Each year, VU receives global and national recognition.

Our rankings – both international and Australian – reflect our focus on career-readiness, practical learning, inclusion, opportunity and excellence.

No.1 for employability

Australia’s top university for employability skills (QILT)
Ranked top 3%

Ranked in the top 3% of universities worldwide (THE)
No.1 learner engagement (Vic)

Victoria's top university for learner engagement (QILT)
No.13: SDG 6

Ranked no.13 globally, UN goal Clean Water & Sanitation (THE Impact)
No.7 for sport education

No. 7 in the world, sports science departments (ARWU)
World-class research

'Well above world standard', 6 research areas (ERA)

Times Higher Education World University Rankings

VU is ranked in the top 3% of universities worldwide in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings. 

The ranking is a list of the best universities globally and is the only international performance ranking to evaluate universities across their core missions of teaching, research, knowledge transfer and international outlook.

In other THE rankings: 

  • VU is ranked in the world's top 100 universities under 50 years old, in the Times Higher Education Young University Rankings.
  • VU ranked 54th in 2018 and 55th in 2017 for the Times Higher Education Asia Pacific University Rankings, moving up to 51st in 2019.

Our engineering and computer science subjects also ranked among the state's best in the 2019 World University Subject Rankings.

In 2021, our rankings improved dramatically in three of our focus areas: Business Eco, Life Sciences, and Psychology.

Ranked top 3%

Ranked in the top 3% of universities worldwide (THE)

Times Higher Education Impact Rankings

THE Impact Rankings capture universities’ impact on society, based on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – a framework of 17 aims for sustainable development.

In the 2022 rankings, we had some great successes.

Based on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, VU is ranked:

  • 13th for Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG6) out of 634 globally ranked institutions
  • 32nd for Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions (SDG16) out of 809 globally ranked institutions
  • 41st for Quality Education (SDG4) out of 1180 globally ranked institutions
  • 65th for Partnership for the Goals (SDG17) out of 1438 globally ranked institutions

Read more about our focus on UN sustainability goals.

Victoria University ranked =79th THE rankings logo

No.13: SDG 6

Ranked no.13 globally, UN goal Clean Water & Sanitation - THE Impact

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Global rankings

VU's courses are in-demand internationally, with many students studying our degrees through international university partners in China, India, Malaysia, Singapore and Sri Lanka.

ARWU Global Ranking of Academic Subjects

The 2022 ARWU (Academic Ranking of World Universities, also known as the ShanghaiRanking) ranks universities in 54 subjects.

VU ranks for subject areas:

  • sports science schools and departments – 7th out of 300 globally ranked institutions (2022)
  • automation and control – 51-75 out of 200
  • hospitality and tourism management – 151-200 out of 300
  • electrical and electronic engineering – 201-300 out of 500
  • computer science and engineering – 151-200 out of 500.

QS World University Rankings

We jumped five bands from #601-650 in the world in 2020 to #551-560 in 2021 in the QS World University Rankings, placing us in the top half of all ranked institutions. The report highlights VU’s improvements in the categories of 'research citations' and 'international students'.

No.7 for sport

No. 7 in the world, sports science departments (ARWU)

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Research rankings

VU researchers were recognised for their global standing in the latest Australian Research Council Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) results.

VU achieved:

  • the highest rating of 5 (well above world standard) in six research areas
  • a rating of 4 (above world standard) in nine areas
  • a rating of 3 (world standard) in thirteen areas.

Read more about our research excellence.

World-class research areas

The Academic Ranking of World Universities (ShanghaiRankings) ranked Victoria University:

We are also ranked 19th globally accounting-education research in the Brigham Young university research rankings, making us the top-ranked Australian university in this area.

World-class research

'Well above world standard', 6 research areas (ERA)

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QILT Employer Satisfaction Survey

QILT Employer Satisfaction Survey

The independent Australian Government funded QILT Employer Satisfaction Survey measures more than 3000 employer views on the attributes of recent graduates to assess the quality of Australia’s higher education sector.

Our rankings in Australia (as assessed by employers) in 2019–21 included the impressive:

  • 1st for employability skills
  • =2nd for foundation skills
  • =4th for collaborative skills
  • =5th for technical skills.

Our rankings in Victoria (as assessed by employers) in 2019–21 included the impressive:

  • 1st for employability skills
  • 1st for collaborative skills
  • 1st for technical skills
  • 1st for overall satisfaction.

Number. 1

Australia's top university for employability skills (QILT)

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QILT Student Experience Survey 

The Australian Government’s authoritative QILT Student Experience Survey (SES) is the only comprehensive survey targeting how satisfied current Australian students are with their student experience.

Our rankings in Australia in 2020 (as assessed by students) included:

  • 1st in Victoria and 3rd in Australia for learner engagement
  • 5th in Australia for skills development.

Learner engagement

Victoria's top university for learner engagement (QILT)

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National awards & recognition

E-Learning awards

At the 2022 LearnX Live awards:

VU Online received two Platinum awards -  Best Online Learning Model for the third consecutive year, and Best Accessibility eLearning Design for the first time.

The awards reflect VU’s engaging, collaborative approach.

Victorian Training Awards

Victoria University Polytechnic received the Inclusive Training Provider of the Year Award at the Victorian Training Awards (2019 and 2022).

This Award recognises training providers within the Victorian Government’s vocational education and training system who have demonstrated outstanding improvements for the achievement, engagement and well-being of students with additional needs.

Good design awards

An innovative mobile ‘super app’ created by a student-led team of Victoria University technologists and designers was given Australia’s highest honour for design and innovation at the peak industry Good Design Awards.

The Victoria University App received a prestigious Gold Accolade in the Digital Design category for outstanding design and innovation.

Good Universities Guide 

For 2022–23, we have been awarded national recognition for our unique approach to the first year of university, recognising our successful VU Block Model, First Year College, and Kick Start (first-in-family) program.

We also received 5 stars for Postgraduate Skills Development for humanities and social sciences.

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