Latest news with #UniversityofMelbourne
Time Out
4 hours ago
- Science
- Time Out
This Melbourne university has been named in the top 20 best in the world for 2026, beating out Yale and Princeton
When you think of the most prestigious universities in the world, the first to come to mind will probably be names from the other side of the globe. But there's one university right here in our city that is just as esteemed as the likes of Yale or Princeton. In fact, in a new global list of the world's best university, our very own University of Melbourne outranked both of those well-known institutions. Feel that city pride! The prestigious QS World University Rankings for 2026 have just dropped, revealing which institutions stand in the best stead for the year ahead. Two Australian universities cracked the top 20 for yet another year, out of more than 1,500 institutions from around the world assessed for the 2026 rankings, including 36 from Australia. The top five were pretty similar to last year, with MIT holding onto first place with a perfect score of 100, followed by Imperial College London, Stanford, Harvard and Cambridge. Australia's highest-ranked institution was the University of Melbourne, which landed 19th on the global list. While it slipped six spots from placing 13th in 2025, its overall score actually rose 1.9 points to 90.8 – thanks to improved ratings in seven of the nine ranking indicators. The uni earned a near-perfect 99.7 for academic reputation (the highest in Australia) and also ranked first in the country for employer reputation and sustainability. This university is consistently praised as the best in the country, and was also named as one of the top ten most sustainable universities worldwide last year. Just one position behind was the University of New South Wales (UNSW), which held onto its place among the top 20 universities in the world for the third consecutive year. Its overall score of 90.7 saw it drop one position from 19th in 2025, but it maintained impressive ratings for academic reputation (96.3) and ranked equal 12th in the world for sustainability. Of the 36 Australian institutions assessed, UNSW placed first in the employment outcome and international research network categories. Overall, two-thirds of Australia's ranked universities dropped in this year's rankings. Meanwhile, only seven climbed higher, including Monash University's jump from 37th to 36th. The University of Sydney slipped out of the top 20, landing at 25th, with the Australian National University and the University of Queensland also dropping two spots to 32nd and 42nd, respectively. Despite the overall decline, we think it's still pretty impressive that one of our city's universities made the top 20 worldwide. You can check out the full rankings here. Here are the 20 best universities in the world Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA Imperial College London, UK Stanford University, USA University of Oxford, UK Harvard University, USA University of Cambridge, UK ETH Zurich, Switzerland National University of Singapore, Singapore University College London, UK California Institute of Technology, USA The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Nanyang Technological University, Singapore University of Chicago, USA Peking University, China University of Pennsylvania, USA Cornell University, USA Tsinghua University, China University of California, Berkeley, USA University of Melbourne, Australia University of New South Wales, Australia Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Melbourne newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox.
The Advertiser
5 hours ago
- Health
- The Advertiser
Gen Z urged to not neglect dental care once they leave home
As house prices and cost-of-living pressures delay young Australians from moving out, a growing number of parents are left with the burden of covering the essentials - including dental care - for much longer than expected. Parents need to keep dental care on the radar even after their children turn 18, especially when those children are still living at home. As a dentist, I see far too many young adults fall through the cracks once they leave high school. Regular dental visits, once booked by parents, paid for, and prioritised, suddenly disappear from the calendar. At a time when young people are navigating new independence, study stress, and tighter budgets, oral health often becomes an afterthought. But it shouldn't be. Dental care must be treated like any other essential, right alongside GP check-ups, mental health support, and nutrition. MORE OPINION: How different would Australians feel if the system was behind them? The consequences of neglect are often invisible at first, but they build slowly - decay, gum disease, jaw issues, and costly emergencies that could have been prevented with a simple clean and check-up. Before kids move out, parents should make sure that dental health is part of the transition plan. Book that last appointment. Start the conversation. Help them understand that just because their teeth look fine doesn't mean they are fine. Of course, the transition to adulthood doesn't come with perfect hygiene habits but you often see adults in their forties present with problems that could've been prevented in their teens. A University of Melbourne study published in March revealed once people reach the age of 15 to 20, a significant drop in dental visits occurred. Researchers tracked more than 11,000 people over several years and found many patients didn't return once they became independent, and often for years. The pattern seen here in Australia isn't isolated. A previous study from New Zealand reported a similar drop in regular dental visits among young working-age adults. These findings are consistent with patterns commonly seen in this age group, shaped by time pressures, financial stress and the false belief that you only need a dentist when something hurts. There's a belief that healthy-looking teeth don't need attention, which means too many people are missing the potential early signs of decay and gum disease. Changes in daily routines - moving out of the family home, taking on study and full-time work often marks the beginning of the decline in dental care. Once children are out on their own, and in charge of their own health insurance, the health safety net can disappear. If you're a young adult reading this, remember, your health isn't on hold just because life got busier. By the time pain shows up, treatment can be complex and more expensive. The solution? Reconnecting oral health with the broader wellness narrative Gen Z already embraces. We talk a lot about mental fitness, skin care, and gut health - teeth need to be part of that conversation. As house prices and cost-of-living pressures delay young Australians from moving out, a growing number of parents are left with the burden of covering the essentials - including dental care - for much longer than expected. Parents need to keep dental care on the radar even after their children turn 18, especially when those children are still living at home. As a dentist, I see far too many young adults fall through the cracks once they leave high school. Regular dental visits, once booked by parents, paid for, and prioritised, suddenly disappear from the calendar. At a time when young people are navigating new independence, study stress, and tighter budgets, oral health often becomes an afterthought. But it shouldn't be. Dental care must be treated like any other essential, right alongside GP check-ups, mental health support, and nutrition. MORE OPINION: How different would Australians feel if the system was behind them? The consequences of neglect are often invisible at first, but they build slowly - decay, gum disease, jaw issues, and costly emergencies that could have been prevented with a simple clean and check-up. Before kids move out, parents should make sure that dental health is part of the transition plan. Book that last appointment. Start the conversation. Help them understand that just because their teeth look fine doesn't mean they are fine. Of course, the transition to adulthood doesn't come with perfect hygiene habits but you often see adults in their forties present with problems that could've been prevented in their teens. A University of Melbourne study published in March revealed once people reach the age of 15 to 20, a significant drop in dental visits occurred. Researchers tracked more than 11,000 people over several years and found many patients didn't return once they became independent, and often for years. The pattern seen here in Australia isn't isolated. A previous study from New Zealand reported a similar drop in regular dental visits among young working-age adults. These findings are consistent with patterns commonly seen in this age group, shaped by time pressures, financial stress and the false belief that you only need a dentist when something hurts. There's a belief that healthy-looking teeth don't need attention, which means too many people are missing the potential early signs of decay and gum disease. Changes in daily routines - moving out of the family home, taking on study and full-time work often marks the beginning of the decline in dental care. Once children are out on their own, and in charge of their own health insurance, the health safety net can disappear. If you're a young adult reading this, remember, your health isn't on hold just because life got busier. By the time pain shows up, treatment can be complex and more expensive. The solution? Reconnecting oral health with the broader wellness narrative Gen Z already embraces. We talk a lot about mental fitness, skin care, and gut health - teeth need to be part of that conversation. As house prices and cost-of-living pressures delay young Australians from moving out, a growing number of parents are left with the burden of covering the essentials - including dental care - for much longer than expected. Parents need to keep dental care on the radar even after their children turn 18, especially when those children are still living at home. As a dentist, I see far too many young adults fall through the cracks once they leave high school. Regular dental visits, once booked by parents, paid for, and prioritised, suddenly disappear from the calendar. At a time when young people are navigating new independence, study stress, and tighter budgets, oral health often becomes an afterthought. But it shouldn't be. Dental care must be treated like any other essential, right alongside GP check-ups, mental health support, and nutrition. MORE OPINION: How different would Australians feel if the system was behind them? The consequences of neglect are often invisible at first, but they build slowly - decay, gum disease, jaw issues, and costly emergencies that could have been prevented with a simple clean and check-up. Before kids move out, parents should make sure that dental health is part of the transition plan. Book that last appointment. Start the conversation. Help them understand that just because their teeth look fine doesn't mean they are fine. Of course, the transition to adulthood doesn't come with perfect hygiene habits but you often see adults in their forties present with problems that could've been prevented in their teens. A University of Melbourne study published in March revealed once people reach the age of 15 to 20, a significant drop in dental visits occurred. Researchers tracked more than 11,000 people over several years and found many patients didn't return once they became independent, and often for years. The pattern seen here in Australia isn't isolated. A previous study from New Zealand reported a similar drop in regular dental visits among young working-age adults. These findings are consistent with patterns commonly seen in this age group, shaped by time pressures, financial stress and the false belief that you only need a dentist when something hurts. There's a belief that healthy-looking teeth don't need attention, which means too many people are missing the potential early signs of decay and gum disease. Changes in daily routines - moving out of the family home, taking on study and full-time work often marks the beginning of the decline in dental care. Once children are out on their own, and in charge of their own health insurance, the health safety net can disappear. If you're a young adult reading this, remember, your health isn't on hold just because life got busier. By the time pain shows up, treatment can be complex and more expensive. The solution? Reconnecting oral health with the broader wellness narrative Gen Z already embraces. We talk a lot about mental fitness, skin care, and gut health - teeth need to be part of that conversation. As house prices and cost-of-living pressures delay young Australians from moving out, a growing number of parents are left with the burden of covering the essentials - including dental care - for much longer than expected. Parents need to keep dental care on the radar even after their children turn 18, especially when those children are still living at home. As a dentist, I see far too many young adults fall through the cracks once they leave high school. Regular dental visits, once booked by parents, paid for, and prioritised, suddenly disappear from the calendar. At a time when young people are navigating new independence, study stress, and tighter budgets, oral health often becomes an afterthought. But it shouldn't be. Dental care must be treated like any other essential, right alongside GP check-ups, mental health support, and nutrition. MORE OPINION: How different would Australians feel if the system was behind them? The consequences of neglect are often invisible at first, but they build slowly - decay, gum disease, jaw issues, and costly emergencies that could have been prevented with a simple clean and check-up. Before kids move out, parents should make sure that dental health is part of the transition plan. Book that last appointment. Start the conversation. Help them understand that just because their teeth look fine doesn't mean they are fine. Of course, the transition to adulthood doesn't come with perfect hygiene habits but you often see adults in their forties present with problems that could've been prevented in their teens. A University of Melbourne study published in March revealed once people reach the age of 15 to 20, a significant drop in dental visits occurred. Researchers tracked more than 11,000 people over several years and found many patients didn't return once they became independent, and often for years. The pattern seen here in Australia isn't isolated. A previous study from New Zealand reported a similar drop in regular dental visits among young working-age adults. These findings are consistent with patterns commonly seen in this age group, shaped by time pressures, financial stress and the false belief that you only need a dentist when something hurts. There's a belief that healthy-looking teeth don't need attention, which means too many people are missing the potential early signs of decay and gum disease. Changes in daily routines - moving out of the family home, taking on study and full-time work often marks the beginning of the decline in dental care. Once children are out on their own, and in charge of their own health insurance, the health safety net can disappear. If you're a young adult reading this, remember, your health isn't on hold just because life got busier. By the time pain shows up, treatment can be complex and more expensive. The solution? Reconnecting oral health with the broader wellness narrative Gen Z already embraces. We talk a lot about mental fitness, skin care, and gut health - teeth need to be part of that conversation.
Time Out
8 hours ago
- Business
- Time Out
One Sydney university has ranked among the world's 20 best in the QS World University Rankings
Sydney's good looks are rarely under question, but it's always nice to be reminded that the Harbour City is more than just a pretty face. Recently, Sydney ranked as one of the most liveable cities in the world (not factoring in cost of living), and in seventh place on the prestigious 2025 Global Cities Index. Now, the QS World University Rankings for 2026 have just dropped, revealing which institutions stand in the best stead for the year ahead. One Sydney university cracked the top ten – hats off to you, than 1,500 institutions from around the world were assessed for the 2026 rankings, including 36 from Australia. The top five were pretty similar to last year, with MIT holding onto first place with a perfect score of 100, followed by Imperial College London, Stanford, Harvard and Cambridge. Australia's highest-ranked institution was the University of Melbourne, which landed 19th on the global list. And just one position behind was the University of New South Wales (UNSW), which held onto its place among the top 20 universities in the world for the third consecutive year. Its overall score of 90.7 saw it drop one position from 19th in 2025, but it maintained impressive ratings for academic reputation (96.3) and ranked equal 12th in the world for sustainability. Of the 36 Australian institutions assessed, UNSW placed first in the employment outcome and international research network categories. Overall, two-thirds of Australia's ranked universities dropped in this year's rankings. Meanwhile, only seven climbed higher, including Monash University's jump from 37th to 36th. The University of Sydney slipped out of the top 20, landing at 25th, with the Australian National University and the University of Queensland also dropping two spots to 32nd and 42nd, respectively. Despite the overall decline, we think it's still pretty impressive that nine Australian universities still made the top 100 worldwide. You can check out the full rankings here. Here are the 20 best universities in the world Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA Imperial College London, UK Stanford University, USA University of Oxford, UK Harvard University, USA University of Cambridge, UK ETH Zurich, Switzerland National University of Singapore, Singapore University College London, UK California Institute of Technology, USA The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong University of Chicago, USA Peking University, China University of Pennsylvania, USA Cornell University, USA Tsinghua University, China University of California, Berkeley, USA University of Melbourne, Australia University of New South Wales, Australia Yale University, USA Here are the 10 best universities in Australia University of Melbourne University of New South Wales University of Sydney Australian National University Monash University University of Queensland University of Western Australia Adelaide University University of Technology Sydney RMIT University Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, food & drink inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox.
Time Out
10 hours ago
- Business
- Time Out
Two Australian universities have been ranked among the world's 20 best for 2026
Thinking of hitting the books again? Or just wondering where the brainiest students study these days? The prestigious QS World University Rankings for 2026 have just dropped, revealing which institutions stand in the best stead for the year ahead. Two Australian universities cracked the top ten for yet another year – but it's not all straight HDs, with 25 Aussie unis dropping in the rankings compared to 2025. More than 1,500 institutions from around the world were assessed for the 2026 rankings, including 36 from Australia. The top five were pretty similar to last year, with MIT holding onto first place with a perfect score of 100, followed by Imperial College London, Stanford, Harvard and Cambridge. Australia's highest-ranked institution was the University of Melbourne, which landed 19th on the global list. While it slipped six spots from 13th in 2025, its overall score actually rose 1.9 points to 90.8 – thanks to improved ratings in seven of the nine ranking indicators. The uni earned a near-perfect 99.7 for academic reputation (the highest in Australia) and also ranked first in the country for employer reputation and sustainability. Hats off to you, UoM! Just one position behind was the University of New South Wales (UNSW), which held onto its place among the top 20 universities in the world for the third consecutive year. Its overall score of 90.7 saw it drop one position from 19th in 2025, but it maintained impressive ratings for academic reputation (96.3) and ranked equal 12th in the world for sustainability. Of the 36 Australian institutions assessed, UNSW placed first in the employment outcome and international research network categories. Overall, two-thirds of Australia's ranked universities dropped in this year's rankings. Meanwhile, only seven climbed higher, including Monash University's jump from 37th to 36th. The University of Sydney slipped out of the top 20, landing at 25th, with the Australian National University and the University of Queensland also dropping two spots to 32nd and 42nd, respectively. Despite the overall decline, we think it's still pretty impressive that nine Australian universities still made the top 100 worldwide. You can check out the full rankings here. Here are the 20 best universities in the world Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA Imperial College London, UK Stanford University, USA University of Oxford, UK Harvard University, USA University of Cambridge, UK ETH Zurich, Switzerland National University of Singapore, Singapore University College London, UK California Institute of Technology, USA The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong University of Chicago, USA Peking University, China University of Pennsylvania, USA Cornell University, USA Tsinghua University, China University of California, Berkeley, USA University of Melbourne, Australia University of New South Wales, Australia Yale University, USA Here are the 10 best universities in Australia University of Melbourne University of New South Wales University of Sydney Australian National University Monash University University of Queensland University of Western Australia Adelaide University University of Technology Sydney RMIT University 🧑🏻🎓
Sky News AU
11 hours ago
- Business
- Sky News AU
Australian universities' drop in global rankings is Donald Trump's fault, according to The Guardian
The 2026 QS World University Rankings released on Thursday revealed 25 out of Australia's 36 universities had experienced a substantial fall and equated to the third biggest drop in the world. In The Guardian's article covering the drop, "attacks from Donald Trump" were one of the leading reasons for the slip in standards. "Dozens of Australia's top universities have dropped in a global ranking amid a 'turbulent year' for higher education, as attacks from Donald Trump's second administration exacerbated years of disruption for the embattled sector", The Guardian claimed in the article's opening sentence. The rankings reflected growing competition in the region with institutions across Asia climbing up the charts, including in Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam. The University of Melbourne, the country's top higher education institution fell six spots to 19th in the world, with the University of NSW falling to 20th down one and the University of Sydney plummeting from 20th to 25th position. In its coverage of the slump, The Guardian listed 'attacks from Donald Trump's second administration', referring to the US President's crackdown on funding to Australian universities as a prime reason for the poor result. Despite the article detailing a range of local policy issues that have contributed towards Australia's poor performance in the global ranking, The Guardian chose to attack the US President in the opening line of its article. "At least seven Australian universities have had research programs temporarily suspended by the Trump administration this year, while a dozen universities were sent a questionnaire asking to confirm whether they aligned with US government interests," The Guardian wrote. "The chief executive of the Go8, Vicki Thomson, said the results came against a backdrop of global uncertainty and 'mixed messaging' from Australia's largest research partner, the US." Although the US government provides Australian universities with a considerable amount of funding, the federal government's caps on international students and declining government funding of the higher education industry have substantially impacted the operational capabilities of the nation's top tertiary institutions. The Albanese government in mid-2024 announced its plan to cap international student enrolments in 2025 at 270,000 students, with publicly funded universities allocated 145,000 new international student commencements. The federal government also implemented stricter visa and financial requirements for international students, increasing visa fees from $710 to $1,600 dollars in July 2024 with graduate visa restrictions also imposed on international students over 35. The Group of Eight – a coalition of Australia's top universities slammed the move and said at the time the decision had 'significantly damaged the global reputation of Australia's international education sector' and would result in up to $1 billion less revenue for their member universities in 2025. Universities reliant on international enrolments were hit hard by the move, with Macquarie University implementing sweeping course cuts and staff layoffs in late May to bring about short-term savings due to the sudden drop in tuition fees. Macquarie University's proposed cuts will impact 42 FTE (full-time equivalent) roles in arts and 33 in science and engineering, eliminating popular majors like music, politics and archaeology saving $15 million amid declining enrolment rates. QS chief executive Jessica Turner said international education was worth an estimated $51 billion in Australia in 2023-24, and that Australia faced mounting competition from multiple 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,' Ms Turner said speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald. Director of Western Civilisation Program at the Institute of Public Affairs Dr Bella d'Abrera said that campus safety, governance, a rise in antisemitism and free speech concerns were also directly impacting the performance rankings of Australian universities. "It's hardly surprising that Australian universities are slipping down the league tables, they are no longer places of higher learning but have become ideological training camps where free speech is dead, dissent is punished, and students are forced to toe the activist line or risk academic penalties,' Dr d'Abrera said. "Free speech in Australian universities is not just under threat—it's extinct. And until we stop rewarding mediocrity and punishing independent thought, our universities will continue to slide into irrelevance.'
