°Õ³ó±ðÌýQS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 have positioned both Engineering and Technology and Computer Science and Information Systems in the global top 50, reflecting the University's position as one of the top engineering universities in Australia and the world.
The ±¬ÁÏÍõ is now ranked 46th globally and 3rd in Australia for Engineering and Technology, and 38th globally and 2nd in Australia for Computer Science and Information Systems.
This marks the second consecutive year where Sydney has climbed the rankings for Engineering and Technology, already moving from 68th place to 60th in 2025, and now climbing a further 14 places.
The has also shown consecutive improvement, with Sydney rising from 68th place to 61st for Engineering in 2025 before climbing to 57th in 2026, marking its position as 2nd in Australia.
Rankings rise follows introduction of ambitious strategy
The ranking announcements follow last year's launch of a pioneering three-year strategy for the faculty, centred on transformative student-focused education, research excellence with real-world impact, and a culture grounded in community, diversity and collective responsibility.
The faculty is making bold strides in implementing the strategy, according to Dean of Engineering Professor .Ìý
"Our strategy is shaping a future where our faculty stands as a global leader in engineering education and research", said Professor El Gamel.
"The faculty's continued success in the rankings can’t be attributed to one area of research or teaching – rather, it is the byproduct of an ongoing commitment to collective responsibility for excellence."
The commitment to collective responsibility outlined in the strategy underpins the wider work of the faculty, enabling all staff to play a role in delivering impactful research and teaching.
According to Deputy Dean and Associate Dean (Research Education) Professor , this is key to driving the faculty forward for the duration of the strategy and beyond.
"By embedding a culture of collective responsibility and ownership of our performance and behaviours, we recognise that our success is interconnected, not siloed, and we hold ourselves and each other accountable to the highest levels of ethical and performance standards", said Professor Yacef.
"When every member of our academic and professional community strives for that shared standard of excellence, we see impact where it matters most: in the quality of our research and teaching – and it's encouraging to see this reflected in recent rankings."
The faculty's continued success in the rankings can't be attributed to one area of research or teaching – rather, it is the byproduct of an ongoing commitment to collective responsibility for excellence.
Professor Hesham El Gamel
Dean, Faculty of Engineering
Embracing innovative teaching and research practices
With a renewed focus on student-centric education design, the Faculty of Engineering is bringing innovation, industry collaboration and global best practice to its teaching.
The Centre for Applied Research in engineering and computing Education (CARE) has been designed to drive rapid, research-informed improvements in engineering and computing education. According to Professor , Deputy Dean and Associate Dean (Education), approaching research and education together is critical to the outcomes the faculty is committed to achieving.
"Our approach to education emphasises the synergy between research and teaching, with classes taught by world-class researchers who inject their disciplinary expertise and research mindset into their teaching", he said.
"With CARE conducting world-leading research to support practical and innovative education practices and curriculum development, we are demonstrating that world-class teaching can and must flourish alongside world-class research."
The faculty takes a similarly bold approach to research, where calculated risks are embraced in the name of maximising impact. From established academics to pioneering PhD students, researchers across the faculty are pushing technological boundaries to create a digital, sustainable and healthier future.
Associate Dean (Research) Professor links the recent rankings success to the real-world impact of the Faculty’s current research.
"Our rise in the rankings is not the result of any single project or discipline, but of a deliberate Faculty-wide commitment to ambitious, consequential research", he said.
"Look at Professor work in robotics for example: harnessing robotics for environmental sustainability places engineering at the frontier of addressing real-world challenges such as global food shortages.
"This is the kind of bold, high-risk, high-impact research that strengthens both our global reputation and maximises our contribution to society."
Professor Salah Sukkarieh presents on his research at the Engineering 2025-28 Strategic Plan launch, which takes a bold approach to high-impact research. Image: the ±¬ÁÏÍõ
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LinkAttracting and mentoring a diverse workforce
The strategy also recognises that a diverse team is key to the continued delivery of innovative research and teaching, outlining plans to actively recruit and support staff and students from underrepresented groups. Last year this led to the establishment of the Women in Engineering program and one of the largest campaigns to recruit women academics to the Faculty of Engineering in a bid to address systemic gender inequities in the industry.
"Diverse teams drive greater innovation, enhance problem solving and improve overall performance", said Associate Dean of Culture and Community in the Faculty of Engineering Professor .
"We are not only calling this out in the strategy, but actively celebrating and leveraging the diversity of our community – both within the Faculty of Engineering and throughout industry."
Professor El Gamel also highlights the connection between the faculty's diversified workforce and the recent rankings improvements.
"As our innovative approaches to research, teaching and culture continue to attract some of the brightest minds to Sydney, we can expect continued high quality impact.Ìý
"A diverse cohort of researchers, who can work collaboratively, are a strong cohort – and I look forward to seeing their impacts in the years ahead."
Hero image: Louise M Cooper / The ±¬ÁÏÍõ