Notorious former police officer Roger Rogerson has been charged with the murder of Sydney university student Jamie Gao in Sydney's south-west.

Arrested at his Padstow Heights home on Tuesday morning, the 73-year-old was taken to Bankstown police station, where he was charged with murder and large-scale drug supply.

He is due to appear in Bankstown Local Court on Tuesday afternoon.

Mr Rogerson is the second former police officer to be charged over the murder of the 20-year-old, after ex-Kings Cross detective Glen McNamara was charged on Monday.