Australia has strengthened its position as one of the world’s most attractive international education destinations, with Melbourne and Sydney climbing into the global top five in the latest QS Best Student Cities 2027 rankings. The result reinforces Australia’s reputation for delivering high-quality education and globally connected student experiences, even as affordability and rising visa costs continue to pose significant challenges.
Melbourne rose one place to fourth globally, while Sydney climbed to equal fifth. Perhaps more significantly, the two cities now hold the distinction of having the world’s two most diverse student populations, highlighting Australia’s enduring appeal to international students despite an increasingly competitive global market.
Australia’s ranked cities
| Rank | City | Movement |
| 4 | Melbourne | ▲ 1 |
| =5 | Sydney | ▲ 1 |
| 30 | Brisbane | ▼ 4 |
| =33 | Adelaide | ▼ 2 |
| =35 | Perth | ▲ 2 |
| 41 | Canberra | ▼ 3 |
| 94 | Gold Coast | ▲ 1 |
Source: QS Best Student Cities 2027
The rankings assess cities across six measures including university quality, employer activity, desirability, affordability, student diversity and student experience. Australia now has seven cities in the global top 150, giving it the fourth-largest national representation behind only the United Kingdom, the United States and mainland China.
For Australia’s international education sector, the results provide a welcome reminder that demand for Australian study destinations remains strong despite an often difficult policy environment over the past two years.
Diversity remains Australia’s greatest strength
Melbourne was ranked number one globally for Student Mix, while Sydney placed second. The indicator measures both the size and international diversity of a city’s student population.
Melbourne also performed strongly across several other measures, ranking 11th globally for both university strength and employer activity, while placing sixth for Student Voice. Sydney was recognised as the eighth most desirable student city in the world.
These results reflect one of Australia’s long-standing competitive advantages.
While many competing destinations market themselves on prestige or affordability, Australia has increasingly differentiated itself through multicultural campuses, globally recognised qualifications and strong post-study employment outcomes. The country’s ability to attract students from a broad range of source markets has also helped institutions become more resilient following the disruption of the pandemic.
Affordability continues to weigh on performance
The rankings also highlight the issue that continues to hold Australian cities back.
Melbourne ranks just 110th globally for affordability, while Sydney falls to 122nd. No Australian city makes the global top 100 on this measure, reflecting the combined impact of tuition fees and living costs. International tuition averages approximately US$28,600 per year in Melbourne and US$27,800 in Sydney.
Perth emerged as Australia’s most affordable ranked city, with average international tuition fees of around US$23,900.
For international education providers, this remains perhaps the greatest strategic challenge.
Australian universities continue to perform well on quality and graduate outcomes, but prospective students are increasingly comparing overall study costs across destinations including Canada, Germany, Ireland, Singapore and parts of Asia. Rising accommodation costs, together with higher visa application charges, risk eroding Australia’s competitiveness at a time when many governments are actively seeking to attract globally mobile students.
Strong rankings despite policy uncertainty
The QS report notes that the Best Student Cities results build on a strong year for Australian higher education.
In the recently released QS World University Rankings 2027, Australia increased its representation to a record 37 ranked institutions, with 58 per cent improving their position. UNSW Sydney became Australia’s highest-ranked university for the first time, placing 19th globally.
However, QS also cautioned that rising visa costs and increasing visa refusals could test Australia’s momentum in future rankings.
That observation comes at a particularly relevant time for Australia’s international education sector.
The Federal Government has substantially increased international student visa application charges over the past two years while simultaneously introducing tighter visa settings. Although these measures have been designed to manage migration and improve system integrity, the sector continues to argue that Australia’s global reputation must be matched by policies that maintain accessibility for genuine students.
Global competition intensifying
QS Chief Executive Officer Jessica Turner said Australia’s performance demonstrates the strength of its higher education system but warned affordability remains a key challenge.
“Melbourne and Sydney offer students the most diverse campuses in the world, and seven Australian cities now feature in the global ranking, evidence of the value that international talent brings to Australian education and the wider economy. The challenge, here as elsewhere, is affordability, and ensuring Australia remains an accessible and welcoming destination at a time when competition for international students has never been greater.”
Her comments neatly summarise the balancing act now facing Australian policymakers.
The latest rankings show Australia’s education quality and international reputation remain among the world’s best. Yet sustaining that position will depend not only on world-class universities and vibrant cities, but also on ensuring Australia remains financially accessible and globally competitive for the next generation of international students.
