University of Melbourne climbs to 19th in QS 2026 with 1.9-point score improvement, remains top in Australia

NEW DELHI: The University of Melbourne has secured the 19th position globally in the 2026 QS World University Rankings, released on June 19. The QS rankings assess universities worldwide based on indicators such as research, employability, global engagement and sustainability. The University of Melbourne recorded an overall score of 90.8 out of 100, an increase of 1.9 points from the previous year. The rise is attributed to stronger performance in seven of the nine indicators, including Employer Reputation and Employment Outcomes, which rose to 98.3, and Academic Reputation, which reached 99.7.

It continues to hold the highest rank among Australian institutions across the three major global rankings — QS (19), Times Higher Education (39), and the Academic Ranking of World Universities (37).

Ranked in top 50 globally

The University of Melbourne was ranked among the top 50 globally in all five broad subject areas in the QS World University Rankings by Subject released earlier this year. Vice-chancellor Emma Johnston said she was extremely proud of the university’s position among the top 20 institutions worldwide.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Emma Johnston said: "We’re proud to remain Australia’s highest-ranked university alongside the strong performance of many institutions across the Asia-Pacific, highlighting the vitality of the higher education sector in our region." “This acknowledgement reflects the dedication and collaboration of our entire university community, whose work continues to push the boundaries of knowledge and contribute meaningfully to the world around us."

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The University of Melbourne’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Global, Culture and Engagement), Professor Michael Wesley, said: “The University of Melbourne is proud to be ranked 19th in the world, as a leading global university that produces highly sought-after, job-ready graduates who become future leaders in their fields all over the world. I’d like to thank our Indian education partners for their collaboration, partnership, and support, as we address together the most important education and research challenges of our time.”

With inputs from PTI