University of New South Wales has achieved the highest rank among Australian institutions in the latest QS World University Rankings, while the University of Melbourne saw a decline.
Separately, QS rankings by subject showed strong performance in several disciplines, with four Australian universities placing in the global top 10 for engineering.
Institutional Rankings
Overall Results
In the 2027 QS World University Rankings, which evaluated over 1,500 institutions across 106 countries, UNSW ranked 19th globally. This represents an improvement of one place from the previous year and an increase of 30 places since 2017.
The University of Melbourne fell from 19th to 22nd, following a drop of seven spots from its 2024 ranking of 12th. The University of Sydney ranked 25th globally.
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) retained the top position for the 15th consecutive year. Imperial College London and Stanford University tied for second.
"We are excited to be number one in Australia because it allows us to do more, to have more impact, more influence, and access to more networks." — UNSW Vice-Chancellor Prof Attila Brungs
Broader Trends
- Fifty-eight percent of previously ranked Australian institutions improved their standing, with nine achieving record-high positions.
- In comparison, 12% of US universities and 21% of UK universities improved.
- A total of 37 of Australia's 43 recognized universities were ranked — the highest number ever.
Subject-Specific Rankings
The 16th annual QS world university rankings by subject assessed 21,000 courses across 1,900 universities in 100 countries. Key Australian results include:
- Minerals and Mining Engineering: UNSW ranked 3rd, Curtin University 4th, the University of Queensland 5th, and the University of Western Australia 9th.
- Data Science and AI: Australian representation in the global top 100 increased from seven courses to 13.
- Sports-Related Subjects: The University of Sydney ranked 3rd and the University of Queensland 2nd.
- Pharmacy and Pharmacology: Monash University ranked 2nd.
- Nursing: The University of Technology, Sydney, ranked 16th, with Western Sydney University ranking 27th.
- Philosophy: Macquarie University entered the top 20 for the first time, ranking 18th.
Statements and Analysis
University of Melbourne Interim Vice-Chancellor Prof Glyn Davis stated the university remains focused on strengthening global partnerships, advancing excellence in teaching and research, and equipping students for a changing world.
QS CEO Jessica Turner noted that Australia’s immediate gains come with longer-term warnings, referencing higher visa costs, rising application refusals for international students, and low student satisfaction. She stated, “With 21 universities improving their position, the sector continues to build momentum,” but added that Australia performs less strongly on teaching capacity and graduate outcomes compared to global peers, and that sustained investment in student experience and employability is essential. She also indicated that maintaining clarity and stability in policy settings is critical for Australia’s higher education sector.
RMIT Director of Strategic Insights Angel Calderon attributed Australia's improvement to citations per faculty and academic reputation, and stated that the rankings indicate universities facing challenges were not adversely affected in academic reputation.
Dr. Kylie Walker, chief executive of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, stated that continued government and business investment in STEM disciplines is crucial to prevent Australia from falling behind globally. She highlighted a disparity between stated importance of research and development and actual investment levels.