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Student Accommodation Blog

Best Universities in Australia

Student in Sydney, Australia

If you’re looking to study abroad, Australia has a plethora of well-regarded universities to choose from. Each year, thousands of overseas arrivals enrol in Australian courses, adding to the already significant international student body around the country. We have highlighted five of the best universities in Australia based on a range of factors including:

  • Ranking on the Times Higher Education World University Rankings (2020)
  • Ranking on the QS World University Rankings (2019)
  • Location.

While this isn’t an exhaustive list (there are plenty of other Aussie institutes worthy of consideration), this is a snapshot of the top universities in Australia – each of which should be on your radar. 

University of Melbourne

  • Times Higher Education ranking: 32nd 
  • QS ranking: 38th 

The University of Melbourne is consistently the top-ranked university in Australia. With a wide range of clubs, cultural activities and sports facilities on campus, Unimelb isn’t just a great place to study – it’s a wonderful place to call home while you study abroad. Over 65,000 students attend the University of Melbourne. Roughly 40% of those are from overseas, validating Unimelb as one of the best universities in Australia for international students.

One of the university’s best features is its location. Melbourne has been rated the world’s most liveable city multiple times and is generally considered the culture capital of Australia. There’s always plenty to see and do when you need a break from studying. 

Find accommodation for University of Melbourne here.

The Australian National University

  • Times Higher Education ranking: 50th 
  • QS ranking: 29th 

Based in the quiet and comfortable city of Canberra, the Australian National University is one of the world’s leading research universities. Despite being less than half the size of the other unis on this list (with around 17,000 full-time students), ANU is regularly listed as one of the top-ranked universities in Australia. In fact, its smaller size is a great point of difference, as it allows for an impressively intimate staff-to-student ratio (17.8 students per staff member). Around 44% of the student cohort is comprised of international students. 

Find accommodation for the National University of Australia here.

University of Sydney

  • Times Higher Education ranking: 60th 
  • QS ranking: 42nd  

The University of Sydney provides the widest range of courses in Australia to its 70,000 students, 39% of whom are international. This uni is also home to over 200 societies and clubs, ensuring you always have something to do and somewhere to belong between classes. Studying in Sydney means you’ll also have some of the country’s most iconic landmarks and locations at your doorstep. 

Find accommodation for University of Sydney here.

University of Queensland

  • Times Higher Education ranking: 66th 
  • QS ranking: 47th 

Over 52,000 students attend the University of Queensland’s three diverse and inclusive campuses, and more than 15,000 of those students are from other countries. UQ is regularly ranked as one of the world’s top universities, making it easily one of the best colleges in Australia. Their alumni network of over 250,000 graduates covers 170 countries. UQ has also won the most Australian Awards for University Teaching out of any Australian uni.  

Find accommodation for the University of Queensland here.

University of New South Wales

  • Times Higher Education ranking: 71st
  • QS ranking: 43rd 

As one of the world’s leading teaching and research universities, the University of New South Wales is home to pioneering researchers in fields such as quantum computing, HIV treatment, and solar power. UNSW prides itself on graduate outcomes; it’s ranked 22nd globally for employer reputation. As with the University of Sydney, UNSW provides easy access to all the splendour and sites of Australia’s largest city, making it one of the best universities in Australia for international students who want to do a little sightseeing on the side. 

Find accommodation for UNSW – Sydney here.

As mentioned earlier, this list is far from exhaustive. Other Australian unis that rank highly on both the Times Higher Education and QS lists include Monash University, University of Adelaide, University of Western Australia, and more.

If you’ve got your heart set on studying in Australia, or maybe wanting to do a postgraduate degree as well, you really are spoilt for choice.