Best Australian universities for every course, QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025

Australian universities have been ranked in a new global list. See which university performs the best in each subject.

Julie Cross and Annabel Fleming

2 min read

March 12, 2025 - 9:00PM

National News Network

The University of Sydney. Picture: Julian Andrews

Australian universities are leading the way in sport and mining studies, but are increasingly being outsmarted by competitors in China, according to the latest global rankings.

Overall, Australia is still punching above its weight on the world stage.

Across the global top 10 rankings for various disciplines, Australian universities claimed 13 positions in eight subjects – four fewer than last year, according to the QS World University Rankings by Subject.

Australia also saw a decline in the number of Top 20 entries (down 20, across all disciplines), but expanded its footprint in the Top 100 rankings (up 28), Top 200 (up 50), and Top 500 (up 131).

Meanwhile, China achieved 21 individual Top 10 entries, up 13 from 2024, while also increasing its numbers in the various Top 20 listings (up 48), Top 50 (up 103), Top 100 (up 180), Top 200 (up 228) and Top 500 (up 443).

QS CEO Jessica Turner said emerging markets, particularly in Asia and the Middle East, were investing heavily in higher education and seeing rapid improvements in their global standing.

“Without continued investment, Australia risks being outpaced in these rankings by fast-rising competitors,” Ms Turner warned.

The University of Queensland. Picture: David Clark

In terms of subjects, Australia dominated in sport studies with the University of Queensland holding second place in the world rankings, while the University of Sydney climbed to third, and the University of Melbourne jumping three spots to secure sixth. Examples of a sports degree include a Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Sciences, which can lead to jobs working with elite athletes or helping injured people be more physically active.

The University of NSW. Picture: UNSW

Meanwhile, UNSW Sydney secured second place globally in Mineral & Mining Engineering and Curtin University ranked fifth, though that was a slip of three places from 2024.

And Monash University managed to cling onto a top five spot in Pharmacy and Pharmacology, despite a two-place drop.

Another top spot was gained by the University of Adelaide, which climbed three places to fourth in Petroleum Engineering.

Australia continued to excel in Engineering and Technology, with eight universities improving by 10 or more places. UNSW Sydney entered the global top 25, and the University of Queensland, Australian National University, the University of Adelaide, the University of Newcastle, University of Wollongong, Deakin University, Swinburne University of Technology and Macquarie University all made significant gains.

The University of Melbourne. Picture: University of Melbourne

UNSW Sydney also overtook the University of Melbourne as Australia’s highest-ranked institution in Social Sciences and Management, now joint 23rd worldwide

In contrast, 16 entries in Arts and Humanities dropped in rank. Like the UK, US, Netherlands, and New Zealand, Australia has seen cuts and closures in these disciplines.

QS Senior Vice-President Ben Sowter warned that a lack of investment in Arts and Humanities programs could set Australia back in terms of creating an innovative workforce.

“Australia’s declining performance in Arts and Humanities reflects a global trend of underinvestment in these disciplines,” Mr Sowter said.

“Yet, as we move towards an AI-driven world – built in part on the contributions of artists, designers, and creatives – the loss of these fields is concerning.”

Ms Turner added that the recently released QS World Future Skills Index included a spotlight on Australia, which showed 65 per cent of ranked entries saw a decline in employer reputation scores.

She said the reputation of Australian graduates among employers had declined for 611 of the entries featured in this edition of the QS World University Rankings by Subject.

“The decline in employer reputation for many Australian universities in this edition... should serve as a clear call to action for higher education providers,” Ms Turner said.