Top 10 Australian Universities for 2022

As an international student, your study abroad options can seem endless. Fortunately, every year, Times Higher Education (THE) updates its World University Rankings. Find the right university for you with this list of the top 10 Australian universities for 2022. 

Universities are ranked in five categories by THE:

• Teaching (overall learning environment)
• Research (income, reputation, and volume)
• Citations (level of influence the research has)
• International Outlook (percentages of international students and staff)
• Industry Income (knowledge transfer to industry)

We’ve shared more about the top 10 Australian universities below. Read on!

10. University of Canberra

Global Rank: 170 (tie)

The University of Canberra, located in the Australian capital, was founded in 1967. The university has a ratio of 35.4 students per staff member, and has a ratio of 52 to 48 female to male students. It also boasts an almost perfect citation rating at 98.6. International students who balance sport with their studies will thrive. Whether by joining the rugby team or becoming Olympic medalists like swimmer Petria Thomas, sports are a key part of campus life.

9. University of Technology Sydney

Global Rank: 143

The University of Technology Sydney is passionate about innovation and technology, and is proud to be building a campus where international students can thrive. In fact, 37% of its student cohort are international students. Its faculties are led by industry advisory boards, which helps give course materials real-world applications. As a younger institution, its research score is lower (43.7) but a citation score of 83.7 shows that the material produced by the university is respected.

8. University of Western Australia

Global Rank: 132 (tie)

Located in the state capital of Perth, the University of Western Australia is the state’s first university. Although its teaching score is lower, at 34.4, it has a stronger overall rating thanks to solid research, citation, and international outlook scores. The university also boasts a fairly low number of students per staff member (21.3).

Fun Fact: The University of Western Australia is sometimes called a “sandstone university.” Many of its buildings are made of sandstone, but the name actually ties it to other universities established around the same time (the other five pre-date WWI), and who share a strong focus on research.

Sandstone universities are the Australian equivalent to the American Ivy League, or the United Kingdom’s Russell Group universities. Curious about which UK universities earned top marks in 2022? Check out our Top 10 UK Universities post!

7. University of Adelaide

Global Rank: 111

The University of Adelaide is the third-oldest Australian university, and was the first in the country to offer degrees in science! Today, the university shares its passion for learning and innovation with its 22,000 full-time students, 32% of whom are international students. The university has excellent citation and international outlook scores at 94.3 and 93.7 respectively.

6. UNSW Sydney

Global Rank: 70

The first of the list in THE’s global top 100, UNSW Sydney has jumped over 100 ranks globally in the past decade. Its position is helped by a good THE teaching score of 50.4 as well as high citation, industry income, and international outlook rankings. Nearly half of its 48,000 students (44%) are international students, coming from over 135 countries.

5. University of Sydney

Global Rank: 58 (tie)

The University of Sydney was Australia’s first university, founded in 1850. It was one of the first universities ever to admit female students on the same basis as male students, and today has a student ratio of 59 to 41 female to male students. 

International students make up 47% of the student body, drawn by solid research opportunities (scoring 62.2 on THE’s criteria for research and 90.5 for citations). The university also has a great staff to student ratio, with 19.3 students per staff member.

4. Monash University

Global Rank: 57

With a main campus in Melbourne, Monash University is the largest university in Australia. It also has satellite campuses in China, India, Italy, and Malaysia. Monash is a great fit for students looking for a busy and vibrant student experience. Of its more than 60,000 full-time students, 48% are international students. With an overall THE score of 69.9, the learning and research experiences are very good.

2. University of Queensland

Global Rank: 54 (tie)

The University of Queensland is based in Brisbane, and ties with Canberra’s Australian National University at number two on this list and 54th globally. Although Brisbane may be a less well-known city, it ranked tenth on the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Global Liveability Index 2021, with perfect education and healthcare scores. 

The university scored well on all THE criteria. Its teaching score of 55.0 is the second-highest on this list, and its international outlook score of 93.4 is also excellent. Citations and industry income scores are in the mid-80s, tying to Queensland’s cutting-edge research and industry connections.

2. Australian National University

Global Rank: 54 (tie)

The Australian National University was created by the Parliament of Australia in 1946. Its main campus is in the national capital, Canberra.  Relationships with 170+ global universities fuel the Australian National University’s research and exchange opportunities. Its THE research score is strong for Australia at 67.7, also scoring 87.8 under citations. There’s one staff member for every 17.6 students, and smaller class sizes, with a campus of 18,934 full-time students.

1. University of Melbourne

Global Rank: 33

Number one in 2022 is the University of Melbourne. It holds the highest rank in Australia for teaching with a score of 67.5. Research is also well-regarded, with a score of 73.8. The university embraces a diverse campus: half of its student body are international students, and its international outlook is a near-perfect 94.0. 

Want to study abroad in Australia? Find more options on ApplyBoard!