UNSW world university rankings and awards
UNSW Sydney is consistently recognised as one of the top universities in the world, ranking in the top 20 of universities globally and second in Australia in the prestigious QS World University Rankings.
UNSW is also known for producing some of the country’s most employable students. We’ve been named AFR Most Employable University for six years in a row at the Top100 Future Leaders Awards (2020–2025). Our graduates earn the highest median salaries among graduates of Go8 universities, according to the QILT Graduate Outcomes Survey (last published in 2024).
We measure success not just by rankings, but by how we use our standing and capabilities to create a positive and lasting impact for our society, in Australia and around the globe. UNSW’s performance in world university rankings is a proud reflection of our talented community - where academic excellence, world-class research and real-world impact come together in the pursuit of Progress for All.
Top 20 globally
QS World University Rankings 2024–2026
Top100 Future Leaders Awards 2020–2025
1st in Australia for sustainability and social impact
QS Sustainability Rankings 2026
Australia's most entrepreneurial university
Most new startups and spinout companies in 2024 (SCOPR)
UNSW’s world university rankings
UNSW’s rankings across disciplines
-
Discipline Rankings Highlights Arts, Design & Architecture 12 subjects in the top 4 in Australia Social Sciences and Management #1 in Australia and #23 globally* Architecture and Built Environment #2nd in Australia and #23 globally* Arts and Humanities #4 in Australia and #46 globally* -
Discipline Rankings Highlights Business School Australia's #2 Business School Australian Financial Review (AFR) BOSS Best Business School, 2025 Accounting & Finance #1 in Australia and #22 globally* Marketing #1 in Australia and #20 globally* Business & Management #1 in Australia and #35 globally* Economics & Econometrics #2 in Australia and #40 globally* Information Systems #1 in Australia and top 20 globally
2024 Association for Information Systems
Actuarial Studies & Risk Management #1 globally
UNL Global Research Rankings of Actuarial Science and Risk Management & Insurance
-
Discipline Rankings Highlights Engineering #1 in Australia for Engineering & Technology* Minerals and Mining Engineering #1 in Australia and #2 globally* Electrical Engineering #1 in Australia and #32 globally* Mechanical Engineering #1 in Australia and #46 globally* Civil and Structural Engineering #1 in Australia and #24 globally* Chemical Engineering #2 in Australia and #47 globally* Computer Science & IT #4 in Australia and #46 globally* -
Discipline Rankings Highlights Law & Justice #1 in Australia and #12 globally for Law & Legal Studies* Employer reputation in law and legal studies #1 in Australia and #12 globally* Criminology and Criminal Justice #1 in Australia
EduRank, 2024
-
Discipline Rankings Highlights Medicine & Health Top 5 medical faculties in Australia and #54 globally* Medicine #4 in Australia and #63 globally* Life Sciences & Medicine #5 in Australia and #54 globally* Pharmacy & pharmacology #5 in Australia and #61 globally* Sports-related subjects #7 in Australia and #44 globally* -
Discipline Rankings Highlights Science 9 subjects in the top 50 globally* Materials Science #1 in Australia and #27 globally* Geology #2 in Australia and #28 globally* Psychology #2 in Australia and #32 globally* Geophysics #2 in Australia and #31 globally* Natural Sciences #2 in Australia and #44 globally* Mathematics #2 in Australia and #48 globally* Chemistry #2 in Australia and #=49 globally* Environmental Sciences #3 in Australia and #38 globally* Earth & Marine Science #3 in Australia and #=37 globally*
Physics #3 in Australia and #83 globally* Biological Sciences #=4in Australia and #68 globally*
*QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2025
UNSW’s employability outcomes
Explore more about UNSW’s reputation
