Universities in Australia ^New

Explore the uniRank League Table and University Ranking of 40 Universities in Australia

The Commonwealth of Australia is a federation comprising 6 states and 2 major territories. Most higher education institutions that meet the uniRank selection criteria are concentrated in the densely populated states of New South Wales (Sydney), Victoria (Melbourne) and Queensland (Brisbane). The following uniRank league tables and sub-rankings consider all administrative divisions with at least one Australian higher education institution that fulfill the uniRank selection criteria.

Australian Capital Territory (2)  
New South Wales (11)  
Northern Territory (1)  
Queensland (8)  
South Australia (4)  
Tasmania (1)  
Victoria (8)  
Western Australia (5)  

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Overview of Australian Universities

Australia's higher education system comprises 40 recognized universities, predominantly public institutions (92.5%) with a smaller private sector (7.5%). Governed by national quality standards, these universities offer globally recognized degrees across comprehensive and specialized disciplines. Key characteristics include research-intensive environments, strong international student recruitment and consistent representation in global rankings, particularly in fields like engineering, medicine and environmental sciences.

Top 10 Australian Universities

1. University of New South Wales (UNSW)
   Ranked #1 in Australia and #63 globally. Established 1949 in Sydney, NSW. Public research university offering comprehensive programs in engineering, business and sciences across undergraduate to PhD levels.
2. The University of Sydney (USYD)
   #2 nationally, #64 worldwide. Founded 1850 in Sydney, NSW. Public comprehensive institution with strengths in medicine, law and arts. Offers undergraduate through doctoral programs.
3. Monash University (Monash)
   #3 in Australia, #72 globally. Established 1958 in Clayton, Victoria. Public research-intensive university providing comprehensive studies in pharmacy, engineering and social sciences at all academic levels.
4. The University of Melbourne (UNIMELB)
   #4 nationally, #89 worldwide. Founded 1853 in Melbourne, Victoria. Public comprehensive university renowned for medicine, law and business education from bachelor's to research degrees.
5. The University of Queensland (UQ)
   #5 in Australia, #97 globally. Established 1909 in St Lucia, Queensland. Public research institution offering comprehensive programs in agriculture, environmental science and health sciences across undergraduate to PhD levels.
6. Australian National University (ANU)
   #6 nationally, #112 worldwide. Founded 1946 in Canberra, ACT. Public research-intensive university specializing in policy studies, astronomy and political science. Delivers comprehensive programs from bachelor's to doctoral degrees.
7. The University of Adelaide (UofA)
   #7 in Australia, #244 globally. Established 1874 in Adelaide, SA. Public comprehensive university with strengths in wine science, health research and engineering across all study levels.
8. The University of Western Australia (UWA)
   #8 nationally, #247 worldwide. Founded 1911 in Crawley, WA. Public research institution offering comprehensive programs in marine biology, mining engineering and Indigenous studies from undergraduate to PhD.
9. University of Technology Sydney (UTS)
   #9 in Australia, #255 globally. Established 1965 in Sydney, NSW. Public university specializing in technology, design and innovation with comprehensive programs from undergraduate to research degrees.
10. Macquarie University (MU)
    #10 nationally, #270 worldwide. Founded 1964 in Sydney, NSW. Public comprehensive institution known for linguistics, environmental science and business programs across all academic levels.

Analysis of University Types

Australia's 40 universities show overwhelming public sector dominance. Australian public institutions constitute 37 universities (92.5% of total), while only 3 universities (7.5%) are privately controlled. This distribution reflects Australia's historic investment in publicly funded higher education and national research infrastructure.

Global Ranking and Standing

Australian universities demonstrate exceptional global competitiveness: 6 institutions (15% of total) rank within the world's top 200 universities. Furthermore, 31 universities (77.5% of total) appear in the global top 1,000, highlighting the system's widespread quality and international recognition.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How many universities are in Australia?
Australia has 40 recognized higher education institutions, including 37 public and 3 private universities.

What is Australia's top-ranked university?
The University of New South Wales (UNSW) currently holds Australia's #1 position in uniRank's national rankings.

Are Australian degrees internationally recognized?
Yes, Australian qualifications are globally respected due to the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) and strict government quality standards.

Which Australian cities have the most universities?
Sydney hosts 4 top-10 institutions, followed by Melbourne with 3. Regional distribution spans all Australian states and territories.

What percentage of Australian universities rank globally?
77.5% of Australian universities (31 institutions) rank within the world's top 1,000, with 15% (6 universities) in the elite top 200.

Since 2005, UniRank provides original research, valuable information and resources to help you explore and make informed decisions about Australian universities and their online presence.

• Oldest Universities in Australia
  Explore the most traditional and long-established Australian post-secondary institutions according to uniRank's original research.
• A-Z Universities in Australia
  Search for Australian higher education institutions listed alphabetically from A to Z.
• Australian Universities by Town
  Look for tertiary institutions located in a particular Australian town or city.
• Top Public Universities in Australia
  Discover Australian public higher education institutions with potentially lower tuition fees.
• Top Private Universities in Australia
  Find out about Australian private higher education institutions.
• Top Non-Profit Universities in Australia
  Explore Australian not-for-profit higher education institutions that may offer lower tuition fees.
• Top For-Profit Universities in Australia
  Look for Australian for-profit higher education institutions.
• Top Australian Universities on Facebook
  See which tertiary institutions in Australia have the most followers on Facebook, according to uniRank's original research.
• Top Australian Universities on Twitter
  Discover the Universities in Australia that are most followed on Twitter, based on uniRank's original research.
• Top Australian Universities on Instagram
  Find out which post-secondary institutions in Australia are the most followed on Instagram, according to uniRank's original research.
• Top Australian Universities on YouTube
  Explore the Universities in Australia with the most subscribed channels on YouTube, based on uniRank's original research.