Ever wondered if your old uni is still top of its class? Or considering a career change and wondering where to hit the books next? Well, the 2026 results are in for arguably the world’s most prestigious university ranking – and many of Australia’s top institutions have been honoured in the global top 100.
There are plenty of university rankings out there (including QS and CWUR), but the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Ranking is widely regarded as one of the most trusted. This year, it assessed almost 2,200 institutions across 115 countries and territories, evaluating performance across five key pillars: teaching, research environment, research quality, international outlook and industry engagement. Each institution was then scored and ranked – and in 2026, ten Australian universities earned a spot among the world’s top 100.
Once again, The University of Melbourne retained its crown as Australia’s top university, ranking 37th on the global leaderboard. Home to more than 77,000 students and 13,000 staff, the university improved two places on its 2025 ranking and earned near-perfect scores in five metrics, including research excellence and impact, while making notable progress in its teaching reputation. The University of Melbourne also finished 16 places ahead of its closest rival, The University of Sydney, which rose eight spots to 53rd in 2026.
Next up were Monash University and The Australian National University, which both held onto their 2025 rankings at 58th and 73rd globally. Overall, 12 of the 37 Australian universities listed in the Times Higher Education ranking improved their position compared with last year. In Sydney, UNSW climbed four spots to 79th, the University of Technology rose nine spots to 145th, and Macquarie University moved up 12 spots to 166th.
Meanwhile, The University of Queensland dropped three positions to 80th, and The University of Western Australia fell from 149th to 153rd. Adelaide University – the new merged institution combining The University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia, set to welcome its first students in early 2026 — made its debut on the list at 176th place. However, that is well below the University of Adelaide’s standalone 126th-place ranking in 2025.
The world’s ten highest-ranked universities are all located in England or the United States, with Oxford University in England and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) claiming the top two spots yet again. You can view the full rankings here, or check out the top-performing Australian universities below.
The 10 best universities in Australia for 2026, according to Times Higher Education
- The University of Melbourne (37th globally)
- The University of Sydney (53rd globally)
- Monash University (58th globally)
- The Australian National University (73rd globally)
- UNSW Sydney (79th globally)
- The University of Queensland (80th globally)
- University of Technology Sydney (145th globally)
- The University of Western Australia (153rd globally)
- Macquarie University (166th globally)
- Adelaide University (176th globally)