Australian universities climb global ranking, outpacing US peers

The University of Melbourne remains the nation's top performer, rising from 39th to 37th globally, followed by the University of Sydney, which jumped eight places to 53rd.

Other notable risers are the University of Technology Sydney (up nine places to 145), Macquarie University (up 12 places to 166), and the University of New South Wales (up four spots to 79).

Several universities outside the top 500, among them Central Queensland, Southern Cross, Sunshine Coast, and Charles Sturt, also improved their standings.

Angel Calderon, director of strategic insights at RMIT University, told THE that the gains partly reflect a correction after earlier methodological changes affecting how researcher numbers are counted.

This year's ranking weights 18 indicators across five pillars: research quality (30%), teaching (29.5%), research environment (29%), international outlook (7.5%), and industry income and patents (4%). Australian improvements are largely tied to stronger teaching performance, research output, and patents.

Industry engagement is a standout as nearly all 37 Australian universities in the table score above 80/100, with eight topping 90, evidence of tight links between academia and industry and a strong focus on applied research and innovation.

The Group of Eight, University of Melbourne, Australian National University, University of Sydney, University of Queensland, Monash University, UNSW Sydney, University of Western Australia, and University of Adelaide, continues to dominate in research and teaching.

The University of Sydney, for example, climbed 25 places in teaching quality to 81st globally.

The 10 best universities in Australia for 2026, as ranked by the THE, are the University of Melbourne (37th globally), the University of Sydney (53rd), Monash University (58th), Australian National University (73rd), UNSW Sydney (79th), University of Queensland (80th), University of Technology Sydney (145th), University of Western Australia (153rd), Macquarie University (166th), Adelaide University (176th).

Australia’s momentum contrasts with a broader slide among institutions in the U.S.

The U.S. still leads the top 500 with 102 universities, but that is its lowest on record. Its average score dipped, and 25 institutions, more than any other country, hit their lowest-ever positions, including the University of Chicago (15th), Columbia University (20th), and Duke University (28th).

The U.S. counts six universities in the top 20 and 35 in the top 100, down from 38 last year.

Asian giants also improved their standings in the ranking. China moved sharply upward: 21% of its universities rose, its average score increased by a full point, and it now has five institutions in the top 40 (up from three) and 35 in the top 500. Eighteen Chinese universities achieved their best-ever results, more than any other nation. India is now second globally by the number of ranked institutions, behind only the U.S.

Overall, THE assessed and ranked 2,191 institutions from 115 countries and territories. The University of Oxford retains the global No. 1 spot for the tenth consecutive year, buoyed by a strong research-environment score. Massachusetts Institute of Technology retains its second position while Princeton rises to joint third and is the only U.S. university to achieve a best-ever finish this year.

Vietnam has 11 universities represented, up from nine, led by the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City in the 501–600 band.