‘Wake-up call’ for Australian universities as 70% suffer a fall in latest global ranking

Australia still had two universities, the University of Melbourne and University of New South Wales, in the top 20 of the QS World University Rankings

• Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast

Dozens of Australia’s top universities have dropped in a global ranking amid a “turbulent year” for higher education, as attacks from Donald Trump’s second administration exacerbated years of disruption for the embattled sector.

The University of Melbourne, Australia’s highest performer, dropped seven places to 19th in the QS World University Rankings, run by the global higher education specialist Quacquarelli Symonds, while the University of Sydney dropped from 18th in the world to 25th.