This Australian university has been named the best in the country for the second year running

School’s almost out for yet another year, which means that the stressful period when Australia’s year 12 graduates start receiving university offers is fast approaching. While many students have a clear idea of where they want to study for the next three or so years of their lives, a new ranking of the best universities in Australia might sway their minds.

Now in its second year, the Australian Financial Review’s (AFR) 2024 Best Universities Ranking has evaluated the performance of 40 universities across four key pillars, including teaching, research, career impact and equity. It’s the first ranking of its kind in Australia, combining traditional measures of excellence, such as research and career outcomes, with wellbeing measures, like student satisfaction and equity, to determine its final rankings. 

For the second year running, the University of Queensland (UQ) has scooped up first place as Australia’s best university for 2024. With between 55,000 and 60,000 students enrolled annually, it received distinctions across all four pillars, ranking fourth in the country for career, teaching and research, and eighth for equity. Talk about a high achiever!

UQ beat the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra by a margin, while the University of New South Wales (UNSW) and Melbourne’s Monash University tied for third place. Who doesn't love a bit of friendly interstate rivalry?

All Australian universities in the top eight of the AFR ranking were also among the highest in the prestigious QS World University Rankings released earlier this year. However, their order shifted slightly. The University of Adelaide ranked fifth in the AFR list (compared to eighth in Australia in the QS ranking), the University of Melbourne placed sixth (compared to first), the University of Western Australia stayed steady at seventh and the University of Sydney ranked eighth (compared to second). 

Interested to see where your past, present or future university ranked?

Here are the top ten universities in Australia for 2024, according to the AFR:

1. The University of Queensland
2. The Australian National University 
3. University of New South Wales
4. Monash University
5. The University of Adelaide
6. The University of Melbourne
7. The University of Western Australia
8. The University of Sydney
9. University of Wollongong
10. Bond University

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