Best universities in Australia for engineering 2026
Discover the Times Higher Education (THE) rankings for the best engineering universities in Australia 2026. This list of universities reveals the top-ranked 30 institutions for general engineering, electrical and electronic engineering, mechanical and aerospace engineering, civil engineering and chemical engineering offering prospective students insights into the highest-ranking universities in the field. Universities across Australia are evaluated based on teaching, research and international outlook. The rankings use a robust methodology, created by the in-house data team, relied upon by students, academics, policymakers and industry leaders worldwide.
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Top engineering schools ranked in Australia 2026
| Australia Engineering Rank 2026 | Global Engineering Rank 2026 | University | Overall | Teaching | Research Environment | Research Quality | Industry | International Outlook |
| 1 | =46 | UNSW Sydney | 73.4 | 55.7 | 58.3 | 94.1 | 99.1 | 94.4 |
| 2 | 57 | University of Sydney | 71.6 | 58 | 56.1 | 89.9 | 94 | 92.1 |
| 3 | 59 | Monash University | 70.4 | 52.3 | 58.1 | 86.9 | 100 | 93.5 |
| 4 | 62 | University of Melbourne | 69.5 | 59.2 | 62.4 | 73 | 98.3 | 91.9 |
| 5 | 75 | The University of Queensland | 64.6 | 42.8 | 47.8 | 88.5 | 96.8 | 88.9 |
| =6 | 101–125 | Adelaide University | 57.3–60.1 | 26.7 | 33 | 94 | 97.4 | 94.2 |
| =6 | 101–125 | Australian National University | 57.3–60.1 | 36.9 | 41 | 80.3 | 89.8 | 95.5 |
| =6 | 101–125 | Deakin University | 57.3–60.1 | 27.6 | 36 | 91.6 | 96.2 | 95 |
| =6 | 101–125 | University of Technology Sydney | 57.3–60.1 | 31.3 | 34.9 | 96.6 | 81.3 | 93.8 |
| =6 | 101–125 | University of Wollongong | 57.3–60.1 | 27.2 | 32.8 | 95.7 | 98.1 | 98.3 |
| =11 | 126–150 | Curtin University | 54.8–57.1 | 25.9 | 31 | 90.9 | 86.3 | 95.4 |
| =11 | 126–150 | RMIT University | 54.8–57.1 | 31 | 34.1 | 88.8 | 88 | 94.5 |
| =13 | 151–175 | Macquarie University | 52.9–54.7 | 20.7 | 27.4 | 89 | 97.7 | 91.7 |
| =13 | 151–175 | Queensland University of Technology | 52.9–54.7 | 25.3 | 28.6 | 91.8 | 83.3 | 80.1 |
| =13 | 151–175 | The University of Western Australia | 52.9–54.7 | 27.3 | 34.5 | 76.9 | 86.6 | 96.7 |
| 16 | 176–200 | Swinburne University of Technology | 50.8–52.7 | 23.6 | 27 | 94.1 | 74.4 | 80.4 |
| =17 | 201–250 | Edith Cowan University | 47.5–50.7 | 17.3 | 18.6 | 96.4 | 54.5 | 98.3 |
| =17 | 201–250 | Griffith University | 47.5–50.7 | 21.4 | 22 | 88.5 | 69.2 | 92.4 |
| =17 | 201–250 | University of Newcastle | 47.5–50.7 | 22.4 | 28 | 71.9 | 89.2 | 87.4 |
| =20 | 251–300 | University of Southern Queensland | 45.5–47.4 | 15.8 | 18.7 | 94.3 | 48.5 | 91 |
| =20 | 251–300 | Western Sydney University | 45.5–47.4 | 20.3 | 21.8 | 81.3 | 60.3 | 86.3 |
| =22 | 301–400 | Charles Darwin University | 41.5–45.4 | 17.7 | 17.9 | 90.3 | 34.5 | 95.9 |
| =22 | 301–400 | Murdoch University | 41.5–45.4 | 14.1 | 21.2 | 79.1 | 67.3 | 96.9 |
| =22 | 301–400 | University of Tasmania | 41.5–45.4 | 18.8 | 22.4 | 63.9 | 69.6 | 91.5 |
| =25 | 401–500 | Central Queensland University | 39.1–41.4 | 12.5 | 19 | 74.8 | 47.2 | 86.9 |
| =25 | 401–500 | Flinders University | 39.1–41.4 | 15.5 | 22.4 | 68.2 | 54.5 | 92.9 |
| =25 | 401–500 | Victoria University | 39.1–41.4 | 13.3 | 16.2 | 74.9 | 63 | 79.5 |
| 28 | 501–600 | James Cook University | 36.5–39.0 | 22.6 | 13.9 | 62.7 | 50.4 | 90.6 |
| 29 | 601–800 | Federation University Australia | 31.6–36.3 | 14.4 | 14 | 63.5 | 38.2 | 93.5 |
| 30 | 801–1000 | University of the Sunshine Coast | 27.1–31.5 | 11.7 | 17.8 | 54.8 | 31.4 | 57 |
Key insights into the top universities for engineering in Australia
- UNSW Sydney maintains its position as the top university in Australia for engineering
- There are 30 universities across Australia ranked in the global engineering ranking
- Monash University achieves a perfect score for its links to industry, and scores highly for international outlook
- The University of Wollongong, in joint-sixth position, achieves high scores in industry and international outlook
Choosing the right university in Australia for engineering
Engineering is a good degree choice for any student who wishes to understand how the world is designed and is looking to pursue a career in an industry such as construction, business, transport, government and many more.
At Australian universities, engineering students can choose from a range of specialisations including civil engineering, electrical engineering, aerospace engineering and more. Many students will choose to stay on for a postgraduate course in order to further narrow down their speciality before entering the world of work.
Many engineering courses expect students to carry out some work experience, with some including a year in industry as part of their programme.
Choosing the right engineering university in Australia can be daunting if you don’t know where to start. These THE rankings for engineering provide a reliable benchmark for comparing institutions based on five core factors:
- Research Environment – focuses on research reputation and productivity
- Teaching Quality – Student experience, resources and teaching effectiveness
- Research Quality – Influence and impact of research in the global engineering community
- Industry Collaboration – Partnerships and hands-on opportunities with engineering firms
- International Outlook – Global engagement through staff, students and research.
The table for the best universities for engineering in Australia was derived from data collected for the THE World University Rankings by Subject 2026: Engineering. The results are calculated using 18 performance indicators underlying five metrics. For more insights and a detailed breakdown of our ranking methodology, visit our methodology page. Use the ranking table above to explore the right institution for you.
