Top Engineering Schools in Australia

The recent QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023 covers the best universities for 54 different subjects, including 533 top engineering and technology schools around the world, with 19 of these located in Australia.  

The ranking covers five different branches of engineering – chemical, civil and structural, electrical, mechanical, and mineral and mining.  

The rankings are compiled using five indicators: academic reputation, employer reputation, research citations per paper, international research network and h-index citations (a way of measuring the productivity and impact of published work). You can find out more about the methodology used here.  

Top 10 universities for engineering and technology in Australia    Based on the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023
Australia ranking	World ranking	Institution	Location
1	49	The University of New South Wales (UNSW)	Sydney
2	50	The University of Melbourne	Melbourne
3	70	Monash University	Melbourne
=4	80	Australian National University (ANU)	Canberra
=4	80	The University of Sydney	Sydney
6	100	The University of Queensland (UQ)	Brisbane
7	133	University of Technology Sydney (UTS)	Sydney
8	141	The University of Adelaide	Adelaide
9	163	RMIT University	Melbourne
10	173	The University of Western Australia	Perth

In the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023: Engineering & Technology, the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Sydney stands at the top as the university with the best engineering course in Australia, placing 49th globally. UNSW scores particularly well in the research citations per paper indicator.  

The indicator in which most of these Australian universities perform well is the research citations per paper indicator. Out of the total of 19, 15 entrants have secured ranks within the global top 100 for this indicator with the University of Adelaide being placed at the top, ranked seventh globally, having risen three places from last year’s ranking. 

See the full engineering and technology subject rankings here.  

Top universities for chemical engineering  

Top five universities for chemical engineering in Australia   Based on the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023
Australia ranking	World ranking	Institution	Location
1	38	Monash University	Melbourne
2	50	The University of Queensland (UQ)	Brisbane
3	51	The University of Melbourne	Melbourne
4	54	The University of New South Wales (UNSW)	Sydney
5	83	The University of Sydney	Sydney

Of the 420 schools featured in the chemical engineering rankings this year, there are 13 Australian universities ranked, including two in the world top 50.  

Monash University maintains its top position in Australia for its chemical engineering course for another year, despite falling four positions in the ranking this year. However, the university’s performance in H-index citations has been notably improved and the university’s highest score achieved is for research citations per paper.  

A notable movement in this year’s ranking is the University of Queensland moving from being ranked third in Australia for chemical engineering to being ranked second in the region. The global ranking of the university has also improved by two spots, placing it within the global top 50 in the world.  

View the full chemical engineering rankings here.  

Top universities for civil and structural engineering  

Top five universities for civil and structural engineering in Australia    Based on the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023
Australia ranking	World ranking	Institution	Location
1	16	The University of New South Wales (UNSW)	Sydney
2	20	The University of Sydney	Sydney
3	22	The University of Melbourne	Melbourne
4	31	Monash University	Melbourne
=5	45	The University of Auckland	Auckland
=5	45	The University of Queensland (UQ)	Brisbane

There are 230 universities globally offering civil and structural engineering programmes and Australia is home to 16 universities among them.   

The best civil and structural engineering course in Australia is offered at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), ranked 16th globally this year. UNSW earns the highest score for research citations per paper indicator, depicting its strong impact and influence in academic publications.  

There are six Australian universities in the world top 50. The University of Auckland shares fifth place in Australia and 45th place globally with the University of Queensland. A majority of the universities perform well for the research citations per paper indicator for which the University of Queensland is ranked first in Australia and 10th in the world. 

See the full civil and structural engineering rankings here.   

Top universities for electrical engineering  

Top five universities for electrical engineering in Australia    Based on the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023
Australia ranking	World ranking	Institution	Location
1	41	The University of New South Wales (UNSW)	Sydney
2	45	The University of Melbourne	Melbourne
3	58	Australian National University (ANU)	Canberra
4	64	The University of Sydney	Sydney
5	77	Monash University	Melbourne

The best of Australia’s 19 universities offering electrical engineering courses is the University of New South Wales, which is ranked 41st in the world.  The university scores excellently for research citations per paper and H-index citations and is ranked seventh globally for H-index citations.  

Only two Australian universities make it to the global top 50 in 2023, with the University of Melbourne slipping five places from last year. However, in the research citations per paper indicator, where many universities excel, the University of Adelaide stands out securing fourth position globally. 

See the full electrical engineering ranking here.  

Top universities for mechanical, aeronautical and manufacturing engineering  

Top five universities for mechanical, aeronautical and manufacturing engineering in Australia   Based on the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023
Australia ranking	World ranking	Institution	Location
1	49	The University of New South Wales (UNSW)	Sydney
2=	59	Monash University	Melbourne
2=	59	The University of Melbourne	Melbourne
4	84	The University of Sydney	Sydney
5	113	The University of Queensland	Brisbane

Of the 520 universities offering mechanical, aeronautical and manufacturing engineering courses in the world this year, only 19 Australian universities are featured. UNSW maintain its top spot in Australia for another consecutive year while also climbing one spot in the global rankings to 49th.  

Monash University, which was previously ranked third in Australia, is placed second this year alongside the University of Melbourne. Both these universities have scored similarly across all indicators, and the highest score achieved by both universities is for the research citations per paper.  

See the full mechanical, aeronautical and manufacturing engineering rankings here.  

Top universities for mineral and mining engineering  

Top five universities for mineral and mining engineering in Australia   Based on the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023
Australia ranking	World ranking	Institution	Location
1	2	Curtin University	Perth
3	5	The University of Queensland (UQ)	Brisbane
2	4	The University of New South Wales (UNSW)	Sydney
4	7	The University of Western Australia (UWA)	Perth
5	19	The University of Adelaide	Melbourne

In 2023, Australia boasts an impressive presence in the rankings with 11 of the world's best universities offering mineral and mining engineering courses, all of which have secured spots in the global top 50. This marks an improvement from the previous year when one of the 11 entrants was ranked in the 51-60 range. 

Curtin University leads the list, securing the second spot globally for mineral and mining engineering, and achieving the highest score for the H-index citations indicator. All these universities excel in employer reputation and research citations per paper indicators, maintaining positions within the global top 50. University of New South Wales is ranked third globally leading the employer reputation indicator and Monash University is ranked second globally topping the list for research citations per paper. 

FAQ 

Are engineers in demand in Australia?  

Yes, engineers are currently in high demand in Australia. According to the statistic reports by Engineer Australia, the country is facing a skills shortage, particularly for experienced engineers, as reflected in a decade-high number of employment vacancies.  

The demand is being fuelled by various factors, including substantial investments in public infrastructure, a resurgence of demand for minerals, and a global shift towards clean energy and climate change adaptation. 

Which type of engineer has the highest demand in Australia? 

In Australia, there is a demand for various types of engineers, but currently, electrical engineers, civil engineers, and software engineers are among the most in-demand professions. However, these trends can change across regions and over time. It's advisable to monitor industry trends from reputable sources for the most up-to-date information on the current demand for engineers in Australia. 

How much do engineers earn in Australia? 

The salary for engineers in Australia varies based on factors such as experience, location, and specialisation. On average, an engineer’s salary in Australia is around $112,358 per year, with entry-level engineer salaries starting at $92,570 per year and experienced workers earning up to $155,308 per year. 

Specialised roles or managerial positions can command higher salaries. However, it's advisable to check industry trends and relevant job postings for the most accurate, specific and up to date information. 

What is the PTE score for engineers in Australia? 

Engineers Australia typically requires a minimum score of 50 in each of the four modules of the Pearson PTE Academic test for skills assessment purposes. However, requirements can change, and it's crucial to check the official Engineers Australia website or contact them directly for the most up-to-date information on PTE score requirements.  

Additionally, immigration and assessment criteria may be subject to changes, so it's advisable to verify the current requirements before making an informed decision.