Monash University is a prestigious Group of Eight (Go8) public research university located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, with a student population of approximately 85,000 students across the different campuses and international programs. It is highly renowned for courses in Medicine, Pharmacy, Engineering, Business, Law, and Arts & Social Sciences. Monash emphasizes research excellence, international partnerships, and graduate employability. The admissions are very competitive, and the graduate rate is around 40%. Graduates are paid median amounts of around AUD 80,000–85,000 a couple of years post-graduation. Another high-ranking Go8 public research university, University of Queensland (UQ), is located in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, and has around 60,000 students.
UQ is world-famous for its excellence in Engineering, Medicine, Science, Business, and Life Sciences, consistently ranked in the top 50 universities worldwide. Admission is competitive, with a graduation rate of approximately 40%, and the graduates have indicated median salaries in the range of AUD 82,000–88,000. UQ is renowned for its research, innovation, and cooperative industry links, particularly in fields of STEM.
| Monash University | The University of Queensland | |
|---|---|---|
| Collegedunia Score | 5.9 Out of 10 | 6.3 Out of 10 |
| ranking (overall) | # 36 QS World University 2026 # 58 Times Higher Education 2026 # 37 QS World University 2025 | # 42 QS World University 2026 # 80 Times Higher Education 2026 # 40 QS World University 2025 |
| Subject Strength | # 59 for Engineering by Times Higher Education 2025 # 40 for Data Science and Analytics by QS World University 2025 # 47 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 | # 68 for Engineering by Times Higher Education 2025 # 75 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 # 61 for Law by QS World University 2025 |
| Programs | UG Programs -124 PG Programs -90 Doctorate Programs -15 | UG Programs -85 PG Programs -76 Doctorate Programs -1 |
| Acceptance Rate | 40.0 % | 40.0 % |
| Exam Score | IELTS-6.5 PTE-58 TOEFL-79 | IELTS-6.5 PTE-64 TOEFL-87 |
| Cost to Study | Average Tuition Fees 32660 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 22494 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 73440 Per Year | Average Tuition Fees 34960 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 45120 [For PG Program] |
| placement (average package) | Graduate Employability rankings: #66, | Graduate Employability Rankings #57; Top recruiters- Aecom Corporation; RACQ; GREENCROSS; News Corp, etc.; Highest paid degrees- MBA (201,000 USD); LLM (175,000 USD); Masters in Science (91,000 USD); Masters of Arts (87,000 USD); Masters in Management (80,000 USD). |
| application requirements | Minimum age of applicant- 17, course codes and names are mandatory while applying | Fulfill General Entry Requirements |
| CollegeDunia Reviews | 7.3/10 Read 45 reviews | 8.0/10 Read 25 reviews |
Top Courses Comparison
| ranking | # 67 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 # 77 for Business by QS World University 2025 | # 99 for Business by QS World University 2026 # 65 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 |
| application | # 40 % Acceptance Rate | - |
| exam scores | IELTS - 6.5/9PTE - 58/90TOEFL - 79/120 | IELTS - 6.5/9PTE - 64/90TOEFL - 87/120 |
| cost to study | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -115040 | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -84648 |
| documents required | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose |
| application | - | - |
| exam scores | IELTS - 6.5/9PTE - 58/90TOEFL - 79/120 | IELTS - 6.5/9PTE - 64/90TOEFL - 87/120 |
| documents required | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose |
| ranking | # 24 for Nursing by QS World University 2025 | # 45 for Nursing by QS World University 2025 |
| exam scores | IELTS - 7.0/9PTE - 66/90TOEFL - 98/120 | IELTS - 7/9PTE - 72/90TOEFL - 100/120 |
Other Popular Comparisons
| General Facts | Monash University | The University of Queensland |
|---|---|---|
| Type of University | University | University |
| Established | 1958 | 1909 |
| Student:Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | :1 |
| Male:Female | 53% Male, 46% Female | 46% Male, 0% Female |
| Location Facts | Located in the suburbs of Clayton, the main and largest campus is surrounded by scientific research facilities like CSIRO, and Australian Synchrotron, a variety of student bars, retail outlets, and restaurants surround the campus. | Located in Brisbane with three campuses. The main campus of the suburbs of St Lucia is bordered by a meander in Brisbane river to east, south, and north. |
| Library | Total 4.7 million items, | 2.17 million book titles, |
| Campus Life | Over 70 food vendors across the campus, | 100+ research centers, 220 clubs, and society, on-campus 6-museums, music festivals, parties, film screenings, etc. |
| Hostel | #Rooms(Shared rentals) - $13200 #Rooms(Homestay) - $13200 #Rooms(On campus) - $15840 #Rooms(Rental) - $24000 | - |
| Famous Alumni | David Williamson (Playwrite) Nick Cave (musician), Peter Carey (Brooker winner novelist), Boediono (former vice president-Indonesia), Robert Doyle (former lord mayor of Melbourne), Peter Costello (former member of Australian house of representatives), Annika Smethurst (journalist) | Drew Pavlou (Australian Activist), Peter Varghese (Chancellor of UQ), Kim Wilkins (Writer), Di Farmer (Politician), Jon Coghill (Australian Drummer), Elton Mayo (Psychologist), Jack Thompson (actor). |
| City Life | Cheap student shopping, | Weekend getaways to rainforest, waterfalls, beaches and islands, a cultural hub of art galleries and museums, sunshine weather (lack of winters), One of the top-paying cities, the unemployment rate of Queensland is 6.8% |
| Weather |
Monash University vs The University of Queensland (UQ)
Subject Strength & Global Rankings (2025/2026)
Monash University: Ranked around 36 in the world by QS World University Rankings 2026, Monash ranks highest for Pharmacy & Pharmacology, Medicine, Engineering, Life Sciences, and Business & Management. It is strongest in research work for health sciences, chemical engineering, and environmental studies.
University of Queensland (UQ): Ranked consistently in the 42 bracket internationally, UQ ranks first in Biological Sciences, Life Sciences & Medicine, Engineering, Environmental Science, and Social Sciences. UQ is known for research output, innovation, and international collaboration, and is only marginally ahead of Monash for general subject reputation most of the time.
General Information
Monash University, Melbourne, is a large multi-campus university with a strong international outlook and a student enrollment over 80,000. UQ, Brisbane, is an intensive research university with a flagship campus in St Lucia and a smaller student population (~55,000), blending good undergraduate studies with high-impact research.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
The admissions at both institutions are fairly competitive, with the entry requirements differing from course to course. Monash places a wider international recruitment emphasis, whereas UQ places high value on scholarly achievement and potential for research, especially for sciences and engineering courses.
Research Impact & Facilities
Monash has large-scale research institutes, medical facilities, and laboratories, especially in the areas of health sciences, chemical and materials engineering, and pharmacology. UQ features premier research infrastructure, including the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, and continuously high research output in all fields.
Cost & Financial Aid
Both are public Australian universities, having identical fees for domestic students and international students pay more. Both provide scholarships and financial aid, with Monash placing greater focus on international student support and UQ offering merit-based and research scholarships.
Career Outcomes & Alumni Success
Monash alumni are known for business, engineering, and health-oriented professional careers, with a strong international network of alumni. UQ alumni have high-quality research experience, professional networks, and employability in science, engineering, business, and public policy, and also gain leadership positions in Australia and overseas.
