Australia Leads Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings For Fourth Year In A Row

18 June 2025

• Western Sydney University in Australia is number one overall for fourth consecutive year
• Australia has more universities in the global top 10 (three) than any other nation
• In joint fourth place overall, Australia’s University of Tasmania is also the world’s top institution in both SDG 13 (climate action) and SDG 15 (life on land)
• Papua New Guinea makes its debut in the ranking in 2025
• 34 universities from four countries in Oceania ranked (Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea)
• Kyungpook National University in South Korea is third globally and top in Asia
• Indonesia’s Universitas Airlangga is top institution from an emerging economy, in joint ninth place
• Universities ranked across 18 tables: one overall ranking and 17 tables representing each SDG
• Record 2,526 universities ranked globally from 130 countries/territories
• The only global performance tables that assess universities against the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Universities in Australia are leading the global race towards sustainability, the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings 2025, released today, reveal.

Western Sydney University tops the overall table for the fourth consecutive year, while Griffth University and the University of Tasmania are tied in fourth place globally. Australia has more universities in the global top 10 (three) than any other nation.

However, one Australian university has fallen out of this elite group (UNSW Sydney), as Asian universities make rapid advances in sustainability. While the University of Tasmania’s overall rank has also dropped slightly amid intensifying global competition, the institution is number one in the world in two of the individual SDG rankings: SDG 13 (climate action) and SDG 15 (life on land).

Across the 18 rankings, which are released this week at the Global Sustainable Development Congress in Istanbul, there are 34 universities ranked from Oceania, from four countries (Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea). Manchester University in the United Kingdom retains second place in the overall ranking and Kyungpook National University in South Korea is third overall and number one in Asia.

The University Impact Rankings are the only global performance tables that assess universities against the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Universities are ranked across 18 tables: one overall ranking and 17 tables representing each individual SDG.

This year a record 2,526 universities from 130 countries/territories are ranked. This year’s rankings are released 10 years after the creation of the SDGs and amid scepticism that the goals will be met by the target year of 2030.

However, the data show that universities are highly focused on delivering on the sustainability agenda and demonstrating public impact.

Phil Baty, THE’s chief global affairs officer, said:

“The THE Impact Rankings are the world’s only rankings to explore universities’ contribution to each and every one of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals, across the full range of their activities: teaching, research, outreach and stewardship. And this comprehensive analysis clearly shows that universities worldwide are stepping up to help the world take on its most pressing grand challenges, from the climate crisis to delivering economic growth to supporting peace and justice across the world. This huge piece of research highlights the real-world impact that universities make, and their contribution to the public good. “Our evidence is clear: universities in Oceania are leading the way on helping the world to a more sustainable future, taking high-ranking positions across a wide range of individual Sustainable Development Goals, and leading overall.”

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