See which unis are on top in Australian university rankings.
The top 8 unis in Australia, according to the latest ratings, remain the Go8: the Group of Eight universities known for research. They consist of:
- two unis from Melbourne: Melbourne Uni [1] and Monash [4]
- two from Sydney: USyd [2] and UNSW [3]
- one each from Brisbane (UQ [5]), Canberra (ANU [6]), Perth (UWA [7]), and Adelaide (Adelaide Uni [8])
World Rankings of Australian Universities
Australian universities are strongly represented in world university rankings. Depending on the ranking system, Australia has around six of the world's top 100 universities. Most of other Australian universities rank in the top 500 or top 1000.
We've extracted data from the different ranking agencies to give a composite rank for every university in Australia. The 42 unis are ranked from top to bottom. The table also shows the survey rankings of QS and Times, academic research rankings of Shanghai ARWU, and web publishing rankings of Webometrics.
| Aust rank | World | University | QS | THE | ARWU | Webo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 656 | Australian Catholic University | 875 | 375 | 650 | 650 |
| 6 | 79 | Australian National University | 32 | 73 | 125 | 89 |
| 41 | 3846 | Avondale University | 3846 | |||
| 33 | 703 | Bond University | 591 | 375 | 836 | |
| 31 | 675 | Charles Darwin University | 584 | 375 | 733 | |
| 35 | 804 | Charles Sturt University | 975 | 900 | 568 | |
| 29 | 650 | CQUniversity | 499 | 550 | 717 | |
| 12 | 230 | Curtin University | 183 | 225 | 250 | 212 |
| 11 | 215 | Deakin University | 207 | 225 | 250 | 180 |
| 26 | 535 | Edith Cowan University | 487 | 375 | 850 | 429 |
| 37 | 981 | Federation University Australia | 450 | 973 | ||
| 22 | 377 | Flinders University | 387 | 275 | 450 | 349 |
| 16 | 278 | Griffith University | 268 | 325 | 350 | 219 |
| 23 | 419 | James Cook University | 440 | 450 | 450 | 412 |
| 17 | 286 | La Trobe University | 233 | 225 | 350 | 289 |
| 10 | 185 | Macquarie University | 138 | 178 | 250 | 188 |
| 4 | 58 | Monash University | 36 | 58 | 76 | 62 |
| 24 | 479 | Murdoch University | 423 | 450 | 550 | 494 |
| 14 | 249 | QUT | 226 | 225 | 350 | 197 |
| 13 | 234 | RMIT University | 125 | 275 | 350 | 187 |
| 32 | 691 | Southern Cross University | 638 | 550 | 744 | |
| 18 | 294 | Swinburne | 294 | 275 | 250 | 360 |
| 40 | 1282 | Torrens University Australia | 1233 | |||
| 27 | 564 | UniSQ | 410 | 375 | 650 | 823 |
| 8 | 126 | University of Adelaide | 82 | 128 | 175 | 117 |
| 28 | 631 | University of Canberra | 494 | 450 | 646 | |
| 42 | 3983 | University of Divinity | 3983 | |||
| 1 | 32 | University of Melbourne | 19 | 39 | 38 | 37 |
| 38 | 994 | University of New England | 1100 | 679 | ||
| 19 | 311 | University of Newcastle | 227 | 275 | 450 | 295 |
| 39 | 1168 | University of Notre Dame | 1300 | 1172 | ||
| 5 | 59 | University of Queensland | 42 | 77 | 65 | 49 |
| 25 | 530 | University of South Australia | 340 | 325 | 450 | 343 |
| 2 | 51 | University of Sydney | 25 | 61 | 72 | 56 |
| 20 | 315 | University of Tasmania | 314 | 275 | 350 | 321 |
| 36 | 906 | University of the Sunshine Coast | 700 | 850 | 794 | |
| 7 | 123 | University of Western Australia | 77 | 149 | 125 | 140 |
| 15 | 252 | University of Wollongong | 184 | 225 | 350 | 250 |
| 3 | 55 | UNSW Sydney | 20 | 83 | 80 | 41 |
| 9 | 160 | UTS | 96 | 154 | 250 | 152 |
| 34 | 709 | Victoria University | 745 | 550 | 608 | |
| 21 | 355 | Western Sydney University | 400 | 325 | 350 | 347 |
Top Universities in Australia
Here are the best universities in Australia according to uni rankings. These institutions produce degrees held in high regard by employers and the community. However, the correlation between a university's ranking and the quality of teaching or education may be negligible.
The top universities are generally hard to get into. We've used ATAR requirements for mainstream degrees to indicate course entry standards.
World Ranking: 32
The University of Melbourne is the top university in Australia, with a composite world ranking of 32. The major ranking agencies all place it comfortably inside the top 50.
ATAR Required: 85+
Melbourne University is the hardest uni to get into based on indicative ATAR thresholds. The minimum ATAR is 88 for Arts, 93 for Business, and 85 for Science.
Students: 75,572
World Ranking: 51
The University of Sydney is ranked 51 globally. It’s a consistently high performer, staying comfortably within the top 100 across major rankings.
ATAR Required: 80+
An ATAR of 80 is needed for Arts and Science at Sydney University, with a much higher 95 for Business.
Students: 78,882
3. UNSW Sydney
World Ranking: 55
UNSW Sydney is consistently ranked within the top 100 universities globally and places inside the top 20 on some major rankings.
ATAR Required: 80+
UNSW Sydney has among the highest entrance requirements in Australia. The ATAR for Arts and Science is 80, while Business requires 93.
Students: 82,283
World Ranking: 58
Monash University in Melbourne ranks at 58 globally and sits fourth overall in Australia.
ATAR Required: 70+
Entry standards are relatively relaxed at Australia's largest university. You need an ATAR of 70 for Arts, and 75 for Business and Science.
Students: 93,227
World Ranking: 59
The University of Queensland holds a global ranking of 59, placing it firmly within the world’s top 60 universities and ahead of Monash and ANU on some measures.
ATAR Required: 75+
UQ is a tough uni to get into without an ATAR starting with an 8 or 9. Currently, the minimum is 75 for Arts, 87 for Business, and 79 for Science.
Students: 57,239
World Ranking: 79
ANU ranks 79 globally, which is impressive for a mid-size university.
ATAR Required: 80
Prospective students from Canberra and elsewhere know where they stand with ANU. A standard minimum ATAR of 80 applies to mainstream courses.
Students: 22,939
World Ranking: 123
UWA in Perth is ranked 123 globally and remains inside the top 100 on some ranking systems.
ATAR Required: 80
Like ANU, an ATAR score of at least 80 is needed across Arts, Business, and Science.
Students: 29,569
World Ranking: 126
Adelaide University is consistently rated among the world’s top 200 universities. A rankings boost is likely after it merges with the University of South Australia in 2026.
ATAR Required: 65
A common minimum ATAR of 65 is set for mainstream courses at the University of Adelaide, providing access to the majority of prospective uni students in S.A.
Students: 30,582
9. UTS
World Ranking: 160
A close rival to the Go8 universities, the University of Technology Sydney holds an average world ranking of 160.
ATAR Required: 72+
You'll need to check program guides for entry thresholds, which range from 72 for Arts to 85 for Business.
Students: 50,387
World Ranking: 185
Rounding out the top 10 unis in Australia is Macquarie University, which is ranked 185 in the world.
ATAR Required: 75
With a consistent minimum ATAR of 75, Macquarie is a saviour for many Sydney students who fall just short of 80.
Students: 44,961
World Ranking: 215
Deakin University sits just outside the top 10 in Australia, with an overall ranking a little above 200 in the world.
ATAR Required: 56+
Entry standards at this Victorian university vary by field of study but drop as low as the mid-50s for an Arts degree.
Students: 59,455
World Ranking: 230
Curtin University in Perth has an overall world ranking of 230 and sits just outside the world’s top 200 on some league tables.
ATAR Required: 70
The standard minimum ATAR at Curtin for guaranteed course entry is 70.
Students: 56,828
13. RMIT University
World Ranking: 234
RMIT University in Melbourne has fluctuating world rankings depending on the formula, ranking as high as 125 with QS but with an overall position around the mid-200s.
ATAR Required: 65+
Gaining entry into RMIT is moderately difficult, with required ATAR scores ranging from 65 for Business to 75 for Arts.
Students: 75,909
14. QUT
World Ranking: 249
Queensland University of Technology (QUT) consistently ranks among the world’s top 300 universities, with an overall ranking just under 250.
ATAR Required: 70+
Year 12 graduates need an ATAR of at least 70 to be guaranteed entry into many QUT courses.
Students: 52,564
World Ranking: 252
The University of Wollongong is generally placed in the top 300 universities in the world, with a composite ranking just over 250.
ATAR Required: 70+
Despite being a regional university located in NSW, south of Sydney, UOW sets fairly high entry standards with a 70 base minimum ATAR.
Students: 34,942
World Ranking: 278
Griffith University, based in Brisbane and the Gold Coast, consistently ranks among the world’s top 300 universities for research, with an overall global position just under 300.
ATAR Required: 63
An ATAR in the low 60s is enough to gain entry to a good selection of Griffith bachelor degrees.
Students: 44,683
World Ranking: 286
Based in Melbourne and extending into regional Victoria, La Trobe University holds a solid global ranking just outside the world’s top 300.
ATAR Required: 55+
ATAR thresholds at La Trobe are 55 for Business, 60 for Arts and 70 for Science.
Students: 37,459
World Ranking: 294
Swinburne University is ranked 294 in the world. It performs much better on QS and Times measures (both inside the top 300), while Webometrics places it lower at 360. EduRank currently lists Swinburne at 594.
ATAR Required: 60+
Melbourne-based Swinburne sets a 60 minimum ATAR generally, rising to 70+ for STEM degrees.
Students: 45,396
World Ranking: 315
The University of Tasmania often makes lists of the top 300 unis in the world but currently has a composite rank in the low 300s.
ATAR Required: 50+
As the only university in an island state, UTAS is highly accessible. Depending on course demand, the minimum ATAR can be as low as 50.
Students: 32,100
World Ranking: 315
The University of Tasmania often makes lists of the top 300 unis in the world but currently has a composite rank in the low 300s.
ATAR Required: 50+
As the only university in an island state, UTAS is highly accessible. Depending on course demand, the minimum ATAR can be as low as 50.
Students: 32,100
World Ranking: 355
Western Sydney University is ranked comfortably within the world’s top 500 universities, with an overall ranking in the mid-300s.
ATAR Required: 60+
An ATAR of 60 is needed for course admission at WSU, with 65 the requirement for Business and Science.
Students: 47,895
World Ranking: 377
Flinders University has an overall ranking of 377, placing it comfortably within the world’s top 500 universities.
ATAR Required: 60
Flinders is accommodating of school leavers in South Australia, with a base ATAR threshold of 60.
Students: 24,962
World Ranking: 419
James Cook University is a top 500 university in world rankings and sits in the 401–500 band on some tables, including ARWU.
ATAR Required: 51+
JCU is a regional university catering to students in Northern Queensland. ATAR thresholds are therefore set low, generally in the 50s.
Students: 19,899
World Ranking: 479
Murdoch University is ranked just inside the world’s top 500 universities, with an overall composite position just under 500.
ATAR Required: 70
As with other Perth universities, Curtin and ECU, Murdoch has a standard minimum ATAR of 70 for most courses.
Students: 24,781
World Ranking: 530
The University of South Australia is a top 600 university globally, with an overall ranking just above 500. Ranking points will accrue to the new Adelaide University after UniSA merges with the University of Adelaide in 2026.
ATAR Required: 60+
UniSA sets ATAR entry thresholds based on demand but starting from 60 for Arts degrees.
Students: 33,974
World Ranking: 535
Edith Cowan University is ranked in the mid-500s globally, while still performing more strongly on some subject-based and regional measures.
ATAR Required: 70
As with other Perth universities, Curtin University and Murdoch University, ECU sets a minimum ATAR of 70 for most courses.
Students: 30,859
World Ranking: 564
The University of Southern Queensland performs reasonably on some academic measures but drops in composite rankings due to a limited global footprint. Webometrics places it well outside the top 500.
ATAR Required: 59+
UniSQ only requires an ATAR of 59 for Arts and Business courses, and 63 for Science.
Students: 20,572
World Ranking: 631
The University of Canberra has a world ranking in the low 600s, though it performs more strongly on academic reputation surveys such as QS and THE.
ATAR Required: 60
UC sets the minimum entry requirement to an ATAR of 60 or more, catering to Canberra students not making the ANU cutoff of 80.
Students: 16,753
World Ranking: 650
CQUniversity Australia has a composite world ranking in the mid-600s. It performs somewhat better on academic reputation measures such as QS and Times than on web-based indicators.
ATAR Required: 60+
CQU sets solid entry standards for its courses, with an ATAR of 60 or more required for mainstream degrees.
Students: 22,035
World Ranking: 656
Australian Catholic University is one of the top 1000 universities in the world, with an overall ranking in the mid-600s.
ATAR Required: 59
ACU sets accessible entry standards at its campuses in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Canberra and Ballarat. An ATAR of 59 is enough to start mainstream degrees.
Students: 34,793
World Ranking: 675
Charles Darwin University is rated in the 351–400 band by Times Higher Education but has an overall composite world ranking in the mid-600s.
ATAR Required: 50+
CDU has minimal entry requirements for a number of programs. A high acceptance rate makes it one of the easier Australian unis to gain entry into.
Students: 12,774
World Ranking: 691
Southern Cross University is ranked just under 700 globally on a composite measure, sitting outside the top 500 based on research reputation.
ATAR Required: 60+
SCU is looking for solid students to join their programs in northern NSW and online, with a minimum ATAR of 60 needed for most courses.
Students: 18,421
33. Bond University
World Ranking: 703
Bond University comes in just over 700 globally based on multiple ranking systems, reflecting solid research output for a small private university on the Gold Coast.
ATAR Required: 70
Strong but not exceptional grades are needed to gain admission, with an ATAR threshold of 70 for popular courses.
Students: 5,945
World Ranking: 709
Victoria University in Melbourne has a world ranking just over 700, broadly consistent with its Webometrics position for online presence.
ATAR Required: 50
Victoria Uni doesn't consider ATAR scores for the majority of their courses, corresponding with a very high acceptance rate for students meeting other criteria.
Students: 34,635
World Ranking: 804
Charles Sturt University is ranked among the top 1000 universities in the world, with an overall position just over 800.
ATAR Required: 55+
CSU sets relatively low ATAR cutoffs, supporting all types of students in regional New South Wales and online.
Students: 35,070
World Ranking: 906
The University of the Sunshine Coast is generally inside the top 1000 in rankings of world universities, with an overall position just over 900.
ATAR Required: 55
USC is highly accepting of students in regional Queensland, with a baseline ATAR score of 55 needed for popular degrees.
Students: 18,871
World Ranking: 981
Federation University Australia achieves solid ratings in a couple of well-known uni league tables, with an estimated global position just under 1000.
ATAR Required: 50+
Fed Uni caters to students in regional Victoria, with minimum ATARs often starting from as low as 50.
Students: 12,450
World Ranking: 994
The University of New England, based in Armidale NSW, is not known for intensive research and sits just inside the world’s top 1000 universities.
ATAR Required: 73
UNE has settled on an ATAR of 72.55 as the baseline minimum for its online degree programs.
Students: 19,387
World Ranking: 1,168
The University of Notre Dame Australia is a small private university and is ranked in the low 1000s globally, reflecting its limited research scale and online footprint.
ATAR Required: 68+
A good ATAR result, usually 68 or better, is needed to join Notre Dame programs in Fremantle and Sydney.
Students: 12,006
World Ranking: 1,282
Torrens University Australia has a low research profile and is generally unranked on major academic tables, but appears in composite rankings based largely on web presence.
ATAR Required: 60
Torrens Uni requires an ATAR of 60 for students to join its courses online and at city campuses around Australia.
Students: 25,445
World Ranking: 3,846
Avondale University has a very limited research and global profile and is ranked in the mid-3000s worldwide on composite measures.
ATAR Required: 60
An ATAR of 60 or better will qualify you for Avondale courses conducted at Lake Macquarie and Sydney in NSW.
Students: 1,106
World Ranking: 3,983
The University of Divinity is ranked last among Australian universities in world rankings, reflecting its very small size and specialised theological focus.
ATAR Required: n/a
Melbourne-based University of Divinity does not use ATAR as a requirement for admission into its Christian colleges.
Students: 1,245
Ranking Methodology
To produce a clear and comparable world ranking for Australian universities, this page uses a composite ranking method based on four of the most established global university ranking systems:
- ARWU (Shanghai Ranking)
- QS World University Rankings
- Times Higher Education (THE)
- Webometrics
These rankings were selected because they are long-running, independent of each other, and together capture research output, academic reputation, institutional scale, and global web presence. No single ranking fully reflects university quality, so a composite approach produces a more stable and realistic result.
How the composite ranking is calculated
Each university’s world ranking is calculated as a simple average of its positions across the four ranking systems.
Where a ranking agency reports a range (for example, 401–500), the midpoint of that range is used. This avoids overstating performance while still allowing consistent comparison across institutions.
Handling missing rankings
Not all universities appear in every global ranking. When a ranking is not provided by a particular agency, a conservative adjustment is applied.
The missing value is set to the higher of:
- The university’s worst ranking from the other agencies, or
- 1.1× the lowest (worst) ranking awarded to any Australian university by that ranking system
This ensures that not being ranked contributes to a lower composite score rather than being ignored. Universities that are consistently recognised across multiple rankings are rewarded, while limited global visibility reduces the overall ranking.
Why this approach works
This methodology reduces volatility caused by any single ranking system, penalises weak or absent global signals without exaggeration, and produces a reliable ordering of Australian universities that aligns closely with expert expectations.
The resulting figure should be read as a practical guide to global standing, not as a claim of exact rank. The method is designed to be transparent, conservative, and reproducible, providing a defensible comparison of Australian universities in a global context.
