Southern Cross University has climbed in Business & Economics in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings by Subject for 2026, marking another step forward in the University's growing national and global reputation for business education.
The latest results place Southern Cross in the 501–600 band globally for Business & Economics , a clear improvement on last year's top 800 ranking band. The uplift comes alongside steady performance across the University's other ranked disciplines, with most subjects maintaining their year-on-year positions while continuing to strengthen their underlying scores.
"I want to congratulate our academics, professional staff and partners whose commitment to high-quality teaching, impactful research and community engagement underpins these outcomes," said Professor Tyronne Carlin, Vice-Chancellor, Southern Cross University.
"Rankings are only one measure of success, but they signal that our distinctive, regionally grounded model of education is resonating and we'll continue to build on this momentum for our students and communities."
The stronger Business & Economics result reflects Southern Cross's continued focus on education that connects theory with practice to prepare graduates for today's jobs, as well as the challenges and opportunities ahead.
Launching this year, the Master of Management has been designed in direct response to this industry insight. Designed for emerging leaders stepping into management for the first time, the degree equips professionals to confidently lead people, manage budgets and drive strategy across complex organisations.
Meanwhile, the Graduate Certificate in Small Business Management supports current and aspiring entrepreneurs to build the skills needed to start, manage and scale successful businesses. With a strong emphasis on applied learning, the course helps students translate ideas into action in real-world business settings.
"We have been deliberately investing in capability-building and program development, with a focus on driving quality research, maintaining teaching excellence and deepening industry engagement. Seeing Business and Economics climb into the 501–600 band in the 2026 THE rankings suggests that this strategy is beginning to pay off," said Professor Mike Ewing, Executive Dean, Faculty of Business, Law & Arts at Southern Cross University.
"We're also confident these results are only the beginning. With new courses, new talent, and a more aspirational and focused research strategy in place, we aim to keep improving."
This latest ranking result sits alongside a broader evolution in Southern Cross's approach to business education. Through its business reinvented philosophy, the University has been reshaping its curriculum around employability, adaptability and industry relevance to ensure learning is closely aligned with how modern workplaces actually operate.
This approach is reflected in the University's refreshed Bachelor of Business , which has been redesigned to prioritise real-world application, contemporary skills development and closer connections with industry and Southern Cross's research strengths.
The THE subject rankings follow Southern Cross University's strong results in the Good Universities Guide 2026 for Business and Management, where the University achieved a 5-star rating for undergraduate Overall Experience, Skills Development, Teaching Quality and Student Support, alongside 93 per cent graduate employment in Business and Management at postgraduate level (GUG 2025).
About the THE subject rankings
The THE World University Rankings by Subject assess universities across major disciplines using performance indicators tailored to each field, including teaching quality, research influence and international outlook. The rankings are widely regarded as a benchmark for academic performance and global standing.
