There are 43 universities in Australia. Nine have reached the top 100 in the QS World University Rankings 2026, 10 follow in the top 300, and nine more can be found in the top 500.
That means more than half of these Australian universities are among the world’s best.
But is the number attached to the university all that matters, especially when choosing where to spend the next few years of your life?
The short answer is: no.
The best Australian universities by global rankings
For this article, we’re looking at the QS World University Rankings 2026 and how they determine a university’s placement on the list.
The Australian universities in the top 50 of QS are:
- #19, The University of Melbourne
- #20, The University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney)
- #25, The University of Sydney
- #32, Australian National University (ANU)
- #36, Monash University
- #42, The University of Queensland (UQ)
Their methodology (that is, the way they determine this list) looks at a range of indicators. This includes but isn’t limited to Citations per Faculty, Employer Reputation, Faculty Student Ratio, and International Student Ratio.
One strong example is the indicator with the heaviest weighting: the Academic Reputation indicator, contributing 30% to the total score a university gets in its final placement.
QS measures this through its annual Academic Survey, where academic experts nominate universities based on their subject area of expertise.
This highlights the quality of an institution’s research, its approach to academic partnerships, its strategic impact, its educational innovativeness, and the impact it has made on education and society at large.
The University of Melbourne’s Academic Reputation score is 99.7, the highest of all Australian universities.
The university, however, loses out in the International Faculty Ratio score to UNSW Sydney, coming in at a respectable 96.7 to the latter’s 100.
The International Faculty Ratio indicator, which carries a 5% weighting in the overall rankings, is straightforward – it looks at the ratio of international faculty staff to overall staff.
The idea behind this indicator is that an institution attracting a sizeable population of international academics sees benefits in its research and teaching diversity and collaborations.
Regardless, these rankings look at a lot of things that make a university good, but take it from us – and all the students we’ve spoken to throughout the years – there’s more to choosing a university than its rankings.
How to choose the perfect Australian university for yourself
There is no one way to find the right Australian uniersity for you.
The University of Melbourne may be #1 in rankings, UNSW Sydney may boast a campus life with over 300 student clubs and more than 2,000 events in a year, and the University of Sydney is perhaps one of the top Australian universities in preparing graduates the most for the working world.
But there are other important questions you’ll want to ask yourself when choosing among these Australian universities:
Some Australian universities might have you studying far away from the big cities. Source: AFP
Will I thrive or just survive at the university’s location and its surroundings?
From busy Melbourne and all its trendy cafes and art installations to Tasmania’s wilderness wonders, Australia’s cities and towns have much to offer – some more than others.
Take Natalie Yeo’s story, for example.
Born and raised in the hustle and bustle of Singapore, Yeo was taken aback when she found herself in rural Gatton, where the University of Queensland runs its Bachelor of Veterinary Science degree, instead of the hubbub of Brisbane.
“Gatton is rural, and I was just very used to city life,” says Yeo. “Here, once I’m done with school, I’m just done, and I’ll stay home.”
At some point, Yeo even considered leaving UQ for Sydney, where the liveliness more resembled life back home. She had friends from Singapore who were in the city too, making the grass appear much greener on the other side.
Still, UQ’s promise of an internationally accredited degree and its relatively cheaper cost of living made Yeo grit her teeth and stay on.
Choose your university and campus wisely — it can make or break your experience. Source: AFP
It’s a different story for Puteri Sofia Binti Amirnuddin.
“I can go to Melbourne or Sydney anytime for a holiday,” says Amirnuddin. “But I didn’t know anything about Tasmania, so I thought that would be perfect as I embarked on the next chapter of my life.”
This led her to University of Tasmania’s Bachelor of Laws (LLB). There, she was greeted by clean air, rolling hills, and a beautiful expanse of blue skies and ocean – in her words, it looked like a postcard.
Compared to major Australian cities, Tasmania was quiet, and it was the perfect location for Amirnuddin to settle down and study. Plus, with a more relaxed community, it was also a good opportunity to practise her English, and she constantly pushed herself out of her comfort zone to get to know her peers from different nationalities.
At the end of the day, we recommend having a really good idea of what you’re signing up for. Case in point: even if you were to pursue your studies at the University of Melbourne, you might find yourself approximately 130 kilometres north-west of Melbourne at the university’s Creswick campus for your programme instead.
Plenty of Australian universities offer the same degrees, so it’s up to you to identify the crucial differences between them and decide on the one that suits your needs best. Source: AFP
Is the programme curriculum what I need?
Many Australian universities will offer you similar programmes, though most are conducted with major or subtle differences. It is up to you to decide which university’s programme curriculum suits your wants and needs best.
Xin Lyn Lai was weighing between pursuing psychology exclusively or branching into marketing, but realised she could do both through the University of Melbourne’s breadth track.
This track featured a series of subjects that allow students to explore something new, while still earning credits toward their degree.
“I was doing a commerce degree, so I was learning things like finance, accounting, management, and marketing,” says Lai. “But through the breadth track, I got to take subjects like biological psychology and others in the psychology field.”
That mix of business and psychology helped her develop a different way of thinking — something Lai found a particular enjoyment for.
“You’re always presented with a challenge and how you solve it depends on your background,” shares Lai. “If you’re in finance, then it’ll be more mathematical. But I lean more towards creative strategies because I was doing marketing and management.”
It’s no surprise that the best Australian universities offer great support. Source: AFP
What opportunities or support can I get from the university?
One thing many students – international and local alike – miss out on is making full use of the university’s support systems. Whether it’s the writing centres or career development workshops, these universities have it all.
(We’ve covered the Australian universities that give you an employment boost through their services and support here.)
More of than not, you’ll get help from people who have been there, done that, and survived it all.
Ayushi Daga from India, a Master of Public Health graduate from Monash University, was one of those who served as a Global Student Ambassador.
In this role, she delivered events that connect students to Monash support services and give them a sense of belonging.
One of her projects involved working with the teaching faculty to implement a new curriculum unit into Monash’s Public Health studies. The unit, known as FMNHS Planetary Health Education – Epidemiology and Preventive Medicines, was presented as an online module (pre-workshop activity) and in-person workshop exploring Melioidosis and its interplay between planetary health and infectious diseases.
Pretty impressive to add onto the CV, if we do say so ourselves.
The cost of studying at some of these Australian universities can be a little pricey, but not if you find a university with great financial aid options. Source: AFP
What kind of scholarships are available at the university?
Studying abroad doesn’t often come cheap, but there are definitely ways to make it more affordable. One of the easiest methods? Securing a scholarship.
“The scholarship is both a recognition of my achievements and an encouragement and incentive for my future studies,” says Lareina, a Swinburne University of Technology international student and scholarship recipient from China. “I have been given a real opportunity to realise my ambitions and reach my full potential in my field of study.”
These are some of the more high-value scholarships offered by some of the Australian universities:
