Scroll down for the full list of best universities in Sydney
| Sydney rank 2023 | World University Rank 2023 | University |
| 1 | 54 | University of Sydney |
| 2 | 71 | UNSW Sydney |
| 3 | 133 | University of Technology Sydney |
Sydney is a dynamic, exciting city to study in and enjoy. It is one of the largest student cities in Australia and is home to the five largest universities in the world.
With almost 35,000 foreign students from countries including India, China, Thailand, Brazil, Vietnam, Malaysia, and many more, Sydney is known for its easygoing and casual lifestyle.
The expense of studying and living in Sydney is relatively high when compared to other college towns. With a student visa, however, students may afford to balance their studies, employment, and enjoyment of Sydney to the fullest, if they so desire. During the academic year, students can earn up to 40 hours every two weeks, and during the holidays, they can work full-time.
3. University of Technology Sydney
The University of Technology Sydney (UTS) is well-known for its practice-oriented teaching programs, emphasis on research, and collaborations with industry and the professions.
UTS has its roots in the 1870s, but it was founded in its current form in 1988.
The UTS city campus is located at the southern gateway to Sydney’s Central Business District, within the city’s expanding education, innovation, and creative hub.
There’s also the Moore Park precinct, Sydney’s premier sporting complex. This is where UTS’ sport and exercise programs, as well as sports media classes and the Graduate School of Health’s physiotherapy program, are housed. UTS’ facilities are located near the Sydney Cricket Ground and share space with Rugby Australia and Australia’s elite national rugby teams.
2. UNSW Sydney
The University of New South Wales was founded in 1949 with a concentration on scientific, technological, and professional fields. It has nine faculties through which it grants bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees.
At UNSW Sydney, more than 50,000 students attend from at least 128 different nations.
The main campus is located in Kensington, a suburb about 7 kilometers from the heart of Sydney, on a 38-hectare plot of land. There are several more campuses, the biggest of which being UNSW Canberra at the Australian Defence Force Academy and the Art and Design campus in Paddington. There are numerous research stations spread out over the state of New South Wales, as well as sub-campuses in the Randwick and Coogee areas and the Sydney CBD.
UNSW undertakes research in a variety of fields, from life-saving medical procedures and innovative technology to climate change and renewable energy sources. In the social sciences, UNSW research influences policy and professional commentary on important social issues, from public health and aging to human rights and the constitutional acknowledgment of indigenous Australians.
UNSW is able to share information, discussion, and research findings through partnerships with both local communities and worldwide institutions, including Princeton, McGill, Duke, Brown, Maastricht, and Imperial College London.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Tonga’s King Tupou VI, Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn, and actor Rebel Wilson are notable alumni.
1. University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is the oldest university in Australia and was established in 1850. Moreover, it was among the first institutions in the world to admit students based on academic performance and to admit women on par with males.
More than 73,000 students and 8,000 permanent and temporary employees call the institution home, which is dispersed among the inner-city suburbs of Darlington and Camperdown.
The university has three schools, five faculties, and offers a variety of bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. Based on the number of students enrolled, the largest schools and facilities are those in the arts and social sciences, business, science, and engineering fields, as well as the health sciences.
The university has a wide range of museums, including the Nicholson Museum of Antiquities, the Macleay Museum, and the Rare Books Library, which houses a copy of the Gospel of Barnabas and a first edition of Sir Isaac Newton’s Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica. The Nicholson Museum of Antiquities has the largest collection of its kind in the nation.
There are more than 200 clubs and organizations for students to join at the University of Sydney Union, which is the oldest and largest university union in Australia.
There have been no fewer than seven Australian prime ministers, two Australian governor generals, nine state and territory governors, and 24 Australian High Court justices among notable graduates.
Top universities in Sydney 2023
Click each institution to view its World University Ranking 2023 profile
| Sydney rank 2023 | World University Rank 2023 | University |
| 1 | 54 | University of Sydney |
| 2 | 71 | UNSW Sydney |
| 3 | 133 | University of Technology Sydney |
| 4 | 175 | Macquarie University |
| 5 | 201–250 | Western Sydney University |
| 6 | 251–300 | Australian Catholic University |