Highest Ranked Universities In Australia

Australia is home to some of the top universities in the world and also to some of the world's top cities for students. These world-renowned universities provide higher education for thousands of students, both Australian and international. Apart from education, these institutions of higher learning are also prestigious research centers which have supported some research facilities and inventions. Australia has a total of 38 public universities that are mostly established through Acts of Parliament. These universities have set up satellite campuses in Australia and overseas through a partnership with foreign governments. These universities have produced some of the notable personalities in and out of Australia.

5. UNSW

The University of New South Wales is a public research that was established in 1949. It is located in the suburbs of Sydney, particularly in Kensington. The university attracts top-ranking students from all over the country, and is home to the Lowy Cancer Research Centre. There are nine faculties at the school, including a Faculty of Law and a Faculty of Medicine.

4. University of Queensland

Queensland University is one of the leading public research universities in Australia, and is located in Brisbane. The university was established in 1909 by an act of state parliament and is renowned for business and life sciences. Important inventions pioneered by the University include the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for cervical cancer. The university enrolls about 37,000 undergraduate and 13,802 postgraduate students. Notable alumni from the university include Peter C. Doherty, Geoffrey Rush, and Tim Munro. The university supports research, especially in science, medicine, and technology.

3. University of Sydney

The University of Sydney is the third leading public university in Australia, having been established in 1850 and inaugurated in 1852. The university is located in Sydney and is ranked one of the world’s most beautiful universities. More than 33,000 undergraduate and more than 19,000 postgraduate students are enrolled at the university. Some notable personalities that have studied at the University of Sydney include Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Michael Kirby, Mary Kostakidis, Clive James, and Charles Perkins.

2. Australian National University

The Australian National University is located in Canberra and was established by the Parliament of Australia in 1946 as a postgraduate research university. The university enrolls more than 10,000 undergraduate and close to 11,000 postgraduate students and employs more than 3,000 staff. Currently, the Australian National University is the second leading public university and the leading national research university in Australia. Alumni from the University include economist Ross Garnaut, sociologist S.A. Hosseini, Allan Gilbert (who was a Vice Chancellor of Melbourne University from 1996 to 2004), and medical researcher and Nobel Prize winner Rolf M. Zinkernagel.

1. University of Melbourne

The University of Melbourne is ranked as the leading public university in Australia, and is located in Parkville, Victoria. The university was established by Hugh Childers through the Act of Incorporation. Classes started in 1855 with 16 students and three professors. The university enrolls about 45,000 students with more than 4,000 academic staff. The University of Melbourne has produced such notable personalities as Sir John Behan, Robert Manne, Barry Patten, Graham Allan, Hugh Morgan, international humanitarian lawyer Helen Durham, and Sir Robert Menzies.