2025 CWUR world university rankings released: UNSW leads Australian universities

The 2025 CWUR (Center for World University Rankings) world university rankings were officially released recently, with the performance of Australian universities once again drawing wide attention.

This year, the University of New South Wales (UNSW) made headlines by surpassing the University of Melbourne and the University of Sydney, thanks to its breakthrough research in solar cell technology. UNSW has now emerged as Australia’s top-ranked university, climbing to 52nd globally (up from 99th last year). This marks one of the most notable advances by an Australian university in the field of innovation in recent years.

Four Australian universities in the global top 100, but growing pressure on rankings

According to this year’s results, four Australian universities made it into the global top 100:

• UNSW: 52nd globally

• University of Melbourne: 62nd (down 2 places)

• Australian National University (ANU): 90th (up 35 places)

• University of Sydney: 94th (down 4 places)

While UNSW’s dramatic rise stands out, other leading universities experienced some decline or volatility. It is worth noting that ANU made an impressive recovery, signalling room for improvement among certain institutions.

However, overall, 56% of Australian universities saw a drop in rankings. Despite 17 universities improving, the competition is intensifying.

Innovation leads, but funding remains a concern

One key driver behind UNSW’s impressive ranking was its long-standing investment in solar cell technology research, which continues to deliver global impact.

Since 1974, UNSW’s solar research team has pioneered advances in the field, most notably the development of PERC (passivated emitter and rear cell) technology — a milestone that has improved solar cell efficiency and significantly reduced global photovoltaic costs.

Nevertheless, Australian universities continue to face challenges in public funding. CWUR President Nadim Mahassen noted that compared to countries such as China, which are making substantial investments in education and research, Australia risks falling behind in global competition unless stronger strategic funding is secured.

International student policy shifts pose a hidden risk to research funding

Unlike the US or UK, Australia’s higher education sector relies heavily on international student fees to fund research and university operations.

However, with recent shifts in immigration policy and stricter student visa processing, Australia’s approach is clearly moving towards tightening intake controls. This will inevitably impact university revenue streams and research funding. Striking a balance between managing risk and maintaining international competitiveness will be a key challenge for both universities and policymakers.

What does this mean for prospective students considering Australia?

Despite the overall ranking pressures, Australia’s higher education system still offers clear advantages, particularly in the following areas:

• The Group of Eight universities remain globally recognised, with high diploma value

• Engineering, IT, medicine, and energy are globally competitive fields with strong career and migration outcomes

• Tuition and living costs are generally more affordable than the UK and US, with accessible entry pathways

However, with tightening immigration and visa policies, application processes may become more complex and time-consuming. Families considering study plans for the 2025–2026 intake should prepare early, particularly focusing on English proficiency, academic alignment, and strategic application planning.

The shifts in Australia’s global university rankings remind us that education is a long-term game — selecting universities and majors requires clear-headed thinking. For Chinese families, leveraging Australia’s integrated “study + migration” advantages to build competitive pathways for their children is an increasingly important part of the strategy.

If you have any questions or would like professional assistance, please feel free to contact us at Riverwood Migration (Email: enquiry@riverwoodmigration.com). We are committed to providing transparent, expert migration services to help you achieve your dream of moving to Australia.