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UNSW Sydney ranked among world’s best for 42 subjects

The 2023 QS Subject Rankings placed 19 UNSW subjects in the top 50 worldwide and five at number one in Australia. 

Published on the 23 Mar 2023 by Louise Templeton
Mineral & Mining Engineering maintained its position as UNSW’s highest-ranking subject, in its seventh year in the global top 10. Photo: UNSW Sydney
Mineral & Mining Engineering maintained its position as UNSW’s highest-ranking subject, in its seventh year in the global top 10. Photo: UNSW Sydney

UNSW Sydney has been named among the world’s top universities for 42 subjects in the 2023 QS World University Rankings by Subject. Four UNSW subjects are ranked in the top 20 globally, and 19 are in the top 50.

Mineral & Mining Engineering maintained its position as UNSW’s highest-ranking subject at fourth in the world. This is its seventh year in the top 10 and as UNSW’s best-performing subject.

UNSW is ranked number one in Australia for five subjects – Civil & Structural Engineering; Electrical & Electronic Engineering; Mechanical, Aeronautical & Manufacturing Engineering; Accounting & Finance; and Statistics & Operational Research (equal first).

UNSW Pro Vice-Chancellor Research, Professor Dane McCamey, said the University’s success points to our quality research across broad subject areas.

“This year’s results demonstrate our strong global reputation among employers and the academic community as a comprehensive university,” Prof. McCamey said.

“Our continued recognition, particularly in the engineering and technology space, reflects UNSW’s position as a leader in advancing research and teaching, and our efforts to develop new knowledge and educate job-ready graduates to help solve society’s major challenges.”

Read more: UNSW steers a steady course in the 2022 QS Subject Rankings

UNSW subjects ranked in the top 50 in 2023 (and their ranking):

  • Engineering – Mineral & Mining Engineering (4)
  • Petroleum Engineering (13)
  • Law (13)
  • Engineering – Civil & Structural (16)
  • Accounting & Finance (21=)
  • Psychology (25)
  • Environmental Sciences (31)
  • Earth & Marine Sciences (36)
  • Geology (38=)
  • Materials Science (38=)
  • Geophysics (39=)
  • Architecture/ Built Environment (40=)
  • Engineering – Electrical & Electronic (41)
  • Business & Management Studies (42)
  • Economics & Econometrics (42)
  • Sports-related subjects (47=)
  • Mathematics (48=)
  • Engineering – Mechanical, Aeronautical & Manufacturing (49=)
  • Anatomy & Physiology (49)

Published annually since 2011, the global QS Subject Rankings are based on academic reputation, employer reputation and research citations. The 2023 league table ranked 1594 institutions in 93 locations around the world, across 54 subjects in five broad subject areas. UNSW has ranked in one additional subject area in 2023 – Development Studies.

The rankings aim to help prospective students identify the world’s leading schools in their chosen field, with the list of subjects extended each year in response to high demand for subject-level comparisons.

The full results for 2023 can be found on the QS World University Rankings by Subject web page.