The University of Sydney is hiring a Lecturer in Medical Sciences/Cancer in its School of Medical Sciences, on the Camperdown campus. It is an education-focused post: most of the work is teaching and curriculum design in medical sciences and cancer-related subjects, with educational leadership, scholarship and research student supervision on top. The salary starts at AUD 132,533 a year pro rata, plus 17% superannuation. The contract is full time and fixed term until December 2027. Applications close at 11:59 pm on Monday 9 November 2026.
One condition rules many readers out before anything else. The advert says visa sponsorship is not available, and you must hold unrestricted work rights in Australia for the whole contract. If you already have those rights, this is one of the better-paid lecturer jobs advertised in medical sciences right now. Below I cover the duties, the selection criteria, the salary, how to apply, how to write the cover letter and how this job compares with similar posts.
University of Sydney Lecturer in Medical Sciences/Cancer: key facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Employer | The University of Sydney, School of Medical Sciences |
| Location | Camperdown campus, Sydney, New South Wales |
| Job title | Lecturer, Medical Sciences/Cancer |
| Type | Education-focused academic role |
| Contract | Full time, fixed term until December 2027 |
| Salary | From AUD 132,533 a year pro rata, plus 17% superannuation |
| Visa sponsorship | Not available; unrestricted Australian work rights required for the full contract |
| Advert posted | 22 October 2026 |
| Deadline | Monday 9 November 2026, 11:59 pm (the advert does not state a time zone; assume Sydney time) |
| Apply | “Apply” button on the THE Unijobs listing (job 416848); current staff apply through Workday |
| Contact | Ajaypal Singh, Recruitment Operations, ajaypal.singh@sydney.edu.au |
| Reporting line | Not stated in the advert |
About the University of Sydney and the School of Medical Sciences
Sydney is Australia’s oldest university, founded in 1850. It places 28th in the QS World University Rankings 2027 and 51st in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2027, where it is second in Australia. In the QS subject rankings for 2026 it was 23rd in the world for Life Sciences and Medicine, 20th for Pharmacy and Pharmacology and 25th for Anatomy and Physiology. Those last two are taught in medical sciences schools like this one.
The School of Medical Sciences sits within the Faculty of Medicine and Health. The university calls it a leading centre for medical science education. It teaches large cohorts of science and health students, which is why it hires education-focused lecturers whose main job is designing and running units well.
Sydney is an expensive city, and rent is the biggest cost. AUD 132,533 is a good academic salary, and the 17% superannuation goes into a retirement fund on top of it, so it is not part of your take-home pay. Look at rental listings near Camperdown and the inner west before you decide what the salary means for you.
What the job involves
The advert describes a teacher first, with scholarship and some research. Duties include:
- Teaching: teach independently and design, deliver and evaluate units of study and learning activities in medical sciences and cancer-related disciplines.
- Work-integrated learning: contribute to multidisciplinary work-integrated learning.
- Scholarship and research: develop research skills and carry out independent or team scholarship, including research on teaching and learning.
- Supervision: supervise research students.
- Better teaching: apply current pedagogy to improve education.
- Administration and mentoring: do academic administration, coordinate academic staff and mentor less experienced colleagues.
- Networks: build external links through conferences, outreach and professional bodies.
“Education focused” at Sydney means teaching and educational leadership take most of your time. Research still counts, but much of it is expected to be scholarship of teaching and learning (studies of how students learn, assessment design and similar). If you want a lab-heavy research career, this is the wrong contract.
Selection criteria
The advert lists the criteria under “About you” with no essential and desirable split. Address every one:
- A PhD in a relevant field.
- Understanding of medical sciences and/or cancer-related disciplines.
- Experience in original research and scholarly activity.
- Teaching and learning experience, including team teaching.
- Success designing, implementing and evaluating teaching initiatives.
- Networks with academic, industry and professional stakeholders.
- Experience supervising or mentoring students or colleagues.
- Strong planning and organisational skills.
- Excellent communication skills.
- Commitment to innovative teaching and educational excellence.
The advert also links a full position description on the university’s site. Download it and check the exact criteria before you write.
Salary and superannuation
This is one of the few listings in this group that states the pay. The base salary starts at AUD 132,533 a year, pro rata, and the university adds 17% superannuation. Superannuation is compulsory retirement saving in Australia, paid by the employer into a fund in your name. On this salary, 17% is roughly AUD 22,500 a year on top of the base. Because the contract is fixed term to December 2027, ask at interview whether the role is likely to be extended or made continuing.
Visa sponsorship and work rights
The advert is clear: “Visa sponsorship is not available for this appointment.” You need unrestricted work rights in Australia for the whole contract. Australian and New Zealand citizens and permanent residents usually meet this. Temporary visa holders with work limits usually do not. If you are outside Australia without those rights, do not apply to this post. Look at the comparison table for jobs that are open to international candidates.
The appointment also depends on satisfactory pre-employment and background checks. You must declare any investigations or findings relating to sexual harm or gender-based violence, and keep any required clearances during your employment.
How to apply for the University of Sydney cancer lecturer job
- Read the position description: download it from the link in the advert and list every selection criterion.
- Write a cover letter: address the criteria directly (structure below).
- Update your CV: put teaching first: units taught, student numbers, curriculum you designed, teaching awards and evaluation scores. Then list publications, grants and supervision.
- Add supporting documents: the advert allows “any supporting documents”. A short teaching portfolio extract or evaluation summary helps.
- Submit online: click “Apply” on the THE Unijobs listing for job 416848. Current University of Sydney staff and contingent workers apply through Workday (Career icon, then USYD Find Jobs).
- Ask questions early: for a confidential discussion, adjustments or alternative formats, email Ajaypal Singh at ajaypal.singh@sydney.edu.au.
Deadline and work rights
Applications close at 11:59 pm on Monday 9 November 2026. Only apply if you hold unrestricted Australian work rights for the full contract, because the university will not sponsor a visa.
How to write the cover letter for an education-focused lecturer post
Two pages is a sensible length. Use the criteria as your structure:
- Opening: who you are, your PhD field, your cancer or medical sciences expertise and why this education-focused post suits you.
- Teaching: units you have taught, the size of the classes, team teaching and one teaching change you designed and evaluated, with the result.
- Scholarship and research: your research background and any education research or teaching-focused publications.
- Supervision and mentoring: honours, master’s or PhD students you have supervised, and colleagues you have mentored.
- Networks: links with hospitals, cancer research centres, industry or professional bodies.
- Close: confirm your work rights and availability.
Sample opening line, for illustration only: “I am a cancer biologist with five years of teaching in undergraduate medical sciences, and I recently redesigned a second-year oncology unit around case-based learning, which raised student satisfaction scores.” Only claim what you can evidence.
What the selection process looks like
Australian universities usually shortlist against the criteria, then hold a panel interview, often with a short teaching presentation for education-focused posts. Referee checks and the pre-employment checks come next. The university has not published interview dates. Given the December 2027 end date, the school will want someone to start fairly soon, so be ready to state your notice period.
Common mistakes
- Applying without work rights: the advert rules out sponsorship, so these applications go nowhere.
- A research-first CV: this is an education-focused post, so teaching evidence should lead.
- Missing criteria: panels score each criterion. One you skip scores zero.
- No evidence of evaluation: the criteria ask you to design, implement and evaluate teaching. Give results.
- Ignoring the cancer focus: give examples of cancer-related teaching or research.
- Leaving it to the last hour: the portal closes at 11:59 pm.
Who should apply and who shouldn’t
You should apply if you have a PhD in cancer biology, pathology, pharmacology, physiology or a related medical science, real university teaching experience, and unrestricted Australian work rights. It also suits researchers who want to move their career towards teaching and curriculum leadership.
You shouldn’t apply if you need a visa, have no PhD, or want a mainly research role. If you are an international student hoping to reach Australia, look at study routes first, such as the University of Sydney International Stipend Scholarship for a funded research degree.
Similar lecturer jobs to compare
| Role | Institution | Location | Salary (as advertised) | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lecturer, Medical Sciences/Cancer | University of Sydney | Sydney, Australia | From AUD 132,533 pro rata + 17% super | 9 November 2026 |
| Lecturer, Medical Sciences/Immunology/Bacteriology | University of Sydney | Sydney, Australia | AUD 132,533 + 17% super | 9 November 2026 |
| Lecturer in General Practice (0.5 FTE) | Australian National University | Canberra, Australia | AUD 124,638 to 141,317 pro rata + 17% super | 1 November 2026 |
| Lecturer in Bioinformatics | The University of Hong Kong | Hong Kong | Competitive | 30 November 2026 |
The immunology and bacteriology lecturer post is the sister advert in the same school with the same pay and work rights rule, so if you fit both, apply to both. The HKU bioinformatics post is the option to look at if you lack Australian work rights.
FAQs about the University of Sydney Lecturer in Medical Sciences/Cancer
What is the salary for a University of Sydney lecturer in medical sciences?
This post pays from AUD 132,533 a year pro rata, plus 17% superannuation paid into a retirement fund.
Does the University of Sydney sponsor visas for this lecturer job?
No. The advert says visa sponsorship is not available, and you need unrestricted Australian work rights for the full contract.
When is the deadline for the University of Sydney cancer lecturer job?
Applications close at 11:59 pm on Monday 9 November 2026.
Is the University of Sydney cancer lecturer job permanent?
No. It is full time and fixed term until December 2027.
Sources and updates
I checked the role details on 29 October 2026 against the Times Higher Education Unijobs listing for job 416848, which carries the University of Sydney’s full advert and a link to its position description. Ranking figures come from the University of Sydney’s own news pages on the THE World University Rankings 2027 and the QS subject rankings 2026, and the QS 2027 position is the one the university cites. The position description file could not be opened when I checked, so the reporting line is not confirmed. I will update this page if the deadline changes.
I am Jude Chinecherem, a final-year MBBS student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I know what it feels like to want an education your family cannot afford. When my parents could not pay for my schooling, I had to learn how to find scholarships and work the system out on my own, with nobody to guide me. I came out the other side, and now I share everything I learned so the next student does not have to figure it out alone. This is the advice I wish someone had given me back then.
