Australian universities have sunk down a prestigious world rankings list, although many have spun their declines as positives.
University of Melbourne retained its position as the top-rated Australian institution in the 2026 QS World University Rankings.
But it took a six-place slide against overseas educational facilities, slipping from 13th to 19th in the world.
University of NSW ranked 20th, down from 19th in the 2025 edition, while Sydney University dropped seven spots to 25th.
All three are in Australia’s Group of Eight – the nation’s leading universities known for their strong research and high academic standards.
Group of Eight chief executive Vicki Thomson said the results remained “impressive”.
“This comes against a backdrop of global uncertainty and mixed messaging from our largest research partner, the US, which threatens our very capacity to deliver on our mission of education and research,” she said.
“And yet despite these headwinds, Australia continues to punch above its weight, ranking fifth overall as the best higher education system in the world.”
The QS rankings test universities on a string of categories including academic and employer reputation, citations per faculty, their global engagement and sustainability.
Melbourne tops both reputation categories for Australian schools and is the only one inside the top-50 based on reputation with employers.
“As employment outcomes continue to be a key driver of student choice, we have significantly improved our global standing in this category,” Melbourne University’s vice-chancellor Emma Johnston said.
“(It) is a reflection of the value employers place on our graduates and the real-world impact of a University of Melbourne education.”
Opposition senator Jonno Duniam said the results were “sobering” and should prompt a rethink on higher education policy and funding.
“We want education policies that meet the 21st-century skills that our economy demands, not just funding injections from which Australian taxpayers cannot see a reasonable return on their investments – not to mention our university students who deserve better,” he said.
Australian National University (ranked 32 in the world), Monash (36) and Queensland (42) are the next highest-rated facilities.
Adelaide University, a merger of two former South Australian universities, made its first appearance on the list at 82.
One of its predecessors, the University of Adelaide, was 82 in 2025.
“This result confirms that Adelaide University will create quality at the scale needed to deliver far-reaching benefits for Australia’s research and higher education,” Ms Thomson said.
Sydney, which notched one of the nation’s largest drops, pointed to other recent rankings where it topped Australian schools.
“Rankings fluctuate year to year, and this year is no exception, with minor changes across the board in both major rankings,” Sydney’s vice-chancellor Mark Scott said.
TOP 10 AUSTRALIAN UNIVERSITIES IN QS WORLD RANKINGS
*Melbourne – 19 (previous rank – 13)
*UNSW – 20 (19)
*Sydney – 25 (18)
*ANU – 32 (30)
*Monash – 36 (37)
*Queensland – 42 (40)
*WA – 77 (77)
*Adelaide – 82 (new entry)
*UTS – 96 (88)
*RMIT – 125 (123)
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