QS World University Rankings 2026: ‘Wake-up call' as Australian universities slip in world rankings; University of Melbourne; University of Sydney
'The inconvenient truth is that reputation is an issue which continues to adversely impact Australian universities' performance in global rankings. The relative decline in standing for both the academic and employer reputation measures has been in the making for several years,' he said.
Despite dropping one rank, the UNSW Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Attila Brungs, said that to be recognised as a top 20 global university for the third consecutive year was an 'exceptional achievement'.
UNSW Vice-Chancellor Professor Attila Brungs said that to be recognised as a top 20 global university for the third consecutive year was an 'exceptional achievement'. Credit: Janie Barrett
Brungs said the success of the university 'isn't determined by rankings positions' but by 'how we use our standing and capabilities to create a positive and lasting impact for our society'.
University of Sydney Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Mark Scott, said the university was pleased it was one of six Australian universities in the top 50.
'We've performed strongly across several areas, including ranking first in Australia and 12th globally for international student diversity. Rankings fluctuate year to year, and this year is no exception, with minor changes across the board in both major rankings.'
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QS chief executive Jessica Turner said international education was worth an estimated $51 billion in Australia in 2023-24, and although Australia remained a destination of choice for international students, academics and global research partners, Australia faced growing competition from other Asia-Pacific countries.
'Emerging markets such as Hong Kong SAR, Malaysia, and the UAE are making impressive strides and steadily closing the gap with more established study destinations,' Turner said.
New Zealand, mainland China, India, Thailand, Taiwan and Vietnam also rose in rankings.
Turner said the rankings showed national policy and other systemic changes could directly shape performance rankings, and countries should 'navigate carefully as global competition intensifies'.
Australia rated well with international students: 23 universities improved in the international students' indicator.
But that could be short-lived because non-refundable visa fees are expected to rise to $2000 on July 1. Debate over international student caps in the lead-up to the federal election could also be damaging.
'In what has been a turbulent year for Australian higher education, universities are calling for sustainable research funding models and greater policy certainty around international education,' Turner said.
' International students have been drawn into a wider national debate in Australia around migration and housing, where they are sometimes perceived as contributing to systemic pressures. It is essential to recognise their broader value to Australian campuses and communities.'
Massachusetts Institute of Technology topped the ranking for the 14th consecutive year, followed by Imperial College London, Stanford University and the University of Oxford.
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In Victoria, Monash University jumped to 36th place from 37th last year, but RMIT slumped to 125th from 123. Deakin University also fell in rank to 207 from 197.
Adelaide University, the newly-formed Group of Eight institution resulting from the merger of the University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia, debuted at 82nd globally, and is due to open in January 2026.
Australian National University higher education expert Professor Andrew Norton, who is inherently sceptical about rankings, said universities hadn't fully recovered from the pandemic and students remained reluctant to return to campus.
'Universities are trying to fix this, but there are factors outside of their control – cost of living, student engagement and availability of part-time work,' he said.
Norton said the increase in student visa costs would 'leave a bad taste in the mouth of anyone who has to pay it'. But he said Australia might get fewer people on student visas coming to access Australia's labor market and more students actually focused on education.
Australian universities had a downward trend in employer reputation scores, with 28 of 36 institutions showing a drop, when employment outcomes have become the No.1 driver of student choice.
Australia's faculty student ratio was also 26th lowest in the world with an average score of 16.7, and behind key competitors such as Canada (20.9), the UK (26.7) and the United States (37.1)
University of Melbourne Vice-Chancellor Professor Emma Johnston said she was proud the institution was recognised for being a leader in academic reputation, employer reputation and sustainability.
University of Melbourne vice chancellor Emma Johnston. Credit: Eddie Jim
'We're proud to stand alongside the strong performance of many institutions across the Asia-Pacific, highlighting the vitality of the higher education sector in our region.'
Group of Eight chief executive Vicki Thomson said the results were 'impressive' and that Australia continued to punch above its weight, ranking fifth overall as the best higher education system in the world.
This was against the backdrop of global uncertainty and mixed messaging from Australia's largest research partner, the US, said Thompson.
QS Quacquarelli Symonds, a global higher education analyst, has ranked the world's universities annually for the past 20 years. The rankings are based on 19.8 million research papers, 200 million citations, 1.5 million academic responses, data from 8467 institutions worldwide and insights from 127,041 academics and 82,096 employers.
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