TIME Magazine ranks UQ as Australia’s top university

This article was updated in April 2026 following Time Magazine’s amendment of the World’s Top Universities ranking after original publication. 

The University of Queensland has been named Australia’s best university and 38th globally in TIME Magazine’s inaugural edition of the World’s Top Universities of 2026. 

UQ performed strongly in the Innovation and Economic Impact indicator which highlights the contributions of its graduates to global economic decision-making and society, and advancements in science and technology.  

This also reflects the impact of UQ’s commercialisation company UniQuest which has created more than 136 startups from UQ intellectual property and more than 250 jobs, and generated $88+ billion in gross product sales from licensed UQ technologies. 

Most notably, Sanofi’s acquisition of UQ vaccine startup Vicebio in a landmark deal in July 2025 for US$1.15 billion was the largest deal involving IP from an Australian university.  

UQ also performed well in Academic Capacity and Performance as Australia’s most highly cited university, and Global Engagement recognising its extensive global network.  

Together, the results reinforce UQ’s long‑standing commitment to high-quality teaching and student learning experiences, driving economic growth through lab‑to‑startup innovation, and meaningful graduate outcomes.