Adelaide University has confirmed its position amongst the world’s top universities, with the release of the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026.
A total of 22 subjects were rated in the global top 100, a remarkable result in the first year of the institution.
“These rankings confirm Adelaide University’s position as one of the top universities in the world,” said Professor Nicola Phillips, Vice Chancellor and President of Adelaide University.
To produce this year’s rankings, QS analysed more than 6200 institutions around the world; almost 2000 were then ranked across 55 specific subjects and five broad subject areas.
Subjects were scrutinised against a set of variably weighted indicators – academic reputation, employer reputation, citations per paper, H-Index (a means to quantify scholarly output) and International Research Network (an assessment of an institution’s global research partnerships).
“Adelaide University is committed to the highest standards of national and international excellence across both research and education, and we have a real focus on continuing to increase our global standing in the future,” said Professor Phillips.
Adelaide University reached the top 100 in the broad subject areas of Arts and Humanities, Engineering and Technology, Life Sciences and Medicine, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences and Management.
The following subjects at Adelaide University were ranked within the top 100:
| Subject | QS world ranking |
| Mineral and Mining Engineering | 18 |
| Petroleum Engineering | 25 |
| Dentistry | 49 |
| Nursing | =50 |
| Education | =63 |
| Law | =63 |
| Environmental Sciences | =71 |
| Agriculture and Forestry | =71 |
| Computer Science and Information Systems | =73 |
| Chemistry | =78 |
| Chemical Engineering | 80 |
| Accounting and Finance | =85 |
| Pharmacy and Pharmacology | 99 |
| Architecture/Built Environment | 51-100 |
| Civil and Structural Engineering | 51-100 |
| Data Science and Artificial Intelligence | 51-100 |
| Earth and Marine Sciences | 51-100 |
| Geology | 51-100 |
| Geophysics | 51-100 |
| Philosophy | 51-100 |
| Sports-related subjects | 51-100 |
| Veterinary Science | 51-100 |
Another 21 subjects at the University were ranked in the top 200, including Materials Science which came in at 101.
“Adelaide University is a noted leader in research, and to have 22 subjects included in the top 100 in the latest global rankings reinforces that our institution is a magnet for talented researchers and students alike,” said Professor Joanne Cys, Adelaide University Provost and Deputy Vice Chancellor.
“These results are a testament to the endeavour of our academic community, from graduate research students to experienced professors who work across an array of disciplines.
“They help to reinforce the University’s commitment to delivering research outcomes of excellence and impact, with a keen focus on addressing national and global challenges.”