How does Australian National University rank? Insights on ANU’s reputation and admission requirements

Founded in 1946, Australian National University (ANU) is one of the prestigious Group of Eight (Go8) universities. ANU was established by an act of the Australian Parliament and is the only university in Australia to hold national status. How do ANU's rankings and reputation measure up? Cyclopes provides an overview of the university's features and shares details about the admission requirements at Australian National University.

Source: ANU

Australian National University is located in Canberra, the capital city of Australia, and is conveniently close to the city centre. The campus is surrounded by a nature reserve and Lake Burley Griffin, creating a beautiful environment. Nearby are the National Museum of Australia and Australia's largest national research organization, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, providing a rich academic, exploratory, and innovative atmosphere for students. The campus boasts state-of-the-art facilities including Australia's most advanced supercomputing centre, the APAC National Facility. It also features shops, restaurants, sports facilities, and art galleries, ensuring a vibrant learning and living environment for students. Notably, the campus houses the Mount Stromlo Observatory and the Siding Spring Observatory, underscoring the university's commitment to research. ANU is renowned for its research capabilities and is a member of the International Alliance of Research Universities, the Association of Pacific Rim Universities, and the Global University Alliance on Astronomy.

As Australia’s only national university, ANU consistently ranks highly both nationally and internationally. According to the latest 2025 QS World University Rankings, ANU is ranked 30th globally and fourth in Australia. The 2024 QS Subject Rankings placed 12 of its subjects in the global top 20, including geography, earth and marine sciences, and geology; subjects like archaeology, political science, and anthropology rank in the global top 10. Additionally, 13 subjects are ranked first in Australia, confirming ANU’s academic standing and caliber.

ANU is committed to providing high-quality education. According to the Good Universities Guide, ANU received excellent ratings, achieving five stars for student demand, staff qualifications, and student-to-teacher ratio. The university’s faculty includes six Nobel laureates, highlighting its teaching excellence. ANU has also won numerous Australian Awards for University Teaching, including Awards for Teaching Excellence and Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning. Graduate employability is another critical measure of university performance; according to the 2023-2024 Times Higher Education Global University Employability Ranking, ANU is ranked 32nd worldwide and first in Australia, demonstrating its effectiveness in preparing students for the job market with ample internship and employment opportunities.

Source: iStock

Admission requirements at ANU vary by college. For example, students applying with Hong Kong DSE scores for a Bachelor's degree in Business typically need a minimum score of 15 in the best four subjects (excluding Chinese). In addition to academic scores, proficiency in English is required, demonstrated through IELTS or TOEFL test results. According to the university’s official website, the minimum IELTS score accepted is 6.5 with no band less than 6, and the minimum TOEFL score is 80, with minimum scores of 18 for listening and reading, and 20 for speaking and writing.

As a member of the prestigious Group of Eight, ANU showcases its academic strengths and high-quality teaching environment. The information provided above about ANU’s rankings, reputation, and admission criteria highlights the university’s excellence in academic research, teaching quality, and graduate employability. Students considering ANU should not only focus on rankings but also consider the specific entry requirements of Australian National University. For more information on studying in Australia, prospective students and parents are encouraged to contact Cyclopes for expert advice.

References:

1. QS World University Rankings：Australian National University

https://www.topuniversities.com/universities/australian-national-university-anu

2. Good Universities Guide：Australian National University (ANU)

https://www.gooduniversitiesguide.com.au/course-provider/australian-national-university-anu/ratings-rankings/undergraduate

3. Australian National University：Australian Awards for University Teaching

https://www.anu.edu.au/index.php/about/awards-achievements/education-achievements/australian-awards-for-university-teaching

4. Times Higher Education Global University Graduate Employability Ranking 2023-2024

https://www.timeshighereducation.com/student/best-universities/graduate-employability-top-universities-australia-ranked-employers

5. Australian National University：Entry score for Hong Kong: DSE

https://study.anu.edu.au/apply/international-applications/indicative-entry-requirement/entry-score-hong-kong-dse

6. Australian National University：English language admission requirements and post-admission support

https://policies.anu.edu.au/ppl/document/ANUP_000408