News

ACU ranked number one in Australia for research quality for third consecutive year

Australian Catholic University has taken out the top spot in Australia for research quality for the third year in a row, according to the Times Higher Education 2026 World University Rankings.

ACU was ranked number 17 globally for research quality, up from 24th last year. This milestone highlights the university's growing influence and reputation in the international research community.
 
The Times Higher Education World University Rankings assesses more than 2,000 universities from 115 countries.
 
ACU Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Enterprise) Professor Abid Khan said the results highlight the impact of the research carried out at ACU.

 “We're proud to again be recognised as a world-class research institution, and this ranking is a reflection of our drive to make a real impact that transforms lives and communities," Professor Khan said.
 
"This achievement belongs to our staff, students and our national and international collaborators, whose pursuit of knowledge helps push boundaries and drive progress."

This follows recognition of ACU academics in the 2025 Stanford University/ Elsevier Global Researcher list, which identifies the top two per cent of researchers worldwide.

More than 30 Australian Catholic University (ACU) experts were recognised from ACU’s Faculty of Health Sciences, Faculty of Education and Arts, Faculty of Theology and Philosophy, and Faculty of Law and Business.
 
The prestigious list identifies the top two per cent of researchers worldwide based on standardised citation metrics and provides international recognition of the impact of their work in advancing knowledge and shaping scientific communities.