University of Southern Queensland
UniSQ is ranked among the top 1000 universities globally.
The University of Southern Queensland is ranked #691 in the world, based on a composite of QS, Times, ARWU, and Webometrics rankings. In Australia, USQ is ranked #29 out of 42 universities.
The University of Southern Queensland (USQ) is a mostly online university based west of Brisbane in Toowoomba. USQ is one of Australia's larger universities for distance education. It sets affordable tuition fees for postgraduate and international students.
Website: unisq.edu.au | Campuses: Toowoomba, Ipswich (City, Springfield) [QLD]
USQ World Ranking
Global Ranking: 691
The University of Southern Queensland is ranked #691 in the world. It ranks in the top 400 according to Times and QS. However, it performs lower in the more objective achievement-based rankings of ARWU and Webometrics.
QS ranking: 396
Times Higher Education: 375
ARWU: 650
Webometrics: 1,343
Australia Ranking
Australia Rank: 29
The University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) is the 29th-ranked university in Australia, behind Australian Catholic University and the University of Canberra. It's about on par with CQUniversity and ahead of Charles Darwin University.
Above: Edith Cowan University (26), University of Canberra (27), ACU (28)
Below: CQUniversity (30), Charles Darwin University (31), SCU (32)
Is USQ a Good University?
The University of Southern Queensland (USQ) is a fairly typical Australian regional university. Students can access various campuses or study online for many degrees. Entry standards are modest, avoiding the high ATAR cutoffs associated with prestigious inner-city universities.
Serving southern Queensland
Online learning
Study support
Like other regional universities, USQ (or UniSQ, as it's also known) is a jack-of-all-trades. It caters to a variety of students, offers multiple study modes, and covers most popular study fields. As a research institution, it is well regarded but doesn't rank among the elite Australian universities.
Satisfaction: 80.8%
USQ reviews show high satisfaction, with 77.2% for bachelor degrees and 84.4% for postgraduate students, both above national averages. Uni Reviews provides individual ratings and comments.
How Many Students?
Students: 21,282
University of Southern Queensland had a total of 21,282 students in 2023, making it the 31st largest university in Australia. UniSQ is the 5th biggest uni in Queensland.
- International students: 2,367 (11%)
- Postgraduate students: 4,817 (23%)
- Gender ratio: 59% Female : 41% Male
- On-campus students: 7,173 (34%)
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance Rate: 79%
The University of Southern Queensland acceptance rate is 79%. Among students with an ATAR that qualifies for university, 21% are unable to be admitted into their preferred degree.
Required ATAR: 60
It is not hard to get into USQ, with a minimum ATAR of 60 on average. At the time of publishing, the ATAR threshold was 59 for Arts and Bachelor of Business, and 63 for Science degrees.
What Does External Study Mean in USQ?
External study at the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) refers to online learning where students complete courses remotely without regular on-campus attendance. Some external courses, especially in fields like engineering, require occasional attendance at residential schools for hands-on training.
About 8,589 bachelor and 3,768 postgraduate students study online at UniSQ, making up 64% of the student population. Popular fields of study at USQ Online include Education, and Management and Commerce.
USQ Review
Independent review by Australian Universities. Explore what it’s really like to study at the University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) — a flexible, career-focused university with campuses in Toowoomba, Springfield, and Ipswich.