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Ranked among the world’s very best universities, you’re likely to have a fantastic experience no matter which one you pick.
That said, there are some key differences between the two that might make the choice easier. Here's what you need to know.
QS World University Rankings
Both ANU and the University of Melbourne enjoy a healthy global reputation among academics and students, making them two of the highest-ranked universities in the world.
They also both perform strongly in metrics which measure diversity which is perhaps unsurprising, given Australia’s long history of welcoming students and academics from overseas.
The most significant areas of difference between the two universities are in the metrics which track employability, including our global employer reputation survey and an assessment of graduate employment outcomes.
See how ANU and the University of Melbourne compare to other top universities in Australia in the table below.
The latest edition of the QS World University Rankings by Subject shows how the University of Melbourne and ANU rank for over 50 different subjects across five broad subject areas.
Each institution has its areas of strength, with the University of Melbourne performing well in life sciences and medicine, and engineering and technology subjects. ANU's strongest areas tend to be in natural sciences.
You can view a direct comparison of how both universities compare for specific disciplines in the table below.
Australian National University (ANU)
The University of Melbourne
Accounting and Finance
43
27
Agriculture and Forestry
=37
33
Anatomy and Physiology
51-100
=30
Anthropology
9
23
Archaeology
10
32
Architecture and Built Environment
--
26
Art and Design
101-150
51-100
Art History
21-50
21-50
Arts and Humanities
32
23
Biological Sciences
=87
34
Business and Management Studies
=68
=50
Chemistry
=99
=57
Classics and Ancient History
51-150
51-150
Communication and Media Studies
51-100
39
Computer Science and Information Systems
=37
=46
Data Science and Artificial Intelligence
51-100
33
Dentistry
--
=34
Development Studies
10
=37
Earth and Marine Sciences
21
=29
Economics and Econometrics
39
45
Education and Training
101-150
16
Engineering - Chemical
--
52
Engineering - Civil and Structural
--
=31
Engineering - Electrical and Electronic
=60
=63
Engineering - Mechanical
=110
=59
Engineering - Mineral and Mining
--
=25
Engineering - Petroleum
--
--
Engineering and Technology
=76
=50
English Language and Literature
37
21
Environmental Sciences
52
24
Geography
20
17
Geology
26
34
Geophysics
22
35
History
=26
40
Hospitality and Leisure Management
--
--
Law and Legal Studies
=26
13
Library and Information Management
--
51-100
Life Sciences and Medicine
=140
15
Linguistics
57
=30
Marketing
51-100
=31
Materials Sciences
=136
=68
Mathematics
=50
54
Medicine
=161
=25
Modern Languages
=43
=33
Music
--
--
Natural Sciences
=34
=49
Nursing
--
25
Performing Arts
51-100
40
Pharmacy and Pharmacology
--
51
Philosophy
8
51-100
Physics and Astronomy
=55
=81
Politics
11
56
Psychology
=88
21
Social Policy and Administration
=28
43
Social Sciences and Management
=36
27
Sociology
23
34
Sports-Related Subjects
--
6
Statistics and Operational Research
51-100
51-100
Theology, Divinity and Religious Studies
36
51-100
Veterinary Science
--
=25
Location
While there may be little difference between the two top universities in Australia in terms of the high quality of education they provide, there's a lot to distinguish them when it comes to location.
Often referred to as the nation’s cultural capital, Melbourne is an arty city featuring impressive architecture, world-leading museums and an on-the-pulse theatre and comedy scene. The city also offers a myriad of ultra-cool restaurants, clubs, and shopping districts, as well as a healthy love of sports.
Melbourne is a popular study destination due to its large and diverse student community, excellent quality of living and high concentration of world-class universities. Besides the University of Melbourne, the city is home to several other Australian universities which feature in the QS World University Rankings.
Canberra is home to ANU and is Australia’s capital city. It’s far smaller than Melbourne, both overall and in terms of its student population, which helps to make this city a somewhat calmer place to live. This could be a good or bad thing, depending on your personal preferences.
However, as Australia’s political hub, Canberra is anything but boring. During parliamentary sittings, the city is alive with national politics.
Canberra boasts a beautiful natural landscape. Surrounded by mountains, hills, and bush-land, as much as half of Canberra itself is protected as natural park and reserve land – so if you’re used to living in the countryside, Canberra may be the place you’d feel most at home.
Prospective students will be pleased to learn that both the University of Melbourne and Australian National University offer scholarships for international students. Both schools offer online search tools to help students identify which scholarships they’re eligible for.
There are also several government scholarships available to study in Australia, including the Australia Awards, aimed at students at all study levels from developing countries, and the Destination Australia scholarship. You can find more scholarships to study in Australia here.
Laura is a former staff writer for TopUniversities.com, providing advice and guidance for students on a range of topics helping them to choose where to study, get admitted and find funding and scholarships. A graduate of Queen Mary University of London, Laura also blogs about student life.
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Australian National University or University of Melbourne?
Laura Tucker
Updated Apr 10, 2025Save
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Table of contents
Table of contents
If you’re planning to study in Australia, two top universities stand out as potential study destinations. They are, of course, the Australian National University (ANU) and the University of Melbourne.
Ranked among the world’s very best universities, you’re likely to have a fantastic experience no matter which one you pick.
That said, there are some key differences between the two that might make the choice easier. Here's what you need to know.
QS World University Rankings
Both ANU and the University of Melbourne enjoy a healthy global reputation among academics and students, making them two of the highest-ranked universities in the world.
They also both perform strongly in metrics which measure diversity which is perhaps unsurprising, given Australia’s long history of welcoming students and academics from overseas.
The most significant areas of difference between the two universities are in the metrics which track employability, including our global employer reputation survey and an assessment of graduate employment outcomes.
See how ANU and the University of Melbourne compare to other top universities in Australia in the table below.
QS World University Rank
QS World University Rank
QS World University Rank
QS World University Rank
QS World University Rank
QS World University Rank
QS World University Rank
QS World University Rank
QS World University Rank
QS World University Rank
Subject strengths
The latest edition of the QS World University Rankings by Subject shows how the University of Melbourne and ANU rank for over 50 different subjects across five broad subject areas.
Each institution has its areas of strength, with the University of Melbourne performing well in life sciences and medicine, and engineering and technology subjects. ANU's strongest areas tend to be in natural sciences.
You can view a direct comparison of how both universities compare for specific disciplines in the table below.
Location
While there may be little difference between the two top universities in Australia in terms of the high quality of education they provide, there's a lot to distinguish them when it comes to location.
Often referred to as the nation’s cultural capital, Melbourne is an arty city featuring impressive architecture, world-leading museums and an on-the-pulse theatre and comedy scene. The city also offers a myriad of ultra-cool restaurants, clubs, and shopping districts, as well as a healthy love of sports.
Melbourne is a popular study destination due to its large and diverse student community, excellent quality of living and high concentration of world-class universities. Besides the University of Melbourne, the city is home to several other Australian universities which feature in the QS World University Rankings.
Canberra is home to ANU and is Australia’s capital city. It’s far smaller than Melbourne, both overall and in terms of its student population, which helps to make this city a somewhat calmer place to live. This could be a good or bad thing, depending on your personal preferences.
However, as Australia’s political hub, Canberra is anything but boring. During parliamentary sittings, the city is alive with national politics.
Canberra boasts a beautiful natural landscape. Surrounded by mountains, hills, and bush-land, as much as half of Canberra itself is protected as natural park and reserve land – so if you’re used to living in the countryside, Canberra may be the place you’d feel most at home.
Aside from ANU, Canberra is also home to the University of Canberra.
Scholarships and funding
Prospective students will be pleased to learn that both the University of Melbourne and Australian National University offer scholarships for international students. Both schools offer online search tools to help students identify which scholarships they’re eligible for.
There are also several government scholarships available to study in Australia, including the Australia Awards, aimed at students at all study levels from developing countries, and the Destination Australia scholarship. You can find more scholarships to study in Australia here.
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Laura is a former staff writer for TopUniversities.com, providing advice and guidance for students on a range of topics helping them to choose where to study, get admitted and find funding and scholarships. A graduate of Queen Mary University of London, Laura also blogs about student life.
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