Top Universities in Sydney in 2026 : Ranking, Course, Fees

Sydney is one of the largest cities in Australia and is also home to some of the world's top-ranked universities. Check out everything about universities in Sydney and why international students should study there. 

In this article, we’ll discuss the best universities in Sydney and some top Australian colleges. Apart from this, some of the top universities in Australia also have a base in Sydney. Both the University of Sydney and the University of New South Wales Australia are among the five universities that are included in the QS World University rankings and have their base in Sydney. Sydney also features within the top 10 livable cities by The Economist and Mercer. Considered Australia’s financial hub, Sydney is home to people from 180 different nationalities.

Studying at top universities in Sydney can be beneficial in the long run. Out of the seven prominent ones, three of them are the renowned Level 1 universities in Australia. Universities in Sydney are known for academic excellence and high end research opportunities followed by hands on experience and full time jobs in Australia.

Read on about studying options in Sydney for international students.

List of Top Universities in Sydney for International Students

Here is the list of top universities in Sydney that international students can consider to apply for admissions:

1. Macquarie University
2. University of New South Wales
3. University of Sydney
4. The University of Technology Sydney
5. Western Sydney University
6. Australian Catholic University
7. Charles Darwin University

All of the above-mentioned universities in Sydney are popular and offer admission to international students. Admission to universities in Sydney is open for the February intake (primary intake of Australia) and also for the July intake (secondary intake of Australia). Some universities offer admissions for a few courses in the November intake. 

Top 5 Ranking Universities in Sydney 2026

Check out some of the top universities in Sydney, which have made it to the global rankings as per QS - 2026 rankings in the table below:

The following Sydney University list has been given based on popularity and global rankings in Australia:

Best Universities in Sydney for International Students 2026

The following Sydney University list has been given based on popularity and global rankings in Australia:

1. Macquarie University

One of the best universities in Sydney is Macquarie University. For the past five years, it has been ranked among the top 10 universities in Australia. Additionally, Macquarie University was awarded five stars as per the QS Stars rating system for its excellent performance in research, graduate employability, teaching, and other facilities. Macquarie University awards over 10,000 degrees annually. It is home to over 44,000 students and approximately 3,000 staff members. 

Highlights of Macquarie University

• It awards scholarships of around $2.5 million to students. The majority of this amount is given to those who need financial assistance and to students with other hardships.
• It is the first university in Australia to owns and operates a private medical facility.
• It is the only university in Australia with a metro station. 

Top Courses at Macquarie University

A few popular courses at Macquarie University are given below:

• Marketing
• Applied Finance
• Business Analytics
• Health & Human Science
• STEM education courses

2. University of New South Wales

It is one of the topmost universities in the world. It is ranked #20 by QS World University Rankings 2026. Corporate leaders highly respect the university because of its excellence in education. The University of New South Wales has four campuses across Australia and seven faculties with 47 schools providing a world-class education. 

Highlights of the University of New South Wales 

• Its engineering faculty is considered one of the best not only in the country but across the globe.
• The majority of Australia’s top 100 companies’ CEOs pursued their studies here.
• International students get insights about the corporate world through the Professional Development Program.  
• It is home to more than 63,000 students from over 132 countries. 

Top Courses at UNSW

Some of the top courses at UNSW are as follows:

• MBA
• Master of Information Technology
• Master of International Business
• Master of Engineering-Civil Engineering
• BSc in CS

3. University of Sydney

Established in 1850, The University of Sydney is Australia’s first university. It is also among the elite Go8 universities in Australia. The University of Sydney is ranked first in Medicine, Arts and Humanities, Master of Management, Oncology, and Nursing in various world university rankings. In addition to this, the University of Sydney ranked first in Australia and fourth across the world in terms of graduate employability by THE Graduate Employability Rankings 2025. The University of Sydney is ranked in the top 70 for four of the most credible and influential world university rankings. Thus, it makes it one of the leading universities in Sydney.

Highlights of the University of Sydney

• University of Sydney or USyd enrols 70,000 students annually across its 10 different departments of study.
• Students who pass out from USyd become a part of the 445,000+ alumni base.
• Since University of Sydney is a leading research centre, it offers valuable courses and opportunities to students across its 150+ centres of research. 

Top courses at the University of Sydney

Some of the top courses offered at University of Sydney are as follows:

• Humanities, social sciences
• Creative arts
• Business, management
• Veterinary science
• Science

4. The University of Technology Sydney

Located in Sydney’s central business district, The University of Technology Sydney is considered one of the best universities in Sydney for pursuing technology courses. UTS’s high reputation among the business community and industry allows it to offer excellent career opportunities to students. It is the first university in Australia to feature in the top 100 universities under 50 years of age by the Times Higher Education. There are more than 44,000 students at the University of Technology Sydney; thus, it can be said to be one of the largest universities in Australia. The university has three campuses. 

Highlights of UTS

• UTS is the youngest university in the world - 50 under 50 and also the youngest one in operation in Australia.
• University of Technology Sydney enrolls around 20,000 international students annually on average.
• The placement rate at UTS almost surpasses 80% mark annually. 

Top courses at the University of Technology Sydney

Some of the leading courses at UTS are as follows:

• Business, management
• Law
• Nursing
• Communications
• Computer science

5. Western Sydney University 

Courses offered WSU are designed keeping trends in mind to meet the industry's growing demands. The university also offers various external and university-based financial aid to international students to assist them financially. QILT Australia Ranking has rated Western Sydney University at the top in terms of employer satisfaction, which is why it is one of the key universities in Sydney. Also, Western Sydney University's ranking in Australia is #21 as per Shiksha Popularity Ranking. 

Highlights of Western Sydney University

• Western Sydney University ranks among the top 2% of universities worldwide in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024, demonstrating a strong commitment to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.
• Western Sydney University boasts of a diverse student body with over 43,000 students from various backgrounds.
• Also, high graduate employability rates with strong industry partnerships and a focus on practical skills development have been key factors at Western Sydney University.

Courses offered by Western Sydney Australia

Check out some of courses offered at Western Sydney University below:

• Law
• Tourism, sports management
• Nursing
• Architecture, building
• Education

This was all about the best universities in Sydney that are globally ranked and are popular among international students. 

Other Popular Universities in Sydney

Apart from the top rankers - best universities in Sydney, there are also two key universities which can be considered for studying. Check out the details below:

1. Australian Catholic University

ACU is a public university having campuses in Australian cities of Canberra, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Sydney. The quality of teaching at Australian Catholic University is best among others in Sydney. ACU is one of the youngest universities and has been ranked #82nd for the same globally by THE 2024. After one year of study transferring from one campus to another option is available.

Best courses offered by the Australian Catholic University:

Some of the best courses at ACU are as follows: 

• Nursing
• Social work
• Education
• Physio, occupational therapy

2. Charles Darwin University

The excellent student-to-teacher ratio explains its focus on the quality of teaching and learning. Charles Darwin University is a research-intensive university offering Accounting and Business courses. Also, An excellent graduate employment rate and great part-time work opportunities make it one of the top universities in Sydney.

Top Courses at Charles Darwin University

Check out some of the popular courses offered at Charles Darwin University in the section below:

• Engineering
• Law
• Community Services and Social Work
• Creative and Performing Arts
• Languages and Linguistics

Types of Universities in Sydney

There are two types of universities in Sydney that is, private and public. The list of public and private universities in Sydney are as follows:

Most of these universities in Sydney are well known public universities of Australia. Despite fewer student accommodations in Sydney on campus, only a handful of universities in Sydney offer on-campus student accommodation like USyd, UNSW and Macquarie University.

Why Study at Best Universities in Sydney?

There are numerous reasons why international students should consider studying at some of the best universities in Sydney. Some of the key reasons are as follows:

1. Sydney is home to some of the globally ranking universities, offering degrees that are accepted worldwide.
2. There is a wide range of courses on offer for international students, around 2,000+ offered at all levels of study - Diploma, UG, PG and Doctoral.
3. Students who do not want to go for a longer durational course can consider pursuing short courses in Australia across its Sydney universities. 
4. A plethora of scholarships are available for students and international students at universities in Sydney, which is also an added advantage.
5. Also, Sydney is one of the Best Student Cities as per QS rankings 2026. It ranks at #6 globally, which means it admits a big international pool of students and has high employer activity.
6. Studies can be expensive in Sydney's best universities. However, there are fully funded scholarships in Australia also offered by some of the top universities in Sydney.
7. Finally, students who graduate from various universities in Sydney land with high-paying jobs in Australia or in other countries, since the ROI is really high. 

Whether applicants are looking for an institution with research or one focusing on practical skill development, universities in Sydney have it all. Further still, Sydney is a lovely place to study and live because of its high quality of life, cosmopolitan population, and temperate climate. 

Want to study at any of the Sydney universities? Get in touch with our counsellors by signing up here - https://studyabroad.shiksha.com/apply for admission-related help.