Sydney’s UNSW overtakes University of Melbourne in global rankings for first time

The University of New South Wales has overtaken the University of Melbourne for the first time in a prestigious world university rankings list.

UNSW ranked 19th in the QS World University Rankings, an improvement of one place for the Sydney university on last year’s result and 30 places since 2017.

UNSW was particularly commended for its employment outcomes, sustainability, reputation and international research partnerships.

University of Melbourne (UoM) continued a downward trajectory, however, falling from 19th to 22nd in this year’s iteration, after falling seven spots from 2024’s ranking of 12th.

UNSW was among 58% of previously ranked Australian institutions that improved their standing this year, with nine achieving record-high positions.

Comparatively, 12% of US universities and 21% of UK universities improved.

The QS World University Rankings 2027 evaluates more than 1,500 institutions across 106 countries and territories. MIT in the US retained the top position for a 15th year, while Imperial College London and Stanford University were joint second.

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Some 37 of Australia’s 43 recognised universities were ranked this year – the highest number ever.

The vice-chancellor of UNSW, Prof Attila Brungs, said the university was “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”.

“It gives our talented staff and students even greater opportunities to have a positive impact on the world,” he said.

The UoM interim vice-chancellor, Prof Glyn Davis, said the university remained focused on “strengthening our global partnerships, advancing excellence in teaching and research, and ensuring our students are equipped to thrive in a rapidly changing world”.

The CEO of QS Quacquarelli Symonds, Jessica Turner, said Australia’s immediate gains came with longer-term warnings, pointing to heightened visa costs and rising application refusals to international students, coupled with low student satisfaction.

“With 21 universities improving their position, the sector continues to build momentum,” she said.

“Its reputation among both academics and employers is strengthening, while its ability to attract international students and faculty reflects the value that global talent brings to Australian campuses, research excellence and the wider economy.”

She said the rankings also highlighted areas where “further progress is needed”.

“Compared with some of its global peers, Australia performs less strongly on teaching capacity and graduate outcomes,” she said.

“Sustained investment in the student experience, skills development and employability will be essential if Australia is to maintain its competitive edge in an increasingly AI-driven economy.

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

Director of strategic insights at RMIT and QS Rankings Advisory Board member, Angel Calderon, said Australian universities had reinforced their strong overall standing after a “difficult year”.

He said Australia’s improvement was largely due to its citations per faculty and academic reputation.

“This year’s QS results indicate that the performance of Australian universities facing structural, governance, or financial challenges has not been adversely affected in terms of academic reputation,” he said.

“A university’s reputation will ultimately be strengthened to the extent that its actions contribute to improving students and supporting the communities in which they serve and operate.”