Australia has lowest number in top 10 in four years

Australia now possesses its lowest number of university programmes ranking among the top 10 in the world in the past four years. In the 11th edition of the QS World University Rankings by Subject, its total of 13 top-10 departments is fewer than in 2020 (17), 2019 (18) and 2018 (18).

There has been a slight increase in Australia’s number of top-50 departments (198, up from 195); however, this small rise does not reverse the decline observed since 2018, when 210 Australian programmes attained a top-50 rank.

Worryingly, some 25 of Australian National University’s 36 ranked departments have fallen year on year, including sliding out of the top 10 for earth & marine sciences, geology, and sociology.

Nevertheless, across the 51 subject tables, Australian departments account for 8% of all programmes ranked among the world’s top 50 – 198 programmes in total. This share of top-50 departments is outperformed only by the United Kingdom (20%) and the United States (44%).

Three Australian departments have been named second-best in the world in their academic discipline. These are:

• Curtin University – Mineral and mining engineering.

• Monash University – Pharmacy & pharmacology.

• University of Queensland – Sports-related subjects.

Australia’s most successful universities are:

• The University of Melbourne, with 37 of its departments ranking among the top 50 in the world.

• The University of Sydney (30).

• Australian National University (24).

• The University of New South Wales (21).

Queensland University of Technology is Australia’s most-improved university. Seven of its 27 ranked programmes have risen year on year, four are new entrants, and only one of 27 has declined.

Jack Moran, QS spokesperson, said: “With the international community – led by the G7 – intensifying efforts to reduce carbon emissions and find innovative solutions to the ongoing climate crisis, QS are observing highly impressive work from institutions across the world to contribute to a sustainable future.

“With four of the world’s top-50 universities in our environmental science table – and two of the top 20 – Australian higher education is well-placed to leverage its international connections and research capabilities to contribute to the global effort.”

Nineteen of New Zealand’s universities rank among the global top 50 for their subject across the 51 tables. This compares to 23 in 2020, 20 in 2019 and 32 in 2018.

Despite these drops, New Zealand’s universities have also recorded a number of progressive performances in this edition. These include Massey University entering the global top 20 for the study of veterinary science (now 19th).