Top 10 Universities in Australia

Colourful reefs, rainforests, chilly beaches, lively cities, interesting museums, stunning architecture; Australia has something for everyone. It is a country that will offer you an enriching experience with its vastness. If you plan to study in Australia, you should embrace yourself for a fun-tastic ‘Uni life’ (as it's commonly known). 

Here are top 10 Universities in Australia as per the Times Higher Education's World University Rankings 2016-17.

1. University of Melbourne!

The University of Melbourne has been ranked first by The Times Higher Education World University Rankings in Australia and 34th in the world. The University of Melbourne has also taken the leading position as per the Shanghai Jiao Tong and Higher Education Evaluation and Accreditation Council of Taiwan rankings, and it ranks second in the QS table nationally. It proves to be a great place to develop skills that international employers look for the globe-over, as its curriculum is in alignment with the world's top universities in Asia, North America, and Europe. It has student exchange programs with nearly 135 partners in 32 countries world-wide. 

2. Australian National University

The Australian National University (ANU) is a University of intensive research and commits around 80 per cent of its operating budget to research activities each year. The University is widely recognized not just for its research, but for its undergraduate and postgraduate education and policy engagement. The Uni is also among the 65 best Universities in the world, according to the latest Times Higher Education World University Rankings.

The University is home to an interconnected community of scholars. It has around 4,197 international students and 12,522 domestic students. Its campus at Canberra, Australia’s capital city, proves to be a perfect location for student life, research, and education. 

3. University of Sydney

The University of Sydney, founded in 1850, is a University that has a commitment to education and strives to make a difference with its research and education. It has a student population of about 50,000 with international students from 134 countries. It has around 286 student exchange agreements in over 30 countries. The Uni is among the 70 best Universities in the world, according to the latest Times Higher Education World University Rankings.

4. University of Queensland

The University of Queensland (UQ), having been founded in 1911, is Queensland’s oldest University and has sent out over 200,000 graduates. The University has a student population of 45,000 with nearly 11,000 international students from 134 countries. UQ sees the most PhD enrolments in the country and is one of Australia’s top three Universities when it comes to PhD completions. UQ has a research income of about $338.5 million and is a founding member of the Group of Eight and is one of the three Australian members of Universitas 21. University of Queensland has won numerous Australian Awards for its University Teaching.  

5. Monash University 

"The World’s Top CEOs are more likely to hire Monash graduates” stated the New York Times recently. The University’s high reputation is due to its career-focused programs, research that strives to make a difference, and its high standards of academia. It has a total student population of 63,338 out of which over 21,000 are international students. It is truly an international University, with campuses in Malaysia and South Africa and strong partnerships with Universities around the globe (inclusive of Sichuan University from China, Arizona State University from the USA, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Warwick University from the UK). In 2012, Monash had made it to the top 1% of world Universities as per Times Higher Education World University Rankings. 

6. University of New South Wales

The University of New South Wales (UNSW), established in 1949, also makes it to the top 100 Universities from around the globe. It is a leading research and teaching University that is a founding member of the Group of Eight and is also part of Universitas 21. UNSW is the country’s most cosmopolitan University with a student population of over 52,000 students with more than 11,000 international students from 120 countries from round the globe. The University offers 900 programs at various degree levels. UNSW has more than 250 partnerships with Universities world-wide.

7. University of Western Australia 

The University of Western Australia (UWA) has been shaping the careers of more than 100,000 graduates since the year 1913. It is internationally well renowned for being research intensive and is a member of the Group of Eight and the Worldwide Universities Network, which has only two Australian universities inclusive of UWA. As per the ‘Good Universities Guide 2012’, University of Western Australia has been rated first in Australia for employment prospects, student demand, research intensity, and also graduating starting salaries. It happens to be the best in producing University graduates that gain employment full-time, in Western Australia.

8. Queensland University of Technology

Queensland University of Technology or QUT is a University also known as 'a University for the real world' for its industry connections and its relevancy in teaching and applied research. This is a leading Australian University with an international outlook with around 42,000 students, out of which 6000 are international students. Its annual budget exceeds AUD 750 million. 

9. University of Adelaide 

The University of Adelaide is consistently ranked in the top 1% of Universities in the world. It’s a University that has 25,000 students with international student population from over 99 countries. It has produced numerous Nobel Prize winners and more than 100 Rhodes Scholars and is a member of the Group of Eight and is among Australia's top research-intensive Universities with an annual research income of $155 million. The University makes it to the top 1% of the Universities from around the globe.

10. Macquarie University 

The New York Times survey in 2011 stated that “CEO's around the world rank Macquarie University in the top 5 Australian Universities for their graduate recruitment.” For over ten years, graduates’ starting salaries have been ranked to be among the best in the country. Macquarie is one of the best Australian Universities and has facilities for its students that are considered to be the best among the Asia Pacific region, inclusive of a hospital with associated research facilities, an exceptional swimming and sports complex, an on-campus railway station, and such. It offers the most scholarship programs and most international student exchange programs within Australia for international students. 

This should give you the overall picture of what Universities you should keep your eyes on at the time of application! Have a quick look at the Australian University rankings! Make your pick and hop into the land of kangaroos! 

Image source: www.newcastle.edu.au