QS Rankings by Subject 2025 released

What are the QS World University Rankings by Subject?

Global higher education analysts QS Quacquarelli Symonds have now released the 2025 QS World University Rankings by Subject. 

This year’s rankings feature 38 Australian universities (out of 1,700 globally), collectively achieving 944 entries—up 5% from last year—across 60 subject areas. 

The 2025 cover subjects (areas of study) in five broad categories: Arts and Humanities, Engineering and Technology, Life Sciences, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences and Management. 

How did Australia perform in the 2025 Subject Rankings?

Australia’s world-class universities continue to dominate on the global stage. Overall, 13 Australian universities featured in the world’s top 10 rankings across 8 different subjects (study areas). Australia was also among the top three countries worldwide for the number of subject rankings per university. 

Some highlights to note:

• The University of Melbourne and The University of Sydney each rank among the world’s top 100 in an exceptional 52 of 55 subject areas. 
• The University of Queensland had 50 subjects ranked, all within the world’s top 200.
• Monash University holds joint fourth place globally with 49 ranked subjects, achieving positions as high as 4th (Pharmacy and Pharmacology).
• UNSW Sydney shares fifth place globally overall, with 48 subjects ranked alongside a select group of international peers.
• The University of Queensland and University of Sydney (both Sports-related subjects) UNSW Sydney and Curtin University (both Engineering – Mineral & Mining) and University of Adelaide (Petroleum Engineering) were all listed in the world’s top 5 for their respective study areas.
• The Australian National University was also featured in the world’s top 10 for Philosophy, Anthropology, Development Studies and Archaeology.  
• The subject area of Medicine has the highest concentration of Australian entries (31).   

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