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Top 20 Universities for PhD Study in Australia in 2023
Written by Hannah Slack
Australia’s universities are well-established in the global top 250 and its government places great value on international PhD students, with generous post-study work visas.
We’ve taken a look at the latest global ranking information to find out which universities could be best for PhD study.
| University | THE 2023 | QS 2023 | ARWU 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Melbourne | 34 | 33 | 32 |
| Monash University | 44 | 75 | 80 |
| University of Queensland | 53 | 47 | 51 |
| University of Sydney | =54 | =71 | 60 |
| Australian National University | 62 | 30 | 70 |
| UNSW Sydney | =71 | 45 | - |
| University of Adelaide | 88 | 109 | 101-150 |
| University of Western Australia | =131 | 90 | 99 |
| University of Technology Sydney | 133 | 137 | 201-300 |
| Macquarie University | 175 | =195 | 201-300 |
| Curtin University | 201-250 | 193 | 201-300 |
| University of Newcastle | 201-250 | 192 | 201-300 |
| Queensland University of Technology | 201-250 | =22 | 201-300 |
| Western Sydney University | 201-250 | 501-510 | 301-400 |
| University of Wollongong | 201-250 | =185 | 201-300 |
| Australian Catholic University | 251-300 | 801-1000 | 501-600 |
| Bond University | 251-300 | =481 | 201-300 |
| University of Canberra | 251-300 | 511-520 | 801-900 |
| Deakin University | 201-250 | 266 | 201-300 |
| Griffith University | 251-300 | =300 | 201-300 |
| Information in this table is based on the latest Times Higher Education World University Rankings, QS World University Rankings and Academic Ranking of World Universities. Visit their websites for more information. | |||
So, how good are Australian universities for PhD study?
Australia’s diverse culture and unique ecology means that some subjects can only be researched there. Plus, if you’re not keen on the idea of an oral exam, many Australian universities don’t actually assess doctoral candidates using a viva.
If you'd like some more tips and tricks on how to use PhD rankings effectively to choose the best university for postgraduate study, have a look at our guide.
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Read moreLast Updated: 06 December 2022