UNSW has clinched the top spot among Australia’s universities, ranking #1 in Australia and #19 internationally, according to the 2027 Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings.
Published on 18 June 2026, the QS World University Rankings compiles an evaluation of 8808 institutions, with 1504 universities included in the published results.
UNSW was the only Australian university to rank within the top 20, with University of Melbourne falling from 19th to 22nd in this year’s rankings. This is also the first time an NSW university has dominated university rankings within the country.
UNSW ranks #1 in Australia’s top universities for QS 2027 World University Rankings. Source: @unsw on Instagram
Most notably, UNSW performed particularly strongly in employment outcomes and sustainability measures, scoring highly across most indicators. Of the 37 Australian institutions analysed, UNSW placed first in employment outcomes (with a score of 97.4/100) and sustainability (98) and third for both reputation among employers (94.3) and the richness and diversity of our international research partnerships (96.9). The University scored more than 94% in eight of the nine categories.
In an article published in the Sydney Morning Herald, UNSW Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Attila Brungs expressed his pride in the university’s ranking and emphasised the strength of its research, teaching excellence, and global impact, while also highlighting the importance of recognising and supporting Australia’s world-class higher education sector.
“To be recognised as a global top 20 university for the fourth consecutive year and now the number one university in Australia is a testament to UNSW’s commitment to delivering a world-class education for our students and an environment where high-quality research and innovation thrive.”
When interviewed by UNSW Newsroom, commerce and computer science student Alex Fox also shared how his time at UNSW shaped his university experience:
“UNSW backs you to punch well above your weight. I am a second-year student and I’m working on flight software for a cube satellite that’s going into orbit. I’m also working on a fraud detection project at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. Those are both opportunities that have been afforded to me because I study at UNSW. I have walked away from pretty much every course I’ve done here having gained more from it than I would have imagined going in. I feel like that’s what is reflected in the rankings. It’s awesome to be studying at Australia’s number one university.”
However, the CEO of QS, Jessica Turner, has warned that Australia’s gains are coupled with other long-term critical factors to consider, such as the rising costs of student visas, an increasing number of refusals for international student applications, and low student satisfaction.
As she told the Australian Financial Review: “[Higher education] is such a unique asset for Australia, because of the breadth of excellence in the sector, and therefore the access to excellent education for students from all around the world. Australian policymakers need to be aware that it’s an easy position to lose and a hard position to regain.”
As the Australian government plans to crack down on the international student population, they may face unprecedented funding problems regarding universities’ financial sustainability, ultimately destabilising Australia’s university rankings on the global stage.
At the same time, the Group of Eight chief executive Vicki Thomson stated that the results come despite a “challenging funding environment” for the sector.
“If Australia wants to remain globally competitive, we need a coordinated national effort to lift investment – bringing together government, business, industry, and universities with a clear goal, to strengthen our research system for the long term,” she said.