UNSW overtakes University of Melbourne in QS rankings for first time

UNSW has overtaken the University of Melbourne in the latest QS World University Rankings, placing 19th globally and taking the top Australian spot in the table for the first time.

The University of Melbourne was ranked 22nd in the same release, according to reporting on the June 18 launch of the 2027 rankings. The move marks a first for UNSW in a contest that has long been dominated by Melbourne at the top of Australian higher education.

What changed

Coverage of the new QS table says UNSW’s rise was supported by stronger scores in employment outcomes, sustainability, reputation and international research collaboration. The rankings assess more than 1,500 universities worldwide.

Melbourne’s position adds to a recent slide in the QS table, with the university described as having fallen from 12th in 2024 to 19th in the previous edition before dropping again to 22nd in the latest list.

Reaction from UNSW

UNSW vice-chancellor Attila Brungs said the ranking reflected the university’s growing global influence and impact.

The result gives UNSW a new claim in the Australian university market, where international rankings are closely watched by prospective students, employers and overseas partners.

Broader context

The latest QS release is reported to have kept MIT at No. 1 globally, with Imperial College London and Stanford University tied for second.

For Australian universities, the shift is significant because QS remains one of the most visible global ranking systems and is often used as a shorthand measure of institutional standing. The result will also sharpen attention on how other Australian universities performed in the same release.

What happens next will depend on whether either university can hold or recover position in the next rankings cycle, and whether Melbourne issues a direct response to the result.