It’s the third consecutive year ʹڲƱ has placed in the top 20 of the global rankings.
ʹڲƱ Sydney has ranked 20th in the 2026 QS World University Rankings, maintaining its place among the top 20 universities in the world for the third consecutive year. The latest rankings show that ʹڲƱ is now the top-ranked university in the state, and one of two Australian universities to occupy a spot in the global top 20.
ʹڲƱ Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Attila Brungs said today’s ranking reinforced ʹڲƱ’s position among the world’s leading universities and lays a platform for the University’s focus for the next decade.
“To be recognised as a top 20 global university for the third consecutive year is an exceptional achievement, and I commend the hard work and dedication of every member of our remarkable ʹڲƱ community,” Prof. Brungs said. “The result is a testament to ʹڲƱ’s commitment to delivering a world-class education for our students and an environment where high-quality research and innovation thrive.
“ʹڲƱ has cemented its place as one of the very top universities in the world. We are proud to be a national asset focused on supporting Australia’s prosperity.
“But our success as a university isn't determined by our ranking positions, but by how we use our standing and capabilities to create a positive and lasting impact for our society, here and around the globe. Our builds on the extraordinary progress ʹڲƱ has made over the past 75 years.
“As the world faces monumental and rapidly changing challenges, it is more important than ever that our transformative education and world-leading research addresses the needs of the community we serve and advances progress and prosperity for all.”
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Ben Knight, External Communications Officer, ʹڲƱ Sydney
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:b.knight@unsw.edu.au
The QS World University Rankings compiled by higher education analytics firm Quacquarelli Symonds provide a benchmark for comparing universities worldwide.
The 2026 edition of the rankings evaluated 8467 institutions (1501 published institutions) from 106 locations worldwide.
Each university is evaluated on its strengths and performance using several indicators across research and discovery, employability and outcomes, learning experience, global engagement and sustainability.
As the world faces monumental and rapidly changing challenges, it is more important than ever that our transformative education and world-leading research addresses the needs of the community we serve and advances progress and prosperity for all.
In the global comparison, ʹڲƱ made significant gains in its faculty-student ratio, maintained its strong performance in academic reputation and continued to rank highly in sustainability (equal 12th in the world). Of the 36 Australian institutions analysed, ʹڲƱ placed first in employment outcomes and international research network.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research & Enterprise, Professor Bronwyn Fox, said ʹڲƱ had once again performed strongly across several key indicators.
“ʹڲƱ continues to be highly regarded in the worldwide academic community, particularly for the quality and diversity of our international research partnerships that help to solve the most pressing global challenges,” Prof. Fox said. “Our graduates, who are considered leaders in their respective fields, also remain highly valued and in demand by employers.
“It’s also pleasing to see ʹڲƱ’s strengths in sustainability recognised as we continue to make strides towards shaping a more environmentally and socially responsible world.”
