Although 24 of the 36 Australian universities featured in the QS World University Rankings 2026 have seen their position drop in the latest iteration, released this week, there are noteworthy achievements.
A quarter of the country’s ranked universities feature in the top 100, with debutant, Adelaide University, entering the ranking at joint 82nd in the world.
A total of 12 universities rank in the top 100 globally for international faculty and five score perfect scores in the international student ratio indicator – highlighting the outstanding international campuses across the country.
Australia is very lucky to have such an outstanding higher education ecosystem. The country’s historical dominance is QS rankings has placed it as one of the world’s best university systems.
But global peers continue to drive ahead with investment in higher education and set ambitious targets.
Vietnam, a country that is aiming for five of its universities to feature in the top 500 by the end of the decade, has seen its representation in the rankings leap from six last year to 10 in 2026.
China is still the third most represented location in the world in the QS World University Rankings, with 72 institutions, behind only the US with 192 and the UK with 90. And yet, close to 80 of institutions that are part of the Chinese Double First Class Universities initiative to build world-class universities still do not feature in the overall WUR.
Only one country has seen an institution enter the top 20 this year. The location of the university? The USA. One of Australia’s biggest English-speaking competitors. University of Chicago leapt to 13th from 21st last year.
Elsewhere in the APAC region, seven of New Zealand’s eight universities have climbed this year, Universitas Indonesia has risen into the top 200 for the first time, and 70% of Malaysian universities have improved since last year.
The Koala News has already highlighted the importance of addressing the higher education’s social license, returning to being a welcoming destination and enhancing student expectations in its excellent industry consultation.
Attracting international students and faculty, intensively researching and producing highly cited papers, providing students with access to a welcoming environment and diverse culture, alongside excellent lecturers, engaging global partners and ensuring graduates leave higher education with the skills and knowledge that industry wants – these are all measured in the QS World University Rankings.
This year, 29 Australian universities fell in Employment Outcomes, 28 in Employer Reputation, 26 in both Faculty Student and Sustainability indicators, and 25 dropped in International Faculty.
And the benchmarking that this ranking allows suggests that without renewed focus on quality, international engagement and employability, Australian higher education risks being left behind by global peers.
As emerging economies step up their higher education ambitions, Australia will need to work harder than ever to protect its leading position.
Ahead of Parliament’s opening on July 22, higher education institutions need to have a plan to maintain their excellence as global competitors step up their game, especially in areas of international faculty, employability and student experience. And they will need to have advocates both in parliament and society at large.
Not having a plan risks losing ground within the global international higher education landscape, students opting to study at other institutions elsewhere, and Australia losing one of its shiniest gems in its crown.
Shelly Maller is Partnerships Director – ANZ at QS Quacquarelli Symonds
