Every year, QS Quacquarelli Symonds releases comprehensive global rankings of the highest-rated universities in the world. Without fail, many Australian universities fall in the top 200 of these rankings – a prestigious achievement that makes Australia a stand-out study destination for international students. So, which universities made the cut in the QS World University Rankings 2023? Let’s take a look to find out.
Read more: 6 Australian Universities Have Climbed in the Times Higher Education World Rankings
What criteria are the rankings based on?
University rankings are determined based on several factors. The metrics used by the QS Rankings are:
- Academic reputation
- Employer reputation
- Faculty/student ratio
- Citations per faculty
- International faculty ratio
- International student ratio
- International research network
- Employment outcomes
The last two criteria (international research network and employment outcomes) are new metrics. The addition of these metrics comes after many QS (as well as other ranking bodies) have been critiqued for not considering employment outcomes in their decision processes.
Overall rankings
In the QS World University Rankings 2023, an impressive 14 Australian universities cracked the top 200. These universities were as follows:
- Australian National University (30th)
- The University of Melbourne (33rd)
- The University of Sydney (41st)
- The University of New South Wales (45th)
- The University of Queensland (50th)
- Monash University (57th)
- The University of Western Australia (90th)
- The University of Adelaide (109th)
- University of Technology Sydney (137th)
- University of Wollongong (185th)
- RMIT University (190th)
- The University of Newcastle, Australia (192nd)
- Curtin University (193rd)
- Macquarie University (195th)
Which universities have climbed the ranks?
Of these 14, eight universities have made impressive strides, claiming higher ranks than in 2022:
- The University of Melbourne – From #37 to #33: Thousands of international students from more than 130 countries choose the University of Melbourne as their education provider. Situated in Australia’s most liveable city and ranked #8 in graduate employability, it has so much to offer in and out of the classroom.
- Monash University – From #58 to #57: Australia’s largest university, Monash is a member of the Group of Eight (Go8) universities. Monash is known for its flexible study options and wide range of course offerings.
- The University of Western Australia – From #93 to #90: Boasting a five-star teaching rating, the University of Western Australia offers a unique and innovative course structure and future-proof students’ degrees.
- The University of Wollongong – From #193 to #185: The University of Wollongong is known for its commitment to student employability, which is demonstrated through its many support services such as employability workshops and internship and placement programs.
- RMIT University – From #206 to #190: Innovative and forward-thinking, RMIT University is recognised for its unique courses in technology, design and enterprise. One of its specialised fields is blockchain; RMIT’s blockchain program is #2 worldwide.
- The University of Newcastle, Australia – From #197 to #192: The University of Newcastle is a hub for world-class research. With state-of-the-art facilities and a five-star rating across 22 research fields, the University is well-established on the global stage.
- Curtin University – From #194 to #193: Curtin has long been revered for its courses in areas like mineral and mining engineering, earth and marine sciences, architecture/built environment and education.
- Macquarie University – From #200 to #195: Featuring high-quality facilities and opportunities for hands-on work experience, Macquarie has 300+ industry partners on its campus and in its innovation precinct.
