The University of Sydney has secured six subjects in the global top 20 and nineteen in the top 50 in the prestigious ShanghaiRanking’s Global Rankings of Academic Subjects (GRAS). 

The excellent results also saw the University achieve 37 subjects in the top 100 in the latest ShanghaiRanking league table, formerly known as the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU). Overall the University strengthened or maintained its rankings performance in 37 of 50 subjects globally.

The University's most improved performance was for Library & Information Science, Human Biological Sciences, Education, and Computer Science & Engineering. 

“Our academic and professional staff deserve great credit for our continuing strength in these highly competitive rankings, with twenty subjects improving their performance globally. The results reflect our consistent creation of research capable of improving all our lives for the better, while contributing to business growth and skilled employment,” said Professor Mark Scott, Vice-Chancellor and President.  

GRAS rankings use a range of objective academic indicators and third-party data to measure the performance of world universities in respective subjects. Metrics include research output, research influence, international collaboration, research quality, and international academic awards. 

The global ranking considers 2,000 institutions across 100 countries and regions on 57 subjects across Natural Sciences, Engineering, Life Sciences, Medical Sciences, and Social Sciences. (The University of Sydney is ranked on 50 subjects). 

Sydney’s domestic position improved overall, with 18 subjects strengthening nationally. 

Notable jumps in rankings performance include: 

• Library & Information Science – 11 places to rank 13 globally. 
• Human Biological Sciences – 11 places to rank 24 globally. 
• Education – up 9 places to rank 32 globally.  

This year the University of Sydney ranked 19 subjects in the top 50, two more than last year. 

• Nursing – 9
• Transportation Science & Technology – 13 
• Public Health –13
• Library & Information Science – 13 
  
• Telecommunication Engineering – 17
• Agricultural Sciences – 20 

• Human Biological Sciences – 24
• Management – 28
• Education – 32
• Computer Science & Engineering – 38
  
• Finance – 42
• Communication – 44 
• Geography – 45 
• Clinical Medicine – 45
  
• Economics – 46
• Psychology – 47 
• Business Administration – 47 
• Dentistry & Oral Sciences – 48 
  
• Electrical & Electronic Engineering – 50

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Mike Ryan said: “I congratulate our researchers on this excellent outcome, a testament to their creativity, persistence and exceptionally hard work. 

"This comes soon after the the University of Sydney achieving its strongest-ever outcome in the latest Australian Research Council Future Fellowships round, securing support for 39 impact-focused projects spanning science, engineering, health, humanities, social sciences, architecture and law.

“It also follows our recent success, with six winners, at the celebrated Eureka Awards, Australia’s most comprehensive national science awards."

Recent examples of impactful research at the University include: 

• Smart glasses pose new harassment risks 
• New 'nanobone' could help body regrow bone
• Physio-led care in emergency departments reduces wait times for musculoskeletal patients
• High-dose vitamin B6 supplements remain widely purchased despite safety concerns
• Experiment sees surprising result in search for dark matter
• Native bush rats return to Sydney bushland in ambitious project
• Flexibility key to keeping nurses and midwives in their jobs
• Climate reporting drives firms to build capability and seek external expertise

The University had 10 subjects ranked in the global top 25 and 31 in the top 50 in the most recent QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 and six disciplines in the global top 50 in the latest THE subject rankings.