The 10 best universities in Australia in 2026

The University of Melbourne ranks as the best university in all of Australia and the 19th best in the world, according to both the QS Top Universities and Times Higher Education rankings. On the world stage, it even outshines American Ivy Leagues like Cornell, Princeton and Yale. The historic campus is situated just outside the city's CBD in Carlton, with a whole handful of regional campuses in places like Shepparton, Creswick and Werribee. With ten residential colleges at the city campus, students aren’t just exposed to Melbourne University’s degrees that have been modelled off world leaders, but they become immersed in Melbourne as a UNESCO City of Literature and Australia's cultural capital.

Casually referred to as USYD by its students, the University of Sydney could easily be mistaken for Hogwarts – thanks to its 200-year-old sandstone buildings, soaring spires and gothic charm. However, the university’s reputation goes beyond its pretty exteriors. USYD ranked 20th in the world on the most recent QS Top Universities list and was the second-highest ranked Aussie institution on the 2026 Times Higher Education list. It also holds the title of Australia’s oldest university. Rest assured, though, that tradition doesn't come at the sacrifice of student life, as USYD prides itself on a network of more than 240 student-run clubs and societies.

Monash isn't just the third-best university in Australia, it's our largest university, with more than 80,000 students and almost half of them coming from overseas. Let’s just say it’s got the facilities to keep up with such a large cohort – there are four campuses in Melbourne alone and five more in countries around the world, including Italy and Indonesia. Monash is the only uni in Australia’s Group of Eight to have a dedicated business school, and it’s the only one in Australia that's part of the M8 Alliance of Academic Health Centres and Medical Universities. In 2026, Monash was ranked 58th in the world on the Times Higher Education World University Rankings list.

ANU in Australia’s political heart is a natural hub for international relations, law and politics – no surprises here, given its close proximity to Parliament House. In addition to being part of Australia’s Group of Eight, Canberra's leading university also finds itself part of an elite group of ten institutes forming the International Alliance of Research Universities, alongside Oxford and Cambridge. Back in 2018, it was the highest-ranked Australian university on the prestigious QS list, landing at an impressive 18th in the world. However, it's since dropped to 73rd position in 2026. While arts degrees tend to take a backseat to priorities like STEM in Australia, ANU is prized for its humanities offerings, including unique diplomatic degrees in Asia-Pacific affairs and international security.  

Not as old as some of its Group of Eight counterparts, UNSW has directed its attention to being on the pulse of entrepreneurship and employability. Instead of an old heritage-listed-esque campus, you'll find futuristic structures, including the Law Building with no right angles (get it?). The Michael Crouch Innovation Centre heads the UNSW Founders Program, which has invested more than $3 million into startups for students and alumni alike. Even in the classroom, real-world critical thinking and practice (over theory) are at the forefront of education. As for how it ranks? UNSW was the fifth-highest ranked Aussie university by Times Higher Education, rising up to 79th place in 2026.

Queensland's largest university is home to seven research institutes, all with global recognition, including the Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Institute for Social Science Research, and Institute for Teaching and Learning Innovation. With alumni in 190 different countries and more than 130 partner institutions for exchange, learning isn’t just limited to Brisbane. With such close proximity to the Great Barrier Reef, the university has spared no expense in expanding its science department to Heron Island right amongst the action. The sustainability theme carries right on through to the University of Queensland’s 200,000 solar panels, bringing it one step closer to its goal of having 100 per cent renewable energy. In 2026, Times Higher Education ranked UQ as the sixth-best university in Australia (80th globally).

The University of Technology (or UTS, as it's commonly known) rose nine places in the 2026 Times Higher Education Ranking, moving up to 145th place on the world university stage and ranking in at 7th place in Australia. Known for its future-focused degrees in sustainability, creativity and all things next-gen, UTS also punches above its weight when it comes to award-winning research and constant campus upgrades. And when the books close? Student life is just as strong, with a buzzing city campus, great food spots on tap and Sydney's CBD right at the doorstep of your lecture theatre.

The University of Western Australia is no stranger to some successful alumni. Nobel Prize winner Barry Marshall, Australian prime minister Bob Hawke and Mecca Cosmetica founder Jo Horgan are just some of the big names to come out of the uni. The main campus is only ten minutes out from Perth’s CBD on the Swan River, and is internationally acclaimed for its research and researchers. There’s also a campus in beautiful Albany for those with a keen interest in environmental research and wave energy. In 2026, UOW placed eighth in Australia and 166th globally on the Times global university ranking.

Macquarie Uni is a modern, leafy campus tucked away in Sydney's North Ryde, and it's a quiet achiever, some may say. Rising up a nice twelve spots in the 2026 global ranking, it currently ranks as Australia's eighth-best university. Built in 1964, Macquarie has long defined itself through its commitment to scientific innovation, pushing the boundaries and challenging conventional academia. They also invented Wi-Fi, so that's pretty cool. 

The University of Adelaide is one of Australia's oldest universities and has been dishing out degrees for more than 150 years. Such a long journey of tertiary education hasn’t come without breaking new ground. It was the first university in Australia with female students and also the first to have science and business degrees, plus a music conservatorium. In addition to being ranked 176th globally on the Times list, the University of Adelaide ranks in the global top 50 for subjects like computer science and dentistry.