QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026: WA institutions rank among global top 10 for mining engineering

Two WA universities are rated among the top 10 institutions in the world for mining engineering, the latest global subject rankings reveal. Curtin University placed fourth globally for engineering (mineral and mining), according to the Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings by Subject, released on Wednesday night. The University of Western Australia ranked ninth in the world — up from 13th last year — for the same subject. A QS spokesperson said WA universities had 21 entries in the top 100 of the world subject rankings, up from 19 last year. “Three of the State’s universities feature in the agriculture subject area and UWA is the first WA institution to rank in the data science and AI subject area,” the spokesperson said. “Results like these demonstrate how important the State’s higher education ecosystem is for the industries that drive the economy both today and tomorrow.” UWA was recognised for 11 subjects in the top 100, while Curtin had seven. Edith Cowan University had two mentions — sports-related subjects and nursing. Murdoch University had just one mention in the top 100, with veterinary science rising two places to 37th. Asked how WA universities’ standing might be affected by a potential merger between two or more institutions — an option the Cook Government has been investigating — the QS spokesperson said it was “difficult to speculate”. “Any amalgamations will only be successful if institutions are strategically aligned, students, staff and alumni are in favour and what the reasons for merging are,” they said. “What we can say is that institutions across WA rank in 51 subject areas in the QS Subject Rankings 2026 — this shows the depth of diversity and excellence across the State’s higher education landscape.” Other Australian universities also excelled across science, technology, engineering and maths disciplines. With Jobs and Skills Australia predicting that STEM roles requiring a bachelor’s degree or above will grow by 24 per cent by 2035, the QS spokesperson said the data suggested the sector was positioning itself for that shift. But QS chief executive Jessica Turner warned that any STEM gains would be put at risk without continued investment in research. “As other nations invest strategically in research, innovation and talent development, Australia’s higher education sector must maintain clarity and stability in policy settings to safeguard its global standing and appeal,” she said. “The QS rankings show that Australian institutions are producing world-class research and preparing graduates with skills aligned to global demand, yet sustaining and enhancing this performance requires long-term investment in research capacity, international engagement and workforce readiness.” A spokesperson for Curtin said its performance had improved in all five broad subject areas and employer reputation scores. “Notably, Curtin remains in the top five in the world and second in Australia for engineering (mineral and mining) and rose from 48th to 32nd globally for petroleum engineering,” they said. “Curtin continues to strive for global research excellence and the latest rankings are testament to the dedication of our researchers, staff and industry partners in ensuring its continued success.” A UWA spokesperson said it was pleased to have retained strong rankings on this year’s global measure. ECU deputy Vice-Chancellor Braden Hill said to see nursing re-enter the global top 100, along with strong performances in sport, hospitality, anatomy and the performing arts, highlighted the quality of the university’s teaching and research. “We are proud to see our focus on industry-relevant education and student success reflected in the rankings,” he said. The subject rankings evaluate universities across 55 individual disciplines and five broad subject areas, based on academic and employer reputation, research impact and international research collaboration. The QS rankings by subject differ from the World University Rankings — also compiled annually by QS — which ranks institutions on their overall performance.