Macquarie University has continued its rapid rise in global rankings, placing ninth in Australia and 166th internationally in the 2026 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings.
The 2026 rankings assessed more than 2100 universities worldwide, confirming Macquarie’s growing strength across research, teaching and industry engagement.
Over the past decade, Macquarie has climbed 144 places – from 310th in 2016 to 166th in 2026. This year marks the University’s highest placement among Australian universities, after ranking 10th nationally for the past three years.
The THE World University Rankings assess institutions across five key indicators of excellence: teaching, research quality, research environment, industry engagement and international outlook.
Macquarie received an outstanding score of 97.2 for industry engagement, ranking 120th globally for indicators such as patents and industry income. The University also achieved a score of 90.9 for research quality, placing it 102nd globally for research excellence and influence.
Vice-Chancellor Professor S Bruce Dowton said the latest rankings reflected Macquarie’s ongoing commitment to excellence and to delivering benefit to the wider world.
“Continuing to climb one of the world’s most respected university rankings is a testament to our strategic focus and the dedication of our community,” Professor Dowton said.
“We are proud to see our impact recognised on the global stage. Our rapid rise in the rankings over the past decade shows what’s possible when a university remains focused on quality, innovation and purpose. It’s a powerful reflection of our people and our partnerships.
“This recognition energises us to continue building a university that is globally competitive, locally connected and relentlessly focused on excellence. Our focus remains on delivering world-class education and research that make a difference to our communities.”
