Monash University has jumped eight places to =#41 globally in the QS Sustainability Rankings 2026, consolidating the University’s position as a world top-50 university in leading and contributing to solving the sustainability challenges facing the world. Monash now ranks #5 in Australia, up from #7 in 2025.
“Monash University’s latest strong performance in the QS Sustainability Rankings reflects our absolute commitment to working with partners, communities and industry to address urgent global challenges, including ensuring a sustainable future for all,” Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Sharon Pickering said.
This result along with our recent success in the 2025 ShanghaiRanking Global Ranking of Academic Subjects (GRAS) with nineteen subjects placing in the top 50, up from 14 in 2025 further strengthens Monash’s outstanding reputation for education and research excellence. Among the best universities globally Monash is ranked =36th in the QS World University Rankings, 38th in the US News and World Report 2024-25 rankings, an =58th in Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025. Learn more about our rankings performance.
The QS Sustainability Rankings highlight the different ways in which universities are taking action to tackle the world’s greatest sustainability issues. Alongside progress in relation to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, universities are also evaluated on impact of research, education, community engagement and organisational governance. The rankings feature among 2000 universities across 108 locations globally.
Initiatives contributing to Monash’s sustainability credentials include:
Becoming the first university in the world to raise funds for sustainability projects by issuing a climate bond.
Actively engaged as an Observer Organisation with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change since 2016, and regularly sending delegates to the annual UN Climate Change Conferences.
The Global Immersion Guarantee, bringing students together with sustainability practitioners in India, Indonesia, Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu, Malaysia, Italy, China or Vietnam.
Our cross-border interdisciplinary research programs, including Revitalising Informal Settlements and their Environments and the Citarum River Project.
Establishing the Pacific Action for Climate Transitions Research Centre with Fiji National University.
The Net Zero 2030 commitment to be carbon neutral across our Australian campuses. Monash University was awarded the prestigious 2025 Energy Efficiency Council Award for our groundbreaking Electrification Program, recognised as Australia’s leading commercial energy management project.
Global rankings have a high influence on student decisions and act as an international benchmark of Monash’s academic excellence. If you’d like to be involved in the upcoming QS World University Rankings academic or employer reputation surveys, please contact university.rankings@monash.edu.
