Ranking Analysis · 2026-10-09
88% of Australia's Universities Are Ranked in THE 2027: How the Country Performed
Australia placed 37 universities in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2027, covering 88 % of the country’s institutions. Six of them sit in the global top 100 and a total of ten are in the top 200.
Overall performance
The Study Australia release on 8 October 2026 highlights that the 37 ranked universities reflect continued strength in teaching, research, industry engagement and international outlook. Seven universities improved their position compared with the previous edition, and two — Macquarie University and RMIT University — recorded their best‑ever results.
Universities in the global top 100
| Rank | University |
|---|---|
| 34 | University of Melbourne |
| 51 | The University of Sydney |
| 61 | Monash University |
| 73 | The University of Queensland |
| 75 | UNSW Sydney |
| 77 | Australian National University |
These six institutions make up the Australian contingent in the world’s top 100.
Additional universities in the top 200
| Rank | University |
|---|---|
| 141 | Adelaide University |
| 152 | University of Technology Sydney |
| 161 | Macquarie University |
| 173 | The University of Western Australia |
Together with the six above, they bring Australia’s total in the top 200 to ten.
Notable improvements
Seven Australian universities moved up the table this year. Macquarie University and RMIT University both achieved their highest‑ever rankings, with Macquarie placed 161st globally. RMIT’s exact position lies outside the top 200; the full ranking can be consulted on the Times Higher Education website.
What the results mean for students
The strong showing means prospective students have a wide choice of globally recognised universities across Australia. Study Australia notes that, beyond rankings, applicants should also weigh course content, location, entry requirements, learning experience and support services to find the best fit for their goals.