Macquarie University, a public research institution in the North Ryde district of Sydney, New South Wales (Australia), has reached its highest-ever Macquarie University ranking of #126 in QS World University Rankings 2027, climbing 12 positions from #138 a year earlier. Collegedunia Study Abroad places it at #121 globally for 2026, and its Linguistics department sits at #31 worldwide, the strongest subject in its portfolio.
- QS World University Rankings 2027: #126 globally, #11 in Australia
- Collegedunia Study Abroad 2026: #121 globally, #9 in Australia
- THE World University Rankings 2026: #166 globally, #9 in Australia
- U.S. News Best Global Universities 2025-2026: #173 globally, #13 in Australia
Reading the rank pattern: Macquarie has gained 69 QS positions in five editions (from #195 in 2023 to #126 in 2027), with the latest jump driven by improvements in academic and employer reputation. On QS 2027, Macquarie now ranks 8 places above IIT Bombay (#134), a flip from five years ago. For Indian applicants weighing Sydney-based universities outside the Group of Eight, this upward trajectory is a stronger signal than any single-year headline rank.
Table of Contents
Macquarie University (Sydney, Australia) Overall Rankings 2026
Macquarie scores its highest position on QS and Collegedunia Study Abroad, both inside the global top 130, while THE and U.S. News place it in the #166 to #173 band. The 47-point spread between its QS rank and its U.S. News rank is the single most useful Macquarie University world ranking signal for applicants reading multiple lists.
| Ranking Body (Edition) | Macquarie University Rank |
|---|---|
| Collegedunia Study Abroad 2026 | #121 |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | #126 |
| THE World University Rankings 2026 | #166 |
| U.S. News Best Global Universities 2025-2026 | #173 |
| ARWU (Shanghai) 2025 | #201-300 |
Macquarie ranks higher on QS, which weighs academic reputation and employer opinion heavily, than on ARWU, which is built mainly around research output and Nobel-Fields citations. For Indian applicants, the takeaway is concrete: graduate hiring brand stays close to QS-tier signals, while research-led PhD seekers should benchmark against the THE and ARWU bands instead.
Key insight: The 40-point gap between QS 2027 (#126) and THE 2026 (#166) shows employers and academics rate Macquarie noticeably higher than research-citation models do, an important read for masters applicants choosing on degree value rather than lab output.
Macquarie University (Sydney, Australia) Rankings: Bottom Line for Indian Students
For an Indian applicant, the most useful Macquarie University ranking for Indian students is not the headline number but the five-year slope and the gap to familiar Indian benchmarks. The table below isolates four signals that change the decision and one Indian comparator row.
| Signal | What the data shows | What it means for Indian applicants |
|---|---|---|
| QS 2023 to 2027 movement | #195 to #126, a 69-place climb | Degree brand has strengthened sharply over a typical 2-year prep cycle, so older alumni-anchored advice may underrate Macquarie today. |
| QS 2027 vs IIT Bombay | Macquarie #126 vs IIT Bombay #134 | Sits 8 places above India’s top engineering institute on the same QS list, useful for cross-stream comparisons. |
| QS vs THE 2026 gap | QS #126 vs THE #166 (40-point gap) | Stronger employer recognition than research-led world rankings suggest, alumni brand stays valuable in hiring. |
| Linguistics QS 2026 | #31 globally, #2 in Australia | Best-in-class option for speech pathology, applied linguistics and humanities applicants from India. |
| U.S. News two-year trend | #192 (2024-25) to #173 (2025-26), 19-place gain | Citation profile is improving, narrowing the gap with research-heavy lists used by U.S.-bound peers. |
Two of the five signals (QS climb and U.S. News gain) point to Macquarie being a rising rather than static brand for Indian masters applicants entering in 2027 intakes. The subject-level Linguistics result is the cleanest "specialist value" signal on this list.
Macquarie University (Sydney, Australia) QS World University Rankings 2027
Macquarie University is ranked #126 globally in QS World University Rankings 2027, its highest-ever placement and the 11th best in Australia. QS, which ranks universities mainly on academic reputation, employer opinion and citations per faculty, has moved Macquarie up 69 positions over the last five editions.
| Year | Macquarie University QS Rank |
|---|---|
| 2027 | #126 |
| 2026 | #138 |
| 2025 | #133 |
| 2024 | #130 |
| 2023 | #195 |
The sharpest single-edition jump came between 2023 and 2024, when Macquarie moved 65 places as QS shifted its methodology to include sustainability and employment outcomes. Since then the rank has held inside the top 140 globally for four straight editions, signalling that the climb is structural rather than a one-year spike. For Indian applicants tracking volatility, a four-edition stability band is a stronger value signal than the headline jump.
Trend signal: Five-year average rank of #144 already places Macquarie inside the global top 150, and the 2027 edition pulls that average down further every year the new rank holds, a tailwind for resume value during a 2027 or 2028 intake.
Read More: Macquarie University (Sydney, Australia) Courses and Fees 2026 for Indian Students
Collegedunia Study Abroad Rankings of Macquarie University (Sydney, Australia)
Macquarie University holds the #121 spot globally on the Collegedunia Study Abroad ranking for 2026, placing it inside the top 15% of the 824 international universities tracked. Within Australia, the same list ranks Macquarie #9.
| Category | Collegedunia Study Abroad Rank 2026 |
|---|---|
| Global | #121 |
| Australia | #9 |
The Collegedunia Study Abroad ranking of Macquarie sits 5 places above its QS rank (#126) and 45 places above its THE rank (#166). That pattern signals Collegedunia weighs Indian-student-relevant factors (visa-success rate, post-study work value, popular masters program depth) heavier than research citations, which moves Macquarie up the list relative to research-led ranking bodies.
India-relevance: The Collegedunia rank tracks within 5 positions of QS, the ranking body most consulted by Indian masters applicants, so applicants using either list will land on a similar shortlist tier.
Macquarie University (Sydney, Australia) Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings
Macquarie is ranked #166 in Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026, climbing 12 places from #178 a year earlier and reaching #9 in Australia. THE, which ranks universities mainly on teaching, research quality and industry income, has moved Macquarie up steadily across the last three editions.
| Year | Macquarie University THE Rank |
|---|---|
| 2026 | #166 |
| 2025 | #178 |
| 2024 | #180 |
| 2023 | #175 |
THE rank has tightened 14 positions from 2024 to 2026, a slower but steadier climb than the QS trajectory. The gap between QS (#126) and THE (#166) is wider than the THE gap to ARWU (#201-300), telling Indian applicants that Macquarie’s reputation-driven scores outpace its research-volume scores, the latter is what THE and ARWU weigh heavier.
What it signals: Across QS and THE combined, Macquarie has moved an average of 10 places per edition over the last three years, a pace that compounds the degree’s hiring value during a two-year masters cycle.
Macquarie University (Sydney, Australia) Other Global Rankings
Beyond QS and THE, two other global lists place Macquarie inside the top 300: U.S. News Best Global Universities and ARWU (Shanghai). Both lean research-heavy, and Macquarie’s positions track that bias.
| Ranking Body | Edition | Macquarie University Rank |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. News Best Global Universities | 2025-2026 | #173 globally, #13 in Australia |
| U.S. News Best Global Universities | 2024-2025 | #192 globally, #14 in Australia |
| ARWU (Shanghai) | 2025 | #201-300 globally |
The U.S. News gain of 19 places in one edition is the second-strongest single-year movement in Macquarie’s portfolio after the 2024 QS jump. ARWU has held Macquarie inside the #201-300 band for five consecutive editions, a stable plateau that confirms research-output rather than reputation is the lower-scoring axis.
Note: The U.S. News rise of 19 places in 12 months matters most for PhD and research-masters applicants from India, who often cross-check U.S. News alongside QS before committing to a Sydney research lab.
Macquarie University (Sydney, Australia) Subject Rankings
Macquarie has 12 subjects ranked inside the global top 100 on QS Subject Rankings 2026, up from 7 a year earlier, and 3 subjects inside the global top 50. The strongest subject ranks are concentrated in humanities and social sciences rather than the engineering and computer science fields that usually anchor Indian masters applications.
Key insight
- Philosophy (QS 2026): #18 globally, the only top-20 subject in Macquarie’s portfolio.
- Linguistics (QS 2026): #31 globally, #2 in Australia, the most India-relevant subject for speech pathology aspirants.
- Psychology (THE 2026): #89 globally, up from #96, the only THE subject inside the global top 100.
- Business and Economics (THE 2026): #101-125 band, with top-10 standing in Australia.
- Education Studies (THE 2026): #101-125 band, sustaining top-100 visibility for the seventh consecutive year.
Macquarie University (Sydney, Australia) Linguistics Ranking
Macquarie ranks #31 in QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 for Linguistics, and #2 in Australia. The subject sits 95 places above the university’s overall QS rank (#126), the widest positive subject-overall gap on the list.
India-relevance: For Indian students applying to Master of Speech and Language Pathology or Master of Applied Linguistics, Macquarie’s Linguistics rank places it tier-1 globally, a value signal headline rankings do not surface.
Macquarie University (Sydney, Australia) Philosophy Ranking
Macquarie ranks #18 globally in QS World Subject Rankings 2026 for Philosophy, the highest single-subject placement in the university’s portfolio. Philosophy is the only subject where Macquarie lands inside the global top 20 in any major list.
Macquarie University (Sydney, Australia) Psychology Ranking
Macquarie ranks #89 globally in Times Higher Education Subject Rankings 2026 for Psychology, up from #96 the previous year, a 7-place gain. The subject sits 77 places above the university’s overall THE rank (#166), confirming Psychology as a deep specialist strength.
Macquarie University (Sydney, Australia) Accounting and Finance Ranking
Macquarie is ranked inside the global top 100 in QS World Subject Rankings 2026 for Accounting and Finance, one of three subjects with that distinction. For Indian MBA and Master of Applied Finance applicants, this is the most directly relevant subject signal on the list.
Macquarie University (Sydney, Australia) Business and Economics Ranking
On THE Subject Rankings 2026, Macquarie’s Business and Economics sits in the #101-125 band globally and inside the top 10 in Australia. The same subject is captured on QS lists where Macquarie’s Accounting and Finance breaks into the global top 100.
Macquarie University (Sydney, Australia) Education Ranking
Education Studies is placed in the #101-125 band of THE Subject Rankings 2026, sustaining a top-100 visible position for the seventh consecutive year. Education is one of Macquarie’s most stable subject ranks, more useful to applicants as a consistency signal than a peak-position signal.
Macquarie University (Sydney, Australia) Rankings: Indian Student Outlook
For Indian masters applicants, Macquarie’s rank profile points to a specific use case: graduate hiring value in Sydney, strong specialist subject value in humanities and social sciences, and a steady upward five-year slope across every major list except ARWU.
Popular programs Indian students choose at Macquarie:
- Master of Business Administration (MBA): Backed by the Accounting and Finance top-100 QS subject placement.
- Master of Data Science / Master of Business Analytics: Routes that draw on the university’s Computer Science subject coverage and Sydney tech recruiting depth.
- Master of Speech and Language Pathology / Master of Applied Linguistics: Anchored by the Linguistics QS rank of #31 globally.
- Master of Education / Master of Teaching: Backed by the seven-year THE Education top-100 standing.
- Master of Cyber Security / Master of Information Technology: Aligned with Macquarie’s IT and computing coverage on THE Subject Rankings.
| Signal | What it tells the Indian applicant |
|---|---|
| QS 2027 rank vs IIT Bombay | Macquarie #126 sits 8 places above IIT Bombay #134, useful for stream-comparison decisions. |
| 5-year QS climb | 69-place gain since 2023 means brand value has been compounding through your prep cycle. |
| Subject specialism | Linguistics #31 and Philosophy #18 carry tier-1 weight in their disciplines. |
| Collegedunia vs QS gap | Just 5 places, so the India-specific list and global list agree on Macquarie’s tier. |
| U.S. News one-year move | #192 to #173 in a single edition, the strongest research-list signal in this profile. |
Key insight
- Trajectory signal: 4 of 4 ranking bodies (QS, THE, U.S. News, Collegedunia) moved Macquarie’s rank up in the latest edition, the cleanest momentum profile among Australian non-Group-of-Eight universities.
- Subject-vs-overall gap: Linguistics ranks 95 places above the overall QS rank and Psychology 77 places above the THE rank, so specialist applicants get materially better value than the headline rank suggests.
- Peer-tier signal: On QS 2027, Macquarie #126 sits between IIT Delhi #118 and IIT Bombay #134, a familiar comparator band for Indian applicants.
- India-list agreement: The 5-place gap between Collegedunia (#121) and QS (#126) confirms both lists shortlist Macquarie at the same tier.
Across the latest editions of QS, THE, ARWU and U.S. News, Macquarie sits in the global #126 to #300 band, with the tightest cluster around the top 130 on the two India-most-used lists, QS and Collegedunia Study Abroad. The five-year picture is the more decision-relevant view: a 69-place QS climb since 2023, a 14-place THE gain since 2024, and a 19-place U.S. News rise in a single edition. For Indian masters applicants in Linguistics, Speech Pathology, Psychology, Philosophy or Accounting and Finance, the subject-level numbers are a stronger value signal than the overall rank.
Read More: Macquarie University (Sydney, Australia) Scholarships 2026 for Indian Students
Macquarie University (Sydney, Australia) Ranking FAQs
Ques. What is the QS ranking of Macquarie University in 2027?
Ans. Macquarie University is ranked #126 in QS World University Rankings 2027, its highest position to date. It is also placed #11 in Australia on the same list, having climbed 12 spots from #138 in QS 2026.
Ques. How has the Macquarie University ranking moved over the last five years?
Ans. Macquarie’s QS rank has gone from #195 in 2023 to #126 in 2027, a 69-place climb. On THE, it has improved from #180 in 2024 to #166 in 2026, and on U.S. News from #192 (2024-25) to #173 (2025-26).
Ques. What is Macquarie University’s THE ranking in 2026?
Ans. Macquarie is ranked #166 in Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026 and #9 in Australia. The rank has tightened 12 places from #178 in THE 2025.
Ques. Which subjects is Macquarie University ranked highest in?
Ans. Macquarie’s strongest subject ranks are Philosophy at #18 globally (QS 2026), Linguistics at #31 globally and #2 in Australia (QS 2026), and Psychology at #89 globally (THE 2026). It also holds top-100 QS placements in Accounting and Finance, with 12 subjects in the global top 100.
Ques. How does the Macquarie University ranking compare with IITs in QS World Rankings 2027?
Ans. On QS 2027, Macquarie’s rank of #126 sits 8 places above IIT Bombay (#134) and 8 places below IIT Delhi (#118). The university lands between the two top Indian engineering institutes on the same global list.
Ques. What is the Collegedunia Study Abroad ranking of Macquarie University?
Ans. Macquarie University is ranked #121 globally and #9 in Australia on the Collegedunia Study Abroad ranking 2026. The position is 5 places above its QS World rank and 45 places above its THE World rank, reflecting India-applicant-weighted criteria.
Ques. Is Macquarie University in the global top 200?
Ans. Yes. Macquarie is inside the global top 200 on every major list except ARWU. Current positions are #126 (QS 2027), #166 (THE 2026), #173 (U.S. News 2025-2026), and #121 (Collegedunia Study Abroad 2026).
1546425900.png?h=40&w=60&mode=stretch)
.png?h=32&w=32&mode=stretch){kind=logo}
Comments