The University of Sydney continues to excel in the latest Times Higher Education subject rankings with six disciplines in the global top 50. 

The rankings evaluate around 1,600 universities across 11 subject areas.  

The highest ranked subjects were Education Studies (26) Medical and Health (30), Arts and Humanities (42), Social Sciences (44), Law (equal 46) and Life Sciences (46). 

The University of Sydney ranked first in Australia for Arts and Humanities. 

Two subjects showed dramatic improvements in their ranking – Business and Economics moved 19 places to rank 52 and Physical Sciences moved 15 places to equal 70. 

All 11 subjects assessed at the University placed in the top 100. Psychology ranked equal 53, Engineering 57 and Computer Science 68. 

The THE World University Rankings by Subject 2026 evaluate research intensive universities across teaching, research environment, research quality, international outlook and industry by considering factors such as citations, industry income and learning environment.

“Congratulations and thanks to all our staff whose dedication to research and teaching excellence enables our continuing success in these and other prestigious rankings, and drives the progress of our Sydney in 2032 Strategy,” said Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Mark Scott.   

Interim Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Julie Cairney commented, “Continuing success in these rankings speaks to the diversity and strength of our research which is directly tied to the outstanding quality of our students’ learning experience.” 

Recent University of Sydney-led research exemplifying research excellence includes:

• how Australia's unregulated tutoring industry potentially puts education safety, quality and fairness at risk 
• our sector-leading approach to AI in teaching and assessment, including an award-winning University-invented ‘AI stunt double’ to assist teachers and student learning
• a study warning the gender gap in heart attack care won't close for a decade without urgent action 
  
• how AI tools like ChatGPT and digital scribes are being used in GP clinics without proper safety checks
• showing, in partnership with affiliates, that heart muscle cells regrow after a heart attack, opening up the possibility of new regenerative treatments for cardiovascular disease.
• a PhD student reframing dementia for Chinese speakers to reduce stigma and potentially change lives 
• new archaeological evidence overturning the theory that Australia's high country was unoccupied during the Ice Age
  
• powerful technology that efficiently detects and accurately predicts eucalyptus tree species favoured by koalas could help ecologists find the best habitats for conservation
• an examination of the evolution of ecocide from the Vietnam War to today, finding  wartime environmental damage remains largely beyond the reach of international justice.

In last year’s Times Higher Education World University Rankings the University ranked 53rd in the world overall, rising eight places globally and 25 places for teaching, ranked 81st.

In the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025 the University had five subjects in the top 20 and 52 in the top 100. It was first in Australia in nine disciplines.