| Updated On - Sep 11, 2025
Monash University is a Melbourne, Victoria, Australia-based public research university that is situated in the suburb of Clayton. It's a large university with around 46,000 undergraduate students. Admissions is fairly competitive with an acceptance rate of around 40%. Some of the most popular majors are Business, Engineering, Medicine, Social Sciences, and Arts. The graduation rate after six years is around 85%, and Monash graduates have a median starting salary of around INR 51,84,000 (converted from $62,600 median earnings a decade after graduation).
The University of Sydney is a public university of research in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, situated in the Camperdown and Darlington suburbs. It is a large university with about 33,961 undergraduate students. Admissions is somewhat competitive with an acceptance rate of around 30%. Popular courses are Medicine, Business, Engineering, Arts, and Law. The six-year graduation rate is around 87%, and Sydney graduates have a median starting salary of around INR 55,97,000 (converted from $67,600 median earnings ten years after graduation).
| The University of Sydney | Monash University | |
|---|---|---|
| Collegedunia Score | 6.3 Out of 10 | 5.9 Out of 10 |
| ranking (overall) | # 25 QS World University 2026 # 18 QS World University 2025 # 61 Times Higher Education 2025 | # 36 QS World University 2026 # 37 QS World University 2025 # 58 Times Higher Education 2025 |
| Subject Strength | # 60 for Engineering by QS World University 2025 # 51 for Data Science and Analytics by QS World University 2025 # 27 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 | # 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 |
| Programs | UG Programs -102 PG Programs -176 Doctorate Programs -10 | UG Programs -124 PG Programs -90 Doctorate Programs -15 |
| Acceptance Rate | 30.0 % | 40.0 % |
| Exam Score | IELTS-6.5 PTE-57 TOEFL-85 | GRE-306 IELTS-6.5 PTE-58 TOEFL-79 |
| Cost to Study | Average Tuition Fees 37960 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 38325 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 30330 Per Year | Average Tuition Fees 32660 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 22494 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 80270 Per Year |
| placement (average package) | Graduate employability ranking: #4 | Graduate Employability rankings: #66, |
| application requirements | Mathematics must be studied as part of curriculum previously. | Minimum age of applicant- 17, course codes and names are mandatory while applying |
| Campuses and B-Schools | The University of Sydney Business School | Monash University Malaysia |
| CollegeDunia Reviews | 7.0/10 Read 20 reviews | 7.3/10 Read 45 reviews |
Top Courses Comparison
| ranking | # 56 for Business by QS World University 2025 # 71 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 | # 67 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 # 77 for Business by QS World University 2025 |
| exam scores | GMAT - 600/800IELTS - 7/9PTE - 68/90TOEFL - 96/120 | IELTS - 6.5/9PTE - 58/90TOEFL - 79/120 |
| documents required | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose |
Other Popular Comparisons
| General Facts | The University of Sydney | Monash University |
|---|---|---|
| Type of University | University | University |
| Established | 1850 | 1958 |
| Student:Faculty Ratio | 19:1 | 18:1 |
| Male:Female | 57% Male, 43% Female | 57% Male, 43% Female |
| Location Facts | One of the oldest, Located in southern eastern state. | 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. |
| Library | Digital collection: 5698, | Total 4.7 million items, |
| Campus Life | 250 clubs and societies, Pulp: online student publication, SURG: student radio station, Honi Soit: only weekly student publication in Australia, Mardi gras, pop and international fests, Sydney ideas are some of the popular events, social competitions, pilates classes and athletic training at SUSF | Over 70 food vendors across the campus, |
| Hostel | #Rent and Board - $20298 | #Rooms(On campus) - $11812 #Rooms(Homestay) - $14735 #Rooms(Boarding schools) - $16495 #Rooms(Rental) - $17152 #Rooms(Hostels and guesthouses) - $5847 #Rooms(Shared rentals) - $8381 |
| Famous Alumni | Edmund Barton (First PM of Australia), Michael Kirby (justices of the high court of Australia, Juan Sutherland (musician), Gough Whitlam (Former PM-Australia), John Howard (former PM), William McMahon (former PM) | 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) |
| City Life | Unemployment rate of Sydney is low as 2.8%, | Cheap student shopping, |
| Weather |
Monash University vs University of Sydney
Subject Strength & Global Rankings (2025/2026)
Both Monash and the University of Sydney are Australia's best universities, and Sydney tends to rank higher internationally. Sydney is 25th in the world and Monash is 36th in QS World University Rankings 2026. Sydney is ranked 61st and Monash is ranked 58th by Times Higher Education 2025, making them among the top Australian institutions. Sydney leads in Medicine (25th in QS 2023), Law (54th in THE 2023), and Arts & Humanities (15th in QS 2025), whereas Monash performs well in Engineering (44th in THE 2023), Medicine (33rd in QS 2023), and Pharmacy, frequently featuring in the worldwide top 50.
General Information
Sydney, founded in 1850, is older and a bit smaller than Monash, with an enrollment of 51,394 versus Monash's 62,998. Sydney's urban campus close to the central business district provides a lively academic community with 98 undergraduate and 178 graduate programs. Monash, founded in 1958, is Australia's largest university, with its sprawling Clayton campus surrounded by research institutions such as CSIRO. It provides 119 undergraduate and 91 graduate programs, including more than 140 double-degree choices.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Admission to both universities is competitively moderate, with Monash having an acceptance rate of 40% and that of Sydney being 30%. Sydney accepts an IELTS of 6.5, TOEFL of 80, or PTE of 57, whereas Monash accepts comparable scores (IELTS 6.5, TOEFL 79, PTE 58). Sydney focuses more on mathematics in its curriculum and can demand personal statements or portfolios for particular programs. Monash admissions are simple, with the need for course codes and the minimum applicant age being 17. Both draw substantial international student numbers (Monash 35%, Sydney 23%).
Research Impact & Facilities
Both the universities belong to the Group of Eight, which suggests considerable research emphasis. Sydney's research facilities include extensive professional schools, a large library collection of 5.2 million volumes, and affiliations with 286 institutions internationally. Monash, with 7,720 academic staff, excels in research output (95 in THE Research Quality 2025) and has specializations in Engineering, Medicine, and Social Sciences, backed by such facilities as the Australian Synchrotron. Sydney's research environment is marginally better (67.7 compared to Monash's 65.6 in THE 2025), but Monash's bigger staff and student population make its volume of research greater.
Cost & Financial Aid
Monash's undergraduate tuition is $32,660 on average, with postgraduate at $52,400, and living expenses at $80,270 per year. Sydney's is slightly elevated at $37,960 for undergraduate and $38,325 for postgraduate, with living expenses at $30,330. Both provide need-based and merit-based aid, with Monash offering $27,105 per student per year to Sydney's $2,239. Both institutions provide support for international students but with Monash's larger amount of funding available, it is easier for aid to be accessed.
Career Outcomes & Alumni Success
Sydney’s graduate employability ranking is exceptional (4th globally in QS), with MBA graduates earning $100,000 and law graduates among the highest paid. Monash ranks 66th in employability, with MBA graduates earning $120,000 and strong outcomes in insurance and management ($100,000 for Masters in Management). Sydney’s urban location and alumni network, including figures like Malcolm Turnbull, enhance opportunities in business, law, and medicine. Monash graduates excel in Engineering, Medicine, and international industries, drawing on its close industry links in Melbourne's research precinct.
