The QS rankings feature 1744 universities across 107 countries and territories, including 38 institutions in Australia. The University of Sydney ranked second nationally.
QS’ methodology for the World University Rankings: Sustainability 2025 is based on university performance across three categories (using multiple performance indicators): environmental impact, social impact and governance.
The University ranked 4th in the world for social impact and 19th for environmental impact.
On three of the performance indicators the University ranked in the top 20 universities:
- maintaining its position of first globally for impact of education with a perfect score of 100
- strengthening its rankings for environmental education (global rank 11th up from 18th) and employability opportunities (global rank 13th up from 16th).
"I commend all’our staff on the strength of our performance in the QS sustainability rankings, which aligns with our deep strategic commitment to sustainability across teaching, research, good governance and a responsible environmental footprint," said Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Mark Scott.
"Examples of that commitment include the establishment of the Net Zero Institute , which brings together more than 150 researchers to develop practical decarbonisation solutions , our Sydney Horizon Fellowships , a $100 million investment in supporting early-to-mid career researchers who focus on sustainability, climate change and health and our plan for the Sydney Biomedical Accelerator , a landmark investment in accelerating medical breakthroughs to address some of the biggest health issues of our time which also aims to achieve an ambitious five-star Green Star sustainability rating."
Interim Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Julie Cairney said, "Some of the most recent research examples of our essential engagement with the broad-ranging goals of sustainability include:
a first-of-its-kind map showing that the genetic diversity of koala populations is in decline across Australia
a new chemical engineering technique, which turns methane emissions from landfill into sustainable jet fuel
an architectural study on more than 580,000 new homes in Australia, examining the relationship between big design and inefficient energy use."
Jessica Turner, CEO of QS, publisher of the ranking, said "The QS Sustainability Rankings support the higher education sector’s transition to sustainable practices by promoting transparency, impactful research, equality, and climate mitigation. "
This year the University of Sydney secured its highest ever ranking overall to be placed 18th globally and 2nd in Australia in the prestigious QS World University rankings.
The Australian’s 2025 Research Magazine celebrates outstanding researchers at the University of Sydney including 24 researchers named as leaders in their respective fields nationally.
The University of Sydney has secured its highest ever ranking overall and continues to be rated as a top 20 global university in the 2025 QS World University Rankings.
The University of Sydney has elevated a previously grassroots collective of researchers to one of its flagship research centres to accelerate solution-based research and assist the world in meeting its climate change goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
