Reputation and rankings

RMIT is a dual sector university with a strong international reputation for excellence in education, applied research, and engagement with government, industry and communities.

We offer some of the best courses in the world, with several programs recognised in the Top 50 globally. Making a positive contribution to the communities we serve is at the heart of who we are and what we do at RMIT. We are proud to be recognised on the world-stage and in Australia as a leading institution in environmental, economic and social impact.

Reputation

QS World University Rankings 2025

=123 globally
10 in Australia

Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025

251-300 globally
=14 in Australia

An exterior photo of RMIT's buildings.

Impact

Hands in gardening gloves making heart symbol

QS Sustainability Rankings 2024

=62 globally overall
47 globally social impact
=23 globally governance impact

Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024

5 overall globally
1 Reduced inequalities
5 Decent work and economic growth
11 Partnership for the goals

Subjects – Top 50 globally

QS Subject Rankings 2024

18 Art & Design
18 Architecture/Built Environment
45 Communications & Media Studies

Academic Ranking of World Universities (ShanghaiRanking) 2023

34 Textile Science & Engineering
38 Aerospace Engineering
39 Civil Engineering
46 Business Administration

RMIT international students walking and talking on Swanston St
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Key statistics

At RMIT, teaching, research, and engagement are central to making an impact and creating life-changing experiences for our students.

Global university rankings – how we perform

There are many global ranking systems, but the most influential for prospective students, researchers, industry and government are QS World University Rankings, Times Higher Education World University Rankings and the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) - ShanghaiRankings. RMIT continues to perform strongly in these rankings systems each year. 

QS World University Rankings

QS World University Rankings ranks over 1,500 institutions and is the only ranking system to emphasise employability and sustainability. It uses objective research data and survey information from governments, academics and employers globally.

QS releases three rankings each year:

  • Overall: ranks universities across 9 measures (academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty student, citations per faculty, international faculty, international students, international research network, employment outcomes, and sustainability).
  • Sustainability: ranks universities that are tackling the world's environmental, social and governance (ESG) challenges.
  • Subject rankings: ranks the world's strongest universities across 54 subject areas.

Ranking

RMIT rank – world

RMIT rank – Australia

QS University Rankings
   
Overall =123 10
Academic reputation 210 10
Employer reputation 192 8
Citations per faculty (academic) 122 15
International faculty (academic) 45 2
International students 116 12
     
QS Sustainability    
Overall =62 11
Environmental impact =125 14
Social impact 47 10
Governance impact =23 7
     
QS Subject Rankings    
Top 50    
Art and Design 18 1
Architecture / Built Environment 18 1
Communications & Media Studies 45 4
Top 100    
Accounting & Finance 100= 8
Engineering – Civil & Structural 51-100 6=
Library and Information Management 51 - 70 3=
Materials Science 94 46
Top 150    
Business & Management Studies 148 8
Engineering – Mechanical, Aero & Manufacturing =114 6
Engineering – Electrical & Electronic =135 8
Geography 101-150 =7=4
Top 200    
Agriculture & Forestry 151-200 =11
Computer Science & Information Systems 170 =10
Economics & Econometrics 151-200 8=
Engineering – Chemical 151-200 8
Environmental Sciences 151-200 11=

Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings

THE assesses over 1,000 universities to help people understand the different missions and successes of institutions. It is the largest and most diverse ranking system and has an emphasis on research and impact.

THE releases two key rankings each year:

  • Overall: measures performance across four areas: teaching, research, knowledge transfer and international outlook.
  • Impact: the only global ranking system that assesses performance against the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across four broad areas: research, stewardship, outreach and teaching.

Ranking

RMIT rank – world

RMIT rank – Australia

THE Overall 251-300 =14
International outlook 87 8
Research environment 326 14
Research quality 267 25
     
THE Impact 5 3
Reduced inequalities (SDG 10) 1 1
Decent work and economic growth (SDG 8) 5 1
Sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11) 20 5
Partnership for the goals (SDG 17) 11 4
Clean water and sanitation (SDG 6) 10 7
Responsible consumption and production (SDG 12) 41 4
Climate action (SDG 13) 16 6
Gender inequality (SDG 5) 81 n/a

Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) - ShanghaiRankings

ARWU ranks over 1,000 universities using six indicators - alumni and staff winning Nobel Prizes and Fields Medals, highly cited researchers selected by Clarivate, articles published in journals of Nature and Science, articles indexed in Science Citation Index Expanded™ and Social Sciences Citation Index™ in the Web of Science™, and per capita performance of a university.

Ranking

RMIT rank – world

RMIT rank – Australia

ARWU Overall 301 - 400 (est 337) 18
Publications 338 15
Highly cited researchers 270 18
Nature and Science 430 20
Per capita performance 220 26
     
ARWU Subject Rankings    
Top 50    
Aerospace Engineering 38  
Business Administration 46  
Civil Engineering 39  
Textile Science and Engineering 34  
Top 50-100    
Automation and Control 51-75  
Finance 51-75  
Instruments Science and Technology 51-75  
Mechanical Engineering 51-75  
Communications 76-100  
Food Science and Technology 76-100  
Hospitality and Tourism Management 76-100  
Metallurgical Engineering 76-100  
Transportation Science and Technology 76-100  
Top 101-150    
Biomedical Engineering 101-150  
Computer Science & Engineering 101-150  
Geography 101-150  
Management 101-150  
Materials Science & Engineering 101-150  
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology 101-150  
Top 151-200    
Economics 151-200  

Other global ranking schemes

Published by US News & World Report, institutions from more than 100 other countries are ranked based on 13 indicators that measure academic research performance and global and regional reputations.

Ranking

World

Australia

Overall 195 15
Research reputation
Global 215  
Regional 13  

CWTS Leiden Rankings provides insights into the scientific performance of more than 1,500 major tertiary institutions worldwide.

Ranking World Australia
Mean normalised citation score 87 5
Impact
Total citations 272 12
Top 1% publications 82 5
Top 10% publications 72 5
Collaboration
Collaborative publications 445 31
International publications 307 13
Industry collaboration 811 15
Long distance 34 11
aboriginal flag
torres strait flag

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

aboriginal flag
torres strait flag

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.