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Dear students, 

We are seeing a concerning increase in commercial contract cheating services actively targeting students on and near campus. These services are unlawful in Australia, and engaging with them puts your safety and studies at risk.

Never provide your personal details, including your student ID, UniKey, login details, passport information, banking details, or your university work to anyone who is not a staff member of the University. 

If you do engage with people offering contract cheating services, you could:

Using, attempting to use, or working for a cheating service is a serious breach of academic integrity. It may lead to serious misconduct proceedings and penalties, including suspension, exclusion or expulsion. A finding of misconduct may also be recorded on your student record. 

People may approach you offering to provide tutoring services, study support, essay help, exam preparation services, migration support services, student networking groups, survey teams or student clubs. These people may call themselves a “senior student” or claim to be a student or club representative. They may ask you to scan a QR code to join a WeChat or other messaging group, provide your UniKey or student details, upload teaching and assessment material, or share personal or payment information. 

Do not engage with people offering these services. Information about how to spot contract cheating services is available on our website.  

During Welcome Fest, people were observed asking students to scan QR codes and sign up to WeChat groups and used food, snacks and merchandise giveaways to attract students and blend in with other stalls.  

Activity occurred in and around Belinda Hutchinson Building on Abercrombie Street, Merewether Building, Verge Gallery, City Road, Fisher Library, and other high-traffic areas on Camperdown/Darlington campus. Some activity also occurred near, but outside, University grounds.

Walk away. Never scan QR codes, join group chats, provide personal information, or share assessment material with them, and report the attempted interaction immediately to the University. You can do this by emailing Protective Services: protective.services@sydney.edu.au and Educational Integrity: educational.integrity@sydney.edu.au, or by selecting ‘Report Something’ then ‘Suspicious Activity’ in SafeZone.

Your safety and wellbeing is our highest priority. If you have found yourself working for one of these companies, engaged with these services or are being threatened or blackmailed, contact Educational Integrity immediately via email: educational.integrity@sydney.edu.au and connect with Student Wellbeing for support. 

If you are struggling with your assessments, seek help early. The University provides legitimate academic, wellbeing and student support services, including support from the Learning Hub. You will not get into trouble for asking for help before a problem becomes misconduct. 

Academic integrity protects you, your degree and the value of every University of Sydney qualification. Please protect your personal information, avoid people associated with contract cheating services, and only use trusted University support.

Kind regards, 

Joanne

Professor Joanne Wright 
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education and Students) 

(Re-)familiarise yourself with our campus and buildings ⛪️

Make time this week to walk around your primary campus and take note of where key amenities are, including your faculty and school buildings, as well as libraries, learning and support hubs, and spaces to relax and hang out. 

If you find yourself lost on campus, flag down one of our friendly Student Life Ambassadors (they're in the orange t-shirts) or check out Campus Maps online, in the Student Portal or in the Sydney Uni app. 

Complete the Australian Census ✍️

If you're in Australia tomorrow night (Tuesday 11 August), you're required to complete the Australian Census – even if you're an international student. Find out what the Census is, how you can complete it and why it matters.

Add your Semester 2 units by this Friday 14 August 🗓️

Still finalising your Semester 2 study plan? The Last Date to Add (LDA) is this Friday 14 August. Log in to Sydney Student and head to ‘My studies’ > ‘Units of study’ to check your units.

Register with Inclusion and Disability Services for support in formal exams 📝

If you have a disability, medical condition, or carer responsibilities (temporary or ongoing) which may disadvantage you in your formal examinations, you may be eligible for reasonable adjustments through Inclusion and Disability Services (IDS). To be approved for adjustments in your Semester 2 formal exams, you will need to apply to register, book a consultation appointment, and be registered with Inclusion and Disability Services by Wednesday 7 October (Week 9). 

If you are enrolled in an intensive unit which has a final exam, please ensure you are registered with IDS prior to the relevant cut-off date for that unit. See the Inclusion and Disability Services webpage for further information about the registration process.

Whether you're in your first year or your fourth, navigating the first few weeks of university can feel overwhelming. To help you settle into semester, we've pulled together seven steps you should take in your first three weeks of uni to ensure you stay ahead of your studies and have fun along the way.

Whether this is your first semester or your last, free and confidential wellbeing support is always available to you no matter where you're at with your studies, and free and legitimate academic support from the University is available through the Learning Hub.

The 2026 Hoodie Competition winning design is now available to purchase. Inspired by the colours of a sunset over the Quad, this year's winning design is a celebration of student life on campus. But it's only available while stocks last. Grab yours now via the USU online store or a USYD store on campus. Don't miss out!

So, you joined a club and/or society at Welcome Fest ... now what? We know that it can be daunting to take part in a new social group, but with our guide to joining a uni club or society, you’ll be ready to make new friends and get involved in student life on campus.

Saturday 8 August was International Cat Day, and to recognise the occassion we're bringing you the story of Lucy – the beloved cat whose legacy is helping advance feline health research at the Sydney School of Veterinary Science.

After being separated from Lucy when she moved into aged care, cat lover June Bullock chose to honour her companion through a gift supporting feline health research. Today, that support is helping researchers like Dr Sally Coggins better understand and improve the health and wellbeing of cats.

👉 Read Lucy's story and learn how she's helping shape feline health discoveries

Photo: Supplied by Sally Coggins.

Emergency communications system test – tomorrow, Tuesday 11 August

There will be a test of the University's emergency communications system tomorrow, Tuesday 11 August.

Students and staff will receive a test alert by SMS and email. If you’ve downloaded the SafeZone app, you will also get a push notification. No action is required. 

Make sure your contact details are up to date in Sydney Student so you continue to receive these important alerts.

Students’ Representative Council 2026 Annual Elections nominations now open

Nominations for the Students’ Representative Council 2026 Annual Elections close next Wednesday 19 August, 11:59 pm. Positions for election include the President, Editors of Honi Soit, National Union of Students (NUS) delegates, and Representatives to Council.

More information can be found at via the SRC webpage and the electoral officer may be contacted at elections@src.usyd.edu.au.

Support your postgraduate community by being a SUPRA volunteer

Volunteering with Sydney University Postgraduate Representative Association (SUPRA) is a great way to make friends, be an active part of your community and help you develop your communication skills, increase your employability and build confidence in yourself. Expressions of interest close next Thursday 20 August, 11:59 pm.

🌳 Looking for an excuse to get outside between classes? Lawn games are back this week, with giant games and activities popping up on Cadigal Green and Law Lawns every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday during semester from 12–2 pm. Grab a mate, bring your lunch and get involved.

🎥 Looking for a way to spend your evenings? Cadigal Green is set transform into a free open-air cinema every Wednesday night this semester. Grab dinner, pull up a bean bag and settle in from 5.30 pm. 

Keep an eye on the @sydney_studentsupport Instagram page for weekly movie announcements and event updates!

Looking to meet new people and connect with the LGBTQIA+ community? Join the LGBTQIA+ Welcome Social this Wednesday 12 August, 12.30–2 pm at the Chau Chak Wing Museum for a relaxed afternoon of conversation, connection and free lunch. Meet fellow students, learn about support services and discover ways to get involved throughout the semester. 

From tackling global challenges to advancing discoveries in health, science and beyond, some of the University's best PhD students are taking on the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) University Final this Friday 14 August at the Chau Chak Wing Museum. Learn about the fascinating research taking place across the University and vote for your favourite!

Looking to build your resume while making a positive impact on campus? Join the Sustainability Ambassadors Program and gain hands-on experience delivering sustainability initiatives, engaging with the University community, and developing valuable professional skills.

Attend the next online onboarding session next Wednesday 19 August at 12 pm to get started. Complete five shifts to receive a Letter of Completion and Recommendation, and three shifts to keep your Sustainability Ambassador t-shirt. Places are limited, so don't miss out!

Photo credit: Jayne Ion

Ever wondered how secret messages are created and decoded? Come along to Science at the Museum, a free day of hands-on activities exploring cryptography, maths and more. Build your own Caesar cipher, test your codebreaking skills in an interactive treasure hunt, and see the famous Enigma machine in action. It's all happening at the Chau Chak Wing Museum next Saturday 22 August.

From breaking codes during World War II to laying the foundations for modern computing and artificial intelligence, Alan Turing's influence is still felt today. Join the National Science Week public lecture by Benjamin Burton next Friday 21 August to explore Turing's life, work and lasting impact on mathematics, computing and society.

First and second-year domestic undergraduate students who identify with one or more equity cohorts, including students on equity scholarships, students living with disability, first-in-family students, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, or women in non-traditional study fields such as STEM, may be eligible to participate in a research study exploring personalised student support.

Complete the first survey and receive a $20 gift voucher. Selected participants will also receive weekly personalised SMS support throughout semester and can earn an additional $30 gift voucher by completing a follow-up survey in Week 10.

For more information on important study dates, check out our key dates page.

Keep in touch

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