Best universities for life sciences degrees in Australia 2026
Discover the Times Higher Education rankings for the best life science schools in Australia 2026.
This list highlights the top-ranked universities for biology and agriculture in Australia, based on the Times Higher Education Subject Rankings: Life Sciences 2026. These rankings provide valuable insights into the leading institutions for life sciences education and research.
A total of 32 Australian universities have been ranked for their excellence in teaching, research, industry collaboration, and international outlook.
The rankings are based on a rigorous methodology designed by Times Higher Education’s data experts, ensuring accuracy and reliability for students, academics, and industry leaders worldwide.
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Top universities in Australia for life sciences degrees 2026
| Australia Life Sciences Rank 2026 | Global Life Sciences Rank 2026 | University | Overall | Teaching | Research Environment | Research Quality | Industry | International Outlook |
| 1 | 33 | University of Melbourne | 80.7 | 75.6 | 75 | 84.9 | 97.4 | 90.6 |
| 2 | =40 | The University of Queensland | 77 | 65.8 | 69.6 | 85.1 | 99.1 | 93 |
| 3 | 46 | The University of Sydney | 75.6 | 66.4 | 63.1 | 87.8 | 96.8 | 84.6 |
| 4 | 53 | Monash University | 71.8 | 56.3 | 57.5 | 87.7 | 99.9 | 88.3 |
| 5 | 77 | The University of Western Australia | 65.2 | 42.5 | 47.2 | 86 | 98.3 | 94.7 |
| =6 | =87 | Australian National University | 64 | 43.8 | 46 | 85.5 | 74 | 93.5 |
| =6 | =87 | UNSW Sydney | 64 | 36.9 | 42 | 93.3 | 80.2 | 92.1 |
| 8 | 101–125 | Adelaide University | 59.1–62.1 | 45.2 | 46.5 | 75.6 | 98.5 | 87.9 |
| =9 | 151–175 | Deakin University | 54.6–56.9 | 25.4 | 29.7 | 86.5 | 82.9 | 87.7 |
| =9 | 151–175 | James Cook University | 54.6–56.9 | 31 | 34 | 80.9 | 65.7 | 90.7 |
| =11 | 176–200 | Griffith University | 52.5–54.5 | 28.4 | 30.1 | 78.8 | 88.9 | 92 |
| =11 | 176–200 | La Trobe University | 52.5–54.5 | 26.4 | 31.8 | 80.2 | 97 | 85.3 |
| =11 | 176–200 | Macquarie University | 52.5–54.5 | 27 | 32 | 80.5 | 89.8 | 87.3 |
| =14 | 201–250 | Central Queensland University | 49.6–52.4 | 26 | 25.2 | 79.8 | 58.4 | 78.8 |
| =14 | 201–250 | Curtin University | 49.6–52.4 | 27.2 | 24.4 | 79 | 62 | 92.1 |
| =14 | 201–250 | Murdoch University | 49.6–52.4 | 26.2 | 22.8 | 77.2 | 65.4 | 90.8 |
| =14 | 201–250 | Queensland University of Technology | 49.6–52.4 | 24.6 | 27.4 | 79.9 | 85.5 | 78.1 |
| =14 | 201–250 | University of Technology Sydney | 49.6–52.4 | 21.8 | 29.4 | 83.8 | 73.5 | 82 |
| =14 | 201–250 | University of Wollongong | 49.6–52.4 | 20.3 | 21.1 | 83.2 | 79.3 | 81.2 |
| =14 | 201–250 | Western Sydney University | 49.6–52.4 | 16.5 | 25.9 | 89 | 65.1 | 85.3 |
| =21 | 251–300 | RMIT University | 47.1–49.5 | 24.9 | 20.5 | 75.4 | 53.6 | 91.2 |
| =21 | 251–300 | Southern Cross University | 47.1–49.5 | 30.9 | 26.9 | 73.9 | 60.5 | 62.6 |
| =23 | 301–400 | Charles Darwin University | 42.4–47.0 | 25 | 25.1 | 70.2 | 45.6 | 78 |
| =23 | 301–400 | Edith Cowan University | 42.4–47.0 | 18.1 | 19.7 | 71.9 | 48.1 | 84.3 |
| =23 | 301–400 | Flinders University | 42.4–47.0 | 15.9 | 22.4 | 72.3 | 62.1 | 90.2 |
| =23 | 301–400 | University of Canberra | 42.4–47.0 | 19.1 | 24.5 | 64.1 | 64 | 81 |
| 27 | 401–500 | University of the Sunshine Coast | 38.8–42.2 | 20.8 | 16.5 | 62.2 | 55.3 | 75.9 |
| 28 | 501–600 | Victoria University | 35.5–38.7 | 15.4 | 11.4 | 74.2 | 34.4 | 54.2 |
| =29 | 601–800 | Charles Sturt University | 29.3–35.4 | 17.8 | 13.9 | 46.3 | 31.4 | 50.7 |
| =29 | 601–800 | Federation University Australia | 29.3–35.4 | 19.5 | 9.5 | 41.1 | 34.8 | 80.2 |
Key insights into the best universities in Australia for life sciences 2026
- The top university for life sciences degrees in Australia is the University of Melbourne
- There are 30 Australian universities in the ranking
- The University of Queensland scores particularly highly for it links to industry and international outlook
- The ranking for life sciences rank universites that teach courses in biology, veterinary medicine, biochemistry, agriculture and forestry and sport science.
Choosing the right university for life sciences in Australia
A degree in the life sciences will prepare you for a career in a specialised scientific field, like agriculture or biotechnology. But the skills you’ll learn on your degree, like problem solving, data analysis and research, are equally transferable to jobs that don’t require a lab coat.
When researching destinations for your life sciences degree, Australia is worth a look. The country has produced some of the world’s best scientific researchers, such as William Lawrence and William Henry Bragg, inventors of the world’s first X-ray spectroscope, Nobel Prize winner John Eccles, known for his research on the synapse, and Isobel Bennett, marine biologist and prolific author.
At the undergraduate level, most Australian universities offer a bachelor of science, an overarching qualification for the sciences. Within this course you can focus on your preferred scientific field depending on the modules you choose. As well as this, many of the universities also offer more specialised science courses, should you know exactly which field you want to focus on from the start. At the postgraduate level, all the courses are focused, and you will specialise right away.
Choosing the best school for biology, agriculture or sports science is a crucial step for prospective students. The Times Higher Education Life Science Rankings help identify universities with strong reputations in teaching, research, and industry collaboration.
The table for the best universities for life sciences in Australia was derived from data collected for the THE World University Subject Rankings. The results are calculated using 18 performance indicators underlying five metrics: research environment, teaching (the learning environment), research quality, industry and international outlook. 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.
For more insights into the top universities for life, you can explore the top universities for life sciences in the US, the best universities for life sciences in the UK, and the best universities for life sciences in Canada.
