The University of Melbourne has retained its position as the leading Australian university according to the latest Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU).
The University ranked 38 in the world in the 2025 ARWU results and continues to be the highest ranked Australian university across three major rankings – ARWU, Times Higher Education and Quacquarelli Symonds.
The quality and output of an institution's research and its academics are highly valued in the ARWU methodology, together accounting for 80 per cent of a university's overall score.
University of Melbourne Vice-Chancellor Professor Emma Johnston AO welcomed the positive results.
"From the nation's earliest days, the University of Melbourne has delivered world-class research and innovation," Professor Johnston said. "This year's Academic Ranking of World Universities reaffirms our status as Australia's leading university.
"This achievement is not the result of any single year. It reflects sustained effort and investment in research across generations and across disciplines. These rankings recognise the University's enduring role as a driver of discovery and I would like to personally thank our staff and students, including several Nobel Laureates, who have worked so hard to better understand the world around us.
"It is both an honour and a responsibility to be a leader in global higher education, driving Australia's progress, prosperity and influence."
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Mark Cassidy said the results highlight the continued excellence, global reach and positive societal impact of the University's research.
"To be ranked among the world's strongest research universities, many of whom are our valued partners and collaborators, is testament to the strength of our commitment to tackling the world's most pressing issues through the highest quality research," Professor Cassidy said.
"This result shows how Australia and the University of Melbourne are acknowledged to be advancing the boundaries of human knowledge while having an enduring positive impact on the global community."
With more than 9000 scholars and around 5000 PhD candidates, the University of Melbourne is leading in research excellence by harnessing the power of its people, world-class precincts and infrastructure, and international collaborators. This was outlined in the University's Advancing Research 2030: Excellence for Impact strategy launched last month.
The University is also focused on translating this research into tangible outcomes, highlighted in the latest Enterprising Melbourne Review. Partnerships and research funds like the Jumar Bioincubator and Proof-of-Concept Fund are helping to transform scientific discoveries and research into practical treatments, therapies and products.
Research commercialisation is also a focus for the University of Melbourne. Startups and social ventures within the University's innovation ecosystem include Clarity Pharmaceuticals, which is aiming to develop safer and more effective diagnostics and treatments for cancers, and Next Level Collaboration, which is trialling new approaches to social skill development for neurodivergent children.
