Australian unis ‘punch above their weight’ in rankings

Duncan Murray | June 18, 2026

A new Australian university has emerged as the nation’s best performer in a key global ranking, as the country’s tertiary institutions continue to excel.

The University of New South Wales has overtaken the University of Melbourne to become Australia’s top achiever in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings for 2027.

UNSW came in at 19th in the prestigious list released on Thursday, while Melbourne slipped behind to 22nd.

It is the first time a NSW university has claimed the nation’s top spot, which was dominated by the Australian National University for nearly two decades until Melbourne took over in 2023.

This year, ANU was ranked 29th behind the University of Sydney, with Australia’s oldest sandstone institution sliding three places from the previous year to 28th.

UNSW scored the highest in the nation for employment outcomes and sustainability, and placed third nationally for both reputation among employers and richness and diversity of international research partnerships.

The university has climbed 30 places in the QS rankings since 2017, which UNSW Professor Verity Firth put down to a focus on research, as well as work-integrated learning.

“UNSW is a research-intensive institution,” the vice-president for societal impact, equity and engagement told AAP.

“We do a lot of industry engagement and employer partnerships with students, so by the time they finish their degrees they’re very ready to work and that’s been shown in this ranking.”

Five other Australian universities ranked in the top 100 globally this year.

Monash University climbed five places to 31st, followed by the University of Queensland at 40th, the University of Western Australia in 77th, Adelaide University at 79th and the University of Technology Sydney gaining nearly 10 places to slot in at 87th.

Of the 37 Aussie universities in this year’s ranking, 21 performed better than the previous year.

UNSW Vice-Chancellor Attila Brungs said the results showed Australia punching above its weight on the global stage.

The QS university rankings are widely considered among the most prestigious and comprehensive in the world.

QS chief executive Jessica Turner said while Australia’s reputation among academics and employers strengthens, innovation was crucial in an increasingly AI-driven world.

But she said recent concerns around the cost of visas and a rise in application refusals could undermine Australia’s strong performance in future rankings.

“At a time when international education is more competitive than ever, maintaining this momentum will … depend on ensuring Australia remains an accessible and welcoming destination for international students and researchers,” she said. 

“Their contribution extends far beyond campus life, strengthening research, innovation, economic growth and Australia’s global connections.”