and research. Meanwhile, the cross-border talent cultivation mechanism is being refined and joint doctoral training is being connected, so as to establish a transnational system of joint education and collaborative innovation.
Comprehensive Facilities — Intelligent Support for Experimental Teaching
The teaching facilities of Sydney College consist of the shared facilities of the Li'an International Education Innovation Pilot Zone and the College's dedicated teaching and research facilities. The teaching and office building is located at the Sino-Foreign Cooperative Education Teaching Practice Center of NEFU (the dedicated building is expected to commence operation in 2028). The dedicated building serves the training programs in Mechanical Engineering and Computer Technology and is equipped with experimental platforms for intelligent computing, artificial intelligence and big data, intelligent manufacturing, and robotics, supporting model training, data processing, mechanical design verification, mechatronic system integration and commissioning, and robot programming. The academic lecture hall, various smart classrooms, and the independently developed Cloud Campus support resource delivery, interactive learning, autonomous online learning, Sino-foreign collaborative teaching, and blended online–offline instruction, and are integrated with the experimental platforms to provide safeguards for algorithm verification, equipment commissioning, engineering training, and Sino-foreign joint teaching.
Admissions Enquiry Hotline: 0898-38330451 (Contact: Mr./Ms. Zhang)
Admissions Enquiry Email: zhangks@nefu.edu.cn
Website of Sydney College, Northeast Forestry University: https://hic.nefu.edu.cn/
QQ Enquiry Group: 1109288364
