UNSW tops the nation in social impact and environmental rankings

The University is the top-ranked institution in Australia in the new QS World University Rankings: Sustainability.

UNSW Sydney has climbed to the top spot in Australia and Oceania in the 2026 QS Sustainability Rankings.

The University climbed five spots to become the top-ranked university in Australia and is now tied for seventh globally. UNSW has ranked in the top 20 each year since the QS Sustainability Rankings started.

UNSW Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Attila Brungs, said the rankings reflected UNSW’s position as a national and global leader in social and environmental sustainability.

“Since our founding over 75 years ago, supporting positive societal and environmental impact has been a guiding force. Our new UNSW Strategy: Progress for All, reflects our ongoing commitment to leading the transition towards a sustainable society and world through research, inclusive education, and genuine engagement with communities and industry,” said Prof. Brungs.

“Consistently ranking among the top global institutions and now leading in the country demonstrates that UNSW is cultivating world-class thinkers to address society’s greatest social and sustainability issues.

“We have more responsibilities than most organisations as we must contribute in four concrete ways: developing and supporting the future industry and community leaders through our students, creating relevant and implementable solutions through our research, convening and building the community networks to tackle the transition, and ensuring that our own campuses are models of sustainability.

“Guided by our Climate Transition Plan, we are accelerating innovation in renewable energy, decarbonisation, clean water access, and more, working closely with industry to scale solutions with real-world impact.

“Our Societal Impact Framework,sets ambitious goals in achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, restoring 30% of ecosystems and reducing waste by 30%.

“These are not just targets, but a reflection of our values and our drive to advance progress for all.”

Leading the world in social impact

QS is highly regarded for its university rankings, which are among the most comprehensive worldwide. UNSW has maintained a spot in the top 20 of the main QS World University Rankings for three consecutive years.

The QS Sustainability Rankings, now in their fourth year, offer a framework that goes beyond traditional academic prestige metrics to demonstrate how universities are addressing the world’s major environmental, social, and governance challenges.

In this edition, 2002 institutions worldwide were evaluated across three broad categories to assess their social and environmental impact as centres of education and research, as well as major employers facing operational costs and sustainability challenges common to any large, complex organisation.

UNSW performed strongly across the board, ranking first worldwide in the Social Impact category with a perfect score of 100. It achieved an Environmental Impact score of 94.4 (equal 18th globally) and a Governance score of 97.7 (equal 84th globally).

UNSW Vice-President, Societal Impact, Equity and Engagement, Professor Verity Firth AM, said UNSW was proud to be the world’s leading university for societal impact.

“Driving positive societal change through research, education, and engagement is at the heart of UNSW’s mission,” said Prof. Firth. “It’s rewarding to see the extraordinary efforts of our students, staff and partners, who embed sustainability and equity into everything we do, reflected in these rankings.

“This achievement highlights the essential role of UNSW in tackling the most urgent challenges of our era and shaping a better future for society.”