Best Universities in Australia for Indian Students: QS 2027 Rankings, Cities and Costs
Rankings are a starting point, not a decision. Australia has 37 universities in the QS World University Rankings 2027, and the right one for you depends on your course, your city and your budget. This guide gives the current ranks, says where each university is, and links to the cost and visa details you need next. Last checked: 9 October 2026.
Australia’s leading universities in QS 2027
| University | City | QS 2027 world rank | Worth knowing |
| UNSW Sydney | Sydney | 19 | Ranked first in Australia by QS for the first time in 2027. QS lists strengths in engineering, law, accounting and finance, and architecture. |
| University of Melbourne | Melbourne | =22 | Ranked first in Australia by Times Higher Education in 2027. See our University of Melbourne guide. |
| University of Sydney | Sydney | 28 | Main campus at Camperdown and Darlington. Member of the Group of Eight. |
| Australian National University | Canberra | 29 | Research-focused, based in the national capital. |
| Monash University | Melbourne | 31 | Main campus at Clayton in the south-east. |
| University of Queensland | Brisbane | =40 | Main campus at St Lucia, beside the Brisbane River. |
| University of Technology Sydney | Sydney | =87 | City campus at Ultimo. |
| RMIT University | Melbourne | =119 | City-centre campus. |
The University of Western Australia and Adelaide University also sit inside the QS top 100, according to published QS 2027 summaries. Read more about Perth and Adelaide in our city guides. You can compare every city side by side in our Study in Australia from India overview.
Rankings disagree, so read them carefully
QS puts UNSW first in Australia. Times Higher Education’s 2027 table puts Melbourne first (=34 globally) and places Monash at 61, Queensland at =73, UNSW at =75 and ANU at 77. Both methods give a lot of weight to research reputation. Neither tells you how good a specific course is, whether the fees fit your budget, or what its graduates go on to do. Check the course page, the entry requirements and the cost of the city before you decide.
How to choose
- Start with the course. Entry requirements, tuition and English test scores are on each university’s course page. Our IELTS vs TOEFL vs PTE guide helps with the test.
- Price the city. Median rent in the June quarter of 2026 was A$841 a week in Sydney and A$641 in Melbourne (Cotality). The same course can cost very different amounts to live through.
- Check your funds. You must show A$29,710 for a year of living costs on top of tuition and travel, and India has been at Evidence Level 3 since January 2026. Details are in the Australia student visa guide.
- Ask about visa timing. The government set a 2026 national cap of 295,000 new overseas students and gave each university an allocation. Ask the admissions team how it affects processing.
- Check the intake. Our July 2027 intake guide has a month-by-month timeline.
The Group of Eight and beyond
The Group of Eight is Australia’s group of research-intensive universities: Adelaide University, ANU, Monash, Melbourne, UNSW, Queensland, Sydney and Western Australia. Good courses also sit outside it. UTS and RMIT both rank in the QS top 120 and have city-centre campuses, which can cut commuting costs.
Questions students ask
Which Australian university is ranked highest?
It depends on the ranking. QS 2027 puts UNSW Sydney first in Australia (19th globally). Times Higher Education 2027 puts the University of Melbourne first (=34th globally).
Are rankings enough to choose a university?
No. Use them to build a shortlist, then compare the specific course, total cost, city and visa timing.
Where can I get help building a shortlist?
Send your course, budget and intake through our Talk to Our Expert page.
Sources: QS World University Rankings 2027 (as published by UNSW, TopUniversities and IDP); Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2027; Group of Eight membership list; Cotality Quarterly Rental Review, June quarter 2026; Department of Home Affairs. Last checked 9 October 2026. Rankings change every year, so confirm current positions on the ranking sites.
