Australia remains one of the most popular study destinations globally. A great student lifestyle combined with globally renowned institutions means international students frequently place Australia on the priority list. But which institutions are the best in Australia, and where are they based? You’re in the right place. We take you through the top universities in Australia and where you’ll find them.
Before we begin, it’s useful to get a sense of the size of Australia. It’s a big country with six states, namely:
- New South Wales
- Victoria
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Western Australia
- Tasmania
There are also two internal territories. These are the Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory. To understand the distances involved, consider that to travel from Sydney on the east coast to Perth on the west coast, you’d cover over 3,900 kilometres. Australia has 41 universities, with some ranked in the top 100 worldwide. We’ve used the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024 and the QS World University Rankings 2024 to compile our list.
Top universities in New South Wales
We start our journey in south-eastern Australia in New South Wales. It’s the most populous state in Australia, with just over eight million residents and is home to 11 universities. You’ll likely be familiar with its most famous city, Sydney, rated as a top 10 student city by QS in 2024. While Sydney may be renowned for its beaches and surfing, it also has one of the top universities in Australia.
The University of Sydney is ranked third in Australia and 19th globally by the QS World University Rankings 2024. Further, it is also ranked 4th globally on the QS Graduate Employability Rankings. The university offers 126 undergraduate programmes and 263 postgraduate qualifications. In addition, over 32,000 international students are part of the institution's student cohort.
Sydney is in the enviable position of also having another top Australian university in the city, the University of New South Wales, Sydney (UNSW). Rated by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024 as a top 10 institution in Australia, UNSW is also ranked in the top 20 for five subjects worldwide. 40 per cent of the student population is international, and the institution boats a student-to-staff ratio of 36:1.
Located within New South Wales is the Australian Capital Territory. This is where the capital city of Australia is based. Canberra is the 8th biggest city in Australia, and just over 450,000 people live in and around the city. The city is known for growing employment opportunities in healthcare, education, and professional services.
In Canberra, you will also find the Australian National University (ANU). ANU is rated fourth in Australia by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024 and joint 34th globally by QS. The university hosts 17,000 students from over 100 countries and is also the only Australian member of the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU). The university enjoys the distinction of being the most international university in Australia, according to THE.
While the universities we’ve already mentioned top the rankings, New South Wales also has other institutions which are globally competitive, including:
- Macquarie University
- Charles Sturt University
- University of Wollongong
- University of New England
- University of Newcastle
- University of Technology Sydney
- Australian Catholic University
Find out more about the grading system in Australia.
Top universities in Victoria
Victoria is in the south of Australia and has the second-largest population in the country, approximately 6.7 million people. The state has a thriving economy and is probably best known for the city of Melbourne. The city has nine universities and is widely considered an educational hub in Australia.
The number one university in Melbourne and Australia is the University of Melbourne, according to THE. This is supported by QS, which ranks the university at number one in the country and 14th globally. The institution is also considered top 10 internationally for employability by QS. A student population of 52,000 study there, with an almost even split of undergraduate and postgraduate students. 41 per cent of all students are international, and the university produces more than 14,000 pieces of research annually.
Another internationally renowned institution in Melbourne is Monash University. Monash is ranked second overall in Australia by THE and 42nd worldwide by QS. Monash has campuses and teaching centres in Malaysia, Italy, Indonesia, China and India, as well as more than partnerships with 100 universities globally. Of the 58,000 students enrolled at Monash, just over 38 per cent are international, making for a diverse and dynamic community.
If you’re looking at Melbourne as a potential study destination you may also be interested in the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University (RMIT). RMIT is a top 20 Australian university and ranked 140th globally by QS. The university is also ranked number one in Australia for architecture, and art and design (QS). RMIT is considered to be in the top 10 on the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, with high scores for inequality reduction and sustainable communities.
If you feel that Victoria could be the study destination for you, there are further top institutions in the state to select from, including:
- Deakin University
- La Trobe University
- Swinburne University of Technology
- Victoria University
- Federation University Australia
Explore more about the higher education system in Australia.
Top universities in South Australia
South Australia is located in the southern central part of the country. The state has over 3,800km of coastline and is home to 1.8 million people. It’s known for its natural beauty, but also a lower cost of living compared with other popular destinations, which may explain why over 38,000 international students are based here.
The city of Adelaide is the main metropolis in South Australia. This city of 1.4 million, the fourth biggest in Australia, is where you will find the University of Adelaide (UoA). Ranked in the top 10 in Australia and the top 150 globally by THE, UoA is part of the prestigious Group of Eight research-intensive universities. Famous alumni include five Nobel prize winners and Australia’s first female Prime Minister. The university holds the distinction of being ranked in the top 100 globally for 23 subjects (QS).
Another well-known institution in Adelaide is Flinders University. Founded in 1966, Flinders has a reputation for innovation and career-focused qualifications. The institution enjoys a top 350 world ranking from THE and a top 400 global ranking from QS. The university has over 25,000 students, 500 degree programmes, and over 450 scholarships available. There is also a vibrant international student community, with over 33 per cent of all students coming from overseas.
Other institutions you may want to check out in South Australia are:
Find out more about why you should study in Australia.
Top universities in Queensland
The state of Queensland is famed for the Great Barrier Reef and the fact that it has five UNESCO World Heritage sites within its borders. It’s one of the top travel destinations in Australia, with everything from beaches and tropical rainforests attracting visitors all year round. The capital of the state is Brisbane, with Cairns, Gold Coast and Townsville other well-known cities and towns in the region.
The number one ranked university in Queensland is the University of Queensland. Based in Brisbane, the institution is rated the sixth-best university in Australia and 43rd in the world by QS. Spread over three campuses, the university hosts over 42,000 students, of which 42 per cent are international. The university enjoys a reputation for academic quality, an international outlook, and research quality.
Another Brisbane-based institution is Queensland University of Technology (QUT). THE ranks the university in the world’s top 200 and Australia’s top 20. QUT is one of the top 30 best young universities, according to THE. The 50,000-strong student community includes members from over 119 countries. Offering over 100 courses in subjects from business to law, QUT emphasises the need for students to gain essential skills for career success.
Queensland also boasts several other universities you can take a look at, including:
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Top universities in Western Australia
The largest state in Australia, Western Australia covers more than 2.5 million kilometres. It’s known for incredible natural landscapes and sunshine for more than 30 per cent of the year. Over 2.6 million people call the state home, with many living in and around Perth. The city is also where you will find the top universities in the state.
The University of Western Australia (UWA) is ranked 7th in Australia and 72nd worldwide by QS. The university has over 4,000 international students enrolled and an enviable student-to-staff ratio of 19:1. In addition, the university is number one for graduate employability in the state and enjoys a global reputation for research collaboration.
A 15-minute from central Perth, you will find Curtin University, known internationally for its teaching and research. This high quality of teaching and research is recognised by QS, which has awarded the university a 5-star rating. Further, the institution is ranked in the top 200 worldwide by QS and in the top 250 by THE. With strong global ties, the university has campuses in Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius and Dubai. Make sure not to miss out on some of the other institutions of higher learning in Western Australia:
There you have it. A rundown of the top institutions in Australia and where you’ll find them. If you’d like to continue your research into studying in Australia, make sure to read our guides on how to apply for a student visa in Australia and famous alumni from Australian universities. Make sure you also follow the latest news for international students looking to study in Australia.
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