The Top 5 Universities in Australia for Postgraduate Study

#1 University of Melbourne

The top university in Australia is the University of Melbourne, ranking as the 37th best institution in the world. As the country’s largest research university, and second oldest, it unsurprisingly scored well, getting a 64.8 in teaching and 90.1 in research.

The University of Melbourne places a strong focus on solving the world’s social, economic and environmental challenges. Additionally, with seven campuses and a broad range of industry partners, it has the skills and resources to support talented postgraduates in a variety of fields.

#2 Monash University

Ranking 44th in the world, the next best university is Monash – Australia’s largest university. It achieved a 55.3 in teaching and 94.7 in research.

Working towards a more sustainable future, Monash considers itself a modern, global and research-intensive university. With over 100 partner institutions around the world offering student exchange opportunities, it’s definitely a great option for postgraduates.

#3 University of Sydney

The University of Sydney which placed 60th in the world rankings. Sydney gained strong scores with a 52.6 in teaching and 92.0 in research.

As Australia’s oldest university, it boasts a range of impressive resources. Not only does the University of Sydney house over 90 research centres but it also runs around 300 overseas exchange programmes with over 30 countries. This institution is full of opportunity to travel and connect with other large research hubs, which every postgraduate student could benefit from.

Each university in Australia has something unique to offer postgraduate students. The world rankings can be a good method to assess quality research centres, but there are plenty more factors to consider when choosing your place of study. If you’re interested in learning more about postgraduate study in Australia, make sure to check out our guides for prospective Masters students or PhD students.

You can also check out the rest of Australia's top performing universities on our website.

#4 Australian National University

Next up is the Australian National University, coming in at number 67. Based in Canberra, ANU was awarded a 55.9 in teaching and a respectable 86.6 in research.

Originally created as a post-war research university, ANU has become a world-leader for research, education and policy. Since its founding, it has produced six Nobel Prize winners in a range of disciplines, including Physiology and Economic Sciences.

#5 University of Queensland

Ranking at number 70, the University of Queensland has been climbing the world rankings each year. With a score of 52.9 in teaching and 89.1 in research, this institution looks like it will continue to rise.

Aside from ambition, UQ is home to Australia’s largest PhD student body and has over 13,800 postgraduates registered. Also, a third of its students are international applications, making UQ a diverse and interesting place to live and study. Those looking for a taught postgraduate degree should definitely add this institution to their list because it’s won the most Australian Awards for University Teaching (AAUT)!