Each year, VU receives greater 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 (QILT)
Ranked top 2%

Ranked in the top 2% of universities worldwide (THE)
No.1 learner engagement (Vic)

Victoria's top university for learner engagement (QILT)
=10th peace & justice

World top 11 for peace, justice & strong institutions (THE Impact)
No.9 for sport education

No. 9 in the world, sports science departments (ARWU)
World-class research

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

Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings

In the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2021 (and previously in 2017–20), VU was ranked in the top 2% of universities worldwide.

In 2019, we were also ranked equal 51st among more than 300 universities in the Times Higher Education Asia–Pacific University Ranking.

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 ranked 56th in the world's top 200 universities under 50 years old, in the Times Higher Education Young University Rankings. VU has ranked in the top 60 since 2017.
  • VU ranked 11th out of 22 Australian institutions in the 2020 Times Higher Education Young University Rankings. Within this ranking we are #2 of the ranked Victorian universities.
  • 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.

Study in Melbourne, the world's most liveable city. Source: Economist Intelligence Unit

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 2021 rankings, we had some great successes.

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

  • =10th for Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions (SDG 16) out of 653 globally ranked institutions, with VU ranking the best in Australia
  • 77th for Quality Education (SDG 4) out of 966 globally ranked institutions
  • 101-200 for Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8) out of 685 globally ranked institutions
  • 101-200 for Good Health and Well-Being (SDG 3) out of 871 globally ranked institutions
  • 101-200 for Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11) out of 656 globally ranked institutions
  • 101-200 for Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17) out of 1154 globally ranked institutions.

Read more about our focus on UN sustainability goals.

World-renowned courses

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.

In 2017, our Master of Business Administration was ranked in Tier 1 by London-based CEO Magazine.

ARWU Global Ranking of Academic Subjects

The 2020 ARWU (Academic Ranking of World Universities)  (also known as Shanghai Ranking) ranks universities in 54 subjects.

VU has two subject areas ranking in the top 50 in the world, and others in the top third or half:

  • sports science schools and departments – 9th out of 300 globally ranked institutions (2020)
  • automation and control – 32 out of 200 
  • hospitality and tourism management – 101-150 out of 300
  • electrical and electronic engineering – 151-200 out of 500
  • computer science and engineering – 101-150 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'.

Related

World-leading research

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 (Shanghi Rankings) 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.

Our world-class multipurpose facilities at the Institute for Health and Sport are designed for research and teaching.

Quality indicators for Learning & Teaching (QILT)

QILT Employer Satisfaction Survey

The independent Australian Government funded QILT 2020 Employer Satisfaction Survey measured 3430 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) included the impressive:

  • 1st for employability
  • 2nd for adaptive skills
  • 2nd for collaborative skills
  • 3rd for foundation skills.

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:

  • 3rd for learner engagement
  • 5th for skills development.

VU students are engaged with their learning, and highly employable, according to government surveys.

National awards & recognition

E-Learning awards

At the 2020 LearnX Live awards:

The awards reflect VU’s engaging, collaborative education and training approach for its students, staff and industry clients.

Victorian Training Awards

Victoria University Polytechnic received the Inclusive Training Provider of the Year Award at the 65th Anniversary of the Victorian Training Awards (2019). This Award recognises exceptional training providers within the Victorian Government’s vocational education and training system who have demonstrated outstanding improvements with regard to 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.

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