University of Adelaide ranked 88 in Times Higher Education University Rankings

The University of Adelaide has been ranked as one of the world’s top 100 universities for the first time by a prestigious international survey.

The University of Adelaide has been ranked in the top 100 of The Times Higher Education Rankings for the first time. Picture: Brenton Edwards

The University of Adelaide has been ranked as one of the world’s top 100 universities for the first time by a prestigious international survey.

The education section of British newspaper The Times has put the university at number 88 – 23 places ahead of 111 last year.

Flinders University and the University of South Australia were ranked within a range of between 300 and 350.

Times Higher Education chief knowledge officer Phil Baty said competition was mounting worldwide for its rankings.

“There were an unprecedented 1799 universities from 104 countries making the World University Rankings this year, with East Asian and Middle Eastern nations in particular making major gains,” he said.

The University of Adelaide has been ranked in the top 100 of The Times Higher Education Rankings for the first time. Picture: Brenton Edwards

“It is a particularly remarkable achievement for the University of Adelaide to have broken into the elite world top-100 group this year.”

Mr Baty said universities had to demonstrate “real strength in-depth across teaching, research, knowledge exchange and internationalisation” to make the rankings

“It is in the area of academic reputation where the University of Adelaide is really standing out,” he said.

“In our survey of tens of thousands of scholars worldwide, more and more are naming the University of Adelaide as one of the leading institutions in the world across a range of disciplines.

Vice-chancellor of the University of Adelaide Peter Hoj. Picture: Mark Brake

“Congratulations to all at Adelaide on a great achievement.”

University of Adelaide vice chancellor Peter Hoj said the higher ranking was recognition of its “reputation as one of the world’s leading universities”.

Professor Hoj said the result highlighted the university’s “consistent improvements in its academic reputation scores, research productivity and impact, and is a significant milestone in the South Australian higher education sector”.

“These results are due to the excellent work of our community of teachers and researchers, who educate future generations and aim to solve some of society’s most pressing challenges,” he said.

“A top 100 university is only possible with top ranked staff. They should be proud of their achievements.”

Professor Hoj, a former University of South Australia vice chancellor, returned to Adelaide from Queensland following the departure in 2020 of former vice chancellor Peter Rathjen.

Professor Rathjen resigned after an ICAC investigation into allegations he had sexually harassed two female employees at the university.

Professor Hoj said the University of Adelaide had “maintained its ongoing first position in South Australia and seventh position in Australia while cementing its position as one of the best universities among well over 10,000 worldwide”.

Deputy vice-chancellor Professor Jennie Shaw said the university’s students were “taught by some of the best educators in the tertiary sector”.

“Our university staff excel in helping students to gain knowledge in and understanding of a comprehensive range of subjects that are consistently top ranked, including education, engineering and health,” she said.

“Especially given the challenges of learning and teaching through the pandemic, this latest result is welcome recognition of the very high regard in which our university is held internationally.”