The Times Higher Education Rankings has recognised 10 UNSW Sydney subjects among the top 100 in the world. UNSW Law & Justice ranked 35th globally, while UNSW Engineering secured the 51st position, standing out as the number one engineering program in Australia.
Ten disciplines at UNSW Sydney have been ranked in the global top 100 in the 2025 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings by Subject.
The leading discipline was UNSW Law & Justice, distinguished by its global ranking of 35th. UNSW Engineering improved 13 places to 51st in the world and regained its status as the top-ranked engineering school in the country. Education (60), Psychology (69), Medicine and Health (71), Physical Sciences (82), Computer Science (84), Life Sciences (89), Social Sciences (90), and Business and Economics (98) rounded out the UNSW subjects ranked among the world’s top 100.
UNSW Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research, Professor Bronwyn Fox, expressed her gratitude for the efforts of the University’s staff, students and community.
“These results underscore the success and impact of UNSW across the spectrum of disciplines,” she said.
“Our focus on progress for all enables our students and faculty to address complex challenges that affect society today, and our commitment to interdisciplinary research and innovative teaching methods positions us uniquely in the global landscape.”
Top ranked law school in Sydney
UNSW Law & Justice held ground in the Top 50 and is ranked third in Australia. Year after year, it remains the top ranked law school in Sydney – in both THE and the QS rankings, in which it is 12th in the world. Faculty Dean Professor Andrew Lynch explained the basis of this success:
“The faculty’s continued global recognition across the most prestigious international rankings reflects the dedication of our academic and professional staff in supporting our students to thrive and the impressive achievements of our alumni,” he said.
“Our research sets a high standard for legal scholarship and is animated by our commitment to social justice, policy impact and making a contribution to public debate.”
Number 1 in Australia for Engineering
UNSW Engineering, ranked 51st in the world according to THE subject rankings, rose a remarkable 13 positions this year. It has also climbed the rankings on the national scale and was placed number 1 in Australia.
Dean of Engineering, Professor Julien Epps, said the recognition highlights the faculty’s focus on innovation and quality.
“I am thrilled to see UNSW Engineering excel on both the national and global stage,” he said.
“This achievement is a testament to the entrepreneurial spirit and hard work of our faculty and students. Our strong industry partnerships, cutting-edge research in areas like decarbonisation, quantum engineering and artificial intelligence, and hands-on learning experiences, empower our students to innovate and make impact in an ever-evolving field.”
The THE World University Rankings by Subject 2025 evaluated 2,061 universities from 115 countries and territories across 11 distinct subject areas. THE rankings are based on 18 performance indicators assessing teaching, research environment, industry collaboration, research quality, and international outlook.
Media enquiries
For enquiries about this story, please contact Julia Holman.
Tel: 0435124673
Email: julia.holman@unsw.edu.au