When people usually think of Australia, they tend to see vast open spaces of outback bush, koalas, kangaroos, clean water and air. However, standing proud with 8 of the top 100 universities in the world, Australia is much more than just kangaroos. Its quality of education, diverse courses to choose from, exemplary post-study opportunities study opportunities, and excellent quality of living leads students worldwide to study abroad in Australia.
Now, Australia features 36 universities in the recently released QS World University Rankings 2021. Of these, only six have fallen in rank this year, with most Australian universities making significant improvements.
Read on today’s comprehensive blog to get a close look at the country’s top 10 universities that advanced in the global ranking in 2021, along with a brief overview of how the other 26 performed.
QS World University Rankings – Top 36 Universities In Australia
Australian Ranking | Global Rank | University |
1 | 31 | Australian National University (ANU) |
2 | 40 | University Of Sydney |
3 | 41 | University of Melbourne |
4 | 44 | University of New South Wales (UNSW) |
5 | 46 | University of Queensland (UQ) |
6 | 55 | Monash University |
7 | 92 | University Of Western Australia (UWA) |
8 | 106 | University of Adelaide |
9 | 133 | University of Technology Sydney (UTS) |
10 | 196 | University of Wollongong |
11 | 197 | University of Newcastle, Australia (UON) |
12 | 214 | Macquaire University |
13 | 217 | Queensland University of Technology (QUT) |
15 | 223 | RMIT University |
16 | 275 | Deakin University |
17 | 295 | University of Southern Australia |
18 | 303 | Griffith University |
19 | 308 | University of Tasmania |
20 | 372 | Swinburne University of Technology |
21 | 398 | La Trobe University |
22 | 414 | Bond University |
23 | 423 | Flinders University |
24 | 456 | University of Canberra |
25 | 462 | James Cook University |
26 | 474 | Western Sydney University |
27 | 551-560 | Victoria University |
28 | 571-580 | Murdoch University |
29 | 591-600 | Central Queensland University |
30 | 651-700 | Edith Cowan University (ECU) |
31 | 700-750 | University of Southern Queensland |
33 | 751-800 | Southern Cross University |
34 | 801-1000 | Australian Catholic University |
35 | 801-1000 | Charles Sturt University |
36 | 801-1000 | University of New England, Australia |
Top 10 Universities In Australia: A Brief Overview
- Australian National University (ANU)
If the words of top essay writers around the world are anything to believe by, Australian National University (ANU) is the top Australian university for another year. It has been running and scoring well across almost all of the indicators, including the academic reputation, international faculty, international students and citations per faculty ratio indicators, which all rank within the top 50 worldwide.
Established in 1946, ANU is the only university to have been established by the Parliament of Australia. ANU holds six Nobel laureates and 49 Rhode Scholars among its faculty and alumni. The university also accounts for two educated prime ministers, 30 Australian ambassadors and more than a dozen current heads of the government department of Australia.
- University Of Sydney
After rising two places this year, the University of Sydney is Australia’s second-best university, ranking 40th worldwide in 2021.
Established in 1850, the University of Sydney was Australia’s first university and is a member of the Group of Eight. The university has educated seven Australian prime ministers, two governors-general of Australia, nine state governors and territory administrators, 24 justices of the High Court of Australia, including four chief justices.
- University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne dropped three places in the world rankings this year, placing 41st in the world. A renowned member of the Group Of Eight, it boasts the title of being the highest-ranked Australian University for both employer and academic reputation. It ranks in the world top 30 rank for both.
The university also performed well in the international student’s indicator, and international students make up to 42% of its student’s population, originating from more than 130 countries.
- University of New South Wales (UNSW)
In the 44th place of global rankings is the University of New South Wales (UNSW). Despite falling one place in this year’s world university ranking, the University of New South Wales holds fourth place in Australia.
Ranked by subject, UNSW holds a place in the top 20 globally for Law accounting and Finance, and 1st in Australia for Mathematics, Engineering, and Technology. UNSW also leads Australia in Medicine.
- University of Queensland (UQ)
The University of Queensland, entering in five top universities in Australia, rises one places this year to claim the 46th.
The university’s alumni incorporate two Nobel Laureates, Academy Award winner Geoffrey Rush, and leaders in government, law, science, public service, and the arts. Researchers from UQ are responsible for the invention of the HPV vaccine, MRI magnets for portable scanning of human limbs, and a COVID-19 vaccine in human trials.
- Monash University
Monash University climbs three places in the rank this year to steal the 55th position in the World Global Rankings. It holds a significant position in the world’s 50 best universities for its academic reputation indicator (43rd) and earns a perfect score in the international student’s indicator.
It is primarily based in Melbourne but has five campuses in Victoria and two overseas, in South Africa and Malaysia. Furthermore, it is also a member of Australia’s Group of Eight research universities, a member of the ASAIHL and is the only Australian member of the M8 Alliance of Academic Health Centers, Universities and National Academies.
- University of Western Australia (UWA)
The University of Western Australia is the first of seven Australian Universities to feature in the top 100 in the world; however, it fell five places in the rankings to 92nd in 2021.
Alumni of UWA incorporates a Prime Minister of Australia, five justices of the High Court of Australia, one Governor of the Reserve Bank, innumerable federal ministers, and seven of Western Australia’s eight most recent premiers.
- University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide is Australia’s third oldest university, founded in 1874. It holds 106th place this year in the university rankings of the world.
The University of Adelaide ranks 44th worldwide for international student’s indicator, and more than 7860 of the university’s 21, 142 students are international students hailing from over 100 different countries. The University of Adelaide is associated with five Nobel laureates, constituting one-third of Australia’s total Nobel Laureates and 110 Rhodes Scholars.
- University of Technology (Sydney)
The University of Technology (UTS) rose seven places in the world university rankings this year in the joint 133rd. It scores exceptionally well in the citations per faculty, international students and employer reputation indicators, ranking 67th, 78th, and 85th, respectively.
The university is considered one of the world’s leading young universities (under 50 years old). As of 2020, UTS enrolls 46,328 students through its 9 faculties and schools.
- University of Wollongong
After rising an incredible 16 places, holding 196th rank in the world, the University of Wollongong entered the Australian top 10 this year. The university performed excessively well for the citations as per the faculty indicator, ranking 75th in the world.
In the 2019 Student Experience Survey, the University of Wollongong recorded the highest student satisfaction rating out of all Australian Universities and the second-highest student satisfaction rating out of all New South Wales public universities, with an overall satisfaction rating of 81.
By now, you must have realized that by studying in Australia, you will be able to take advantage of the exemplary student environment both inside and outside classrooms. In addition to some of the top business and engineering schools in the world, you will be able to receive internships and incredible work placements, preparing students early on for the future job market.
