Melbourne vs UNSW: Complete Comparison 2026
Side-by-side look at The University of Melbourne and The University of New South Wales: QS 2026 ranks 19 vs 20. Acceptance, tuition, language tests, and typica…
→ The University of Melbourne profile → The University of New South Wales profile
Summary comparison
Figures come from the GlobalAdmit dataset — always confirm on each university’s official admissions site.
| Metric | The University of Melbourne | The University of New South Wales |
|---|---|---|
| QS rank 2026 | 19 | 20 |
| Country | AU 🇦🇺 | AU 🇦🇺 |
| Acceptance rate | 70% | 45% |
| Tuition (intl / yr) | $42,000 | $40,000 |
| Language (summary) | IELTS 6.5+ · TOEFL 79+ · Duolingo 105+ | IELTS 6.5+ · TOEFL 90+ · Duolingo 105+ |
| IB typical | IB ~36 | IB ~35 |
| A-Level typical | — | — |
Strengths
The University of Melbourne
- Top 30 global recognition in QS World University Rankings 2026.
- Large, diverse international student body.
- Major research university scale with broad programme choice.
The University of New South Wales
- Top 30 global recognition in QS World University Rankings 2026.
- Large, diverse international student body.
- Major research university scale with broad programme choice.
Popular majors (overlap)
Where both profiles list the same popular major label (case-insensitive).
- computer-science
- economics
- mathematics
- law
- medicine
- engineering-science
- philosophy-politics-economics
- biochemistry
- history
- psychology-philosophy-linguistics
Which is right for you?
If rankings are your north star
Melbourne sits higher in QS 2026 (19 vs 20). That often correlates with research intensity and global name recognition — but UNSW can still win on programme fit, city, or cost.
If you are coming from IB / A-Levels / US high school
Compare the admission tabs on each profile: Melbourne vs UNSW can invert depending on whether you are optimising for IB typical offers, A-level expectations, or US-style testing. Use the evaluator after you narrow your list.
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