The number of top-ranking Australian universities has fallen, according to a global analysis.
Australia has 10 universities within the top 200 in the latest Times Higher Education World University Rankings, down from 11 last year and 12 in 2021.
The University of Melbourne was ranked number one in Australia and 39th globally.
That meant it continued its 15-year streak as Australia’s top university, but it was a drop on the previous year when it was in 37th place and also marked its lowest position in the 21-year history of the global rankings.
Victoria’s Monash University was ranked second in Australia and equal 58th in the world, having fallen from 54th place in 2023.
The University of Sydney dropped from 60th place in 2023 to 61st this year; The Australian National University from 67th to 73rd; and the University of Queensland from 70th to 77th.
Other moves within Australia’s top universities included:
- The University of New South Wales climbed from 84th to 83rd place globally, and remained Australia’s 6th-ranked university
- The University of Adelaide fell from equal 111th in the world to equal 128th, and remained Australia’s 7th-ranked university
- The University of Western Australia fell from equal 143rd in the world to equal 149th, and remained Australia’s 8th-ranked university
- The University of Technology Sydney fell from 148th in the world to equal 154th, and remained Australia’s 9th-ranked university
- Macquarie University moved from 180th in the world to 178th, and remained Australia’s 10th ranked university.
- The Queensland University of Technology fell from equal 199th to between 201 to 250th. In Australia, it moved from the 11th-ranked university to 12th.
Along with the University of New South Wales and Macquarie University, Deakin University and Federation University Australia also increased their positions in the latest list.
Overall, the rankings showed 17 Australian universities fall down the scale, with seven having their worst results.
Times Higher Education chief global affairs officer Phil Baty said there were serious warning signs in the sector in Australia.
“Australian universities are losing ground in terms of their global academic reputation (and) funding levels,” he said.
“Perhaps most alarmingly, they are losing ground in areas of great traditional strength: international research collaboration and the attraction of international talent.”
It comes as the federal government is looking to introduce caps on the number of new international university students.
Under the proposal, 53,000 fewer students would be allowed to enrol in Australian universities as part of a cap of 270,000.
Further details about the limit are expected to be unveiled in a Senate report handed down on Wednesday.
Baty said the caps could lead to Australia’s international standings in the university sector being reduced.
“Many in the sector are very worried about forthcoming international student caps, which may further erode income for some top institutions, as well as diminish Australia’s world-leading reputation as an open and internationally facing sector,” he said.
The report said Australia’s average score for international students had dropped for the second year in a row, following repercussions from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The higher education rankings are measured across 18 metrics, such as teaching, research and international students.
Oxford University came out on top in the global standings, followed by MIT, Harvard, Princeton and Cambridge.
With additional reporting by the Australian Associated Press.
