Rankings and reputation
A leading global university, renowned for excellence in education and research
Our
performance
Our valued industry connections, innovative courses, commitment to our student experience and high-impact research place us as world top 100 university – the only one in WA.
For more than a century, our teaching and research have supported economic and social development within our local, regional and global communities. We seek to unite our most creative minds and lead teams towards resolving the critical challenges that face our planet and its people.
By choosing to study at UWA, you’ll join a network of passionate and resourceful leaders who are set on making meaningful contributions, and become part of a community with a reputation for leading positive change, both here and internationally.
RANKED
77
IN THE WORLD
(QS, 2025)
17
SUBJECTS RANKED IN THE WORLD'S TOP 50
(QS 2024 and ARWU 2023)
5 stars
for Student Demand, Student: Teacher Ratio and International Student Progression Score
(Good Universities Guide 2024)
Image credit: UWA Graduations, 2013
Graduates who take on the world
Our graduates go on to positively impact society – from Nobel Prize-winning scientists such as Professor Barry Marshall, to entrepreneurs like Mecca Cosmetica founder Jo Horgan and politicians such as former prime minister Bob Hawke.
UWA is also home to Fields Medal winner Professor Akshay Venkatesh; Decjuba CEO/owner Tania Austin; comedian, writer and musician Tim Minchin; and Academy Award winner Shaun Tan.
Award-winning
teachers
Our team of expert educators continue to receive awards proving their dedication and passion to student learning. Since 2012, as part of the Australian Awards for University Teaching, we have received:
4
Teaching Excellence awards
3
Awards for Programs that Enhance Learning
33
Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning
Subject rankings
The QS World University Rankings by Subject are compiled each year to identify leading universities in particular subjects. In 2024 we maintained our ranking as #1 in the state, with the highest number of subjects in the global top 100. The ShanghaiRanking also releases the Global Ranking of Academic Subjects (GRAS) annually across five key disciplines. UWA consistently achieves strong results in both rankings.
UWA's rankings by subjects
Top 50
- Agriculture and Forestry
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Earth and Marine Sciences
- Geology
- Geophysics
- Mineral and Mining Engineering
- Petroleum Engineering
- Sports-related Subjects
Top 100
- Archaeology
- Civil and Structural Engineering
- Classics and Ancient History
- Dentistry
- Developmental Studies
- Psychology
Top 150
- Accounting and Finance
- Anthropology
- Biological Sciences
- Education and Training
- English Language and Literature
- Environmental Sciences
- Geography
- History
- Law and Legal Studies
- Philosophy
Top 50
- Agricultural Sciences
- Biological Sciences
- Clinical Medicine
- Environmental Science and Engineering
- Human Biological Sciences
- Marine and Ocean Engineering
- Mining and Mineral Engineering
- Oceanography
- Water Resources
Top 75
- Ecology
- Psychology
- Public Health
Top 100
- Civil Engineering
- Earth Sciences
- Geography
Top 150
- Atmospheric Science
- Hospitality and Tourism Management
Study WA’s highest-ranked MBA
UWA's MBA program is first in the Oceania region for Entrepreneurship and Alumni Outcomes (QS World University Rankings 2025 Global MBA Rankings).
Our MBA program is also the longest running in Western Australia, with more than 50 years of proven success and thousands of high-achieving alumni. It is delivered by our internationally accredited Business School.
Research excellence
UWA is recognised around the world as a leading research-intensive university.
Over the years, we have strengthened our international reputation for excellence, and we now attract researchers of world standing across a range of disciplines, with international leaders in many diverse fields.
We are a proud member of the internationally recognised Group of Eight, a coalition of Australia's leading research intensive universities, and a foundation member of the Matariki Network of high-quality, research-intensive universities with a focus on student experience.
We produce high-impact research with top ratings in a range of fields. The Australian Research Council’s Excellence in Research for Australia 2018 outcomes has rated us as ‘well above world-standard’ for research in 28 fields.
UWA research in the world top 1%
- Agriculture, Land and Farm Management
- Applied Mathematics
- Astronomical and Space Sciences
- Cardiorespiratory Medicine and Haematology
- Classical Physics
- Clinical Sciences
- Ecology
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering
- Environmental Science and Management
- Evolutionary Biology
- Genetics
- Geology
- Historical Studies
- Human Geography
- Medical Physiology
- Medicinal and Biomolecular Chemistry
- Oceanography
- Oncology and Carcinogenesis
- Ophthalmology and Optometry
- Optical Physics
- Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Physical Chemistry (including Structural)
- Plant Biology
- Psychology
- Pure Mathematics
- Quantum Physics
- Soil Sciences
- Zoology
Research performance
Our research makes a real impact on the lives of our communities and the world.
- 39 research centres and institutes
- 5,901 research publications
- $213,975,609 research income 2019 data
- 12 Highly Cited Researchers (Clarivate 2020)
- 60+ academics involved in the Australian Council of Learned Academies
- Group of Eight member (Australia's best research-intensive universities)