10 of the Best Australian Universities for Graduate Employability

Click here to read the latest version of this article, based on the QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2018.

14 Australian universities are featured in the QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2017, which celebrates institutions around the world excelling in supporting employability. All universities in the ranking are assessed in five categories, including partnerships with employers, graduate employment rates and alumni outcomes.

Read on to discover 10 (actually 12, as some universities are ranked equally) of the best Australian universities for graduate employability in 2017…

1. University of Sydney

The University of Sydney is the only Australian university to appear in the top 10 of the employability ranking, at an impressive 4^th place. It ranks in the top 10 for the ‘graduate employment rate’ category, and the top 50 for all the other performance indicators. Sydney’s alumni community includes six Australian prime ministers (including incumbent Malcolm Turnbull), as well as five Nobel laureates and other notable figures such as writer Germaine Greer, actress Rose Byrne and activist Charles Perkins.

2. University of Melbourne

Ranked joint 11^th in the world for graduate employability, the University of Melbourne actually achieves even higher scores than Sydney for employer reputation and partnerships with employers. However, like Sydney, it achieves its highest score for its graduate employment rate. The university is active in supporting budding entrepreneurs, with its flagship Melbourne Accelerator Program (MAP) funding and supporting start-ups. The MAP was voted the 8^th best university accelerator program in the world in 2015 and 1^st in Australia.

3. Australian National University (ANU)

The next of the best Australian universities for graduate employability is Australian National University (ANU), in 32^nd place. ANU achieves its highest score for employer-student connections and is currently in the process of launching ANU+, an initiative to encourage students to challenge themselves with community partnerships and volunteering, enhancing their employability in the process. The university also runs a number of international exchange programs, letting students improve their employability by gaining new experiences overseas.

4. Monash University

Ranked joint 42^nd in the world for graduate employability, Melbourne-based Monash University has a particularly strong score in the ‘employer reputation’ indicator. The university hosts a range of fairs, festivals and forums to give students the opportunity to meet employers from across Australia and beyond. It also runs a Queer Mentoring Program, an innovative, employability-focused mentoring program for Monash LGBTIQ students preparing to enter the world of work.

5. University of Queensland (UQ)

The University of Queensland (UQ) is this year ranked in the 51-60 range of the graduate employability ranking, and scores among the top 20 for employment rate and partnerships with employers. Known for its strong research focus, the university’s graduate employment rate is higher than the national average. UQ’s Advantage Office runs a range of career assistance workshops, short-term global experiences, undergraduate research programs (scholarships for research work during a semester break) and more.

6. Queensland University of Technology (QUT)

A neighbor of UQ in Brisbane, Queensland University of Technology (QUT) is ranked 61-70 in the world for graduate employability in 2017. It comes 10^th for employer-student connections, reflecting its commitment to giving students opportunities to connect on campus through career fairs, employer presentations and more. Employers can post job prospects through the QUT CareerHub, and students have the opportunity to take part in Work Integrated Learning (WIL) programs.

7. University of Western Australia (UWA)

Heading to the other side of the country to Perth for the next of the best Australian universities for graduate employability, the University of Western Australia (UWA) is ranked 71-80, achieving a top-50 score for its partnerships with employers. Examples of UWA’s schemes to promote employability include the Career Mentor Link, which matches employers and students, as well as workshops and events to increase connections. 

8. RMIT University

RMIT University is ranked 71-80 in the world for graduate employability, and within the top 50 for the ‘partnerships with employers’ indicator. The university runs the RMIT Activator, a community for students interested in start-ups, in which students can gain practical skills, network, and access collaborative workspaces. RMIT also runs the Prince’s Lead Your Own Business Program and the New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS) to support the creation of small businesses.

9. University of Adelaide

Ranked 101-150 for graduate employability, the University of Adelaide receives its strongest score for the ‘partnerships with employers’ category. The university offers students a range of opportunities for industry placements and internships to increase employability, and was also awarded a five-star rating for graduate salaries by the Good Universities Guide 2016, with average starting salaries of Adelaide alumni far higher than the national average. 

=10. Curtin University

Heading back to Western Australia, Curtin University (located in the Bentley suburb of Perth) is ranked 151-200 for graduate employability this year, achieving a top-50 score for its graduate employment rate. The university adopts a global focus, with overseas campuses in Malaysia and Singapore, and has a number of partnerships with employers, providing work-integrated learning opportunities for students. 

=10. Macquarie University

Next up is Sydney-based Macquarie University, also ranked 151-200 for graduate employability in 2017. Macquarie receives a very high score for its graduate employment rate and is ranked 8^th for this indicator – the second-highest score amongst Australian universities, after Sydney. The university’s unique PACE (Professional and Community Engagement) program offers students the chance to broaden their experience by embedding real-world activities into their degree.

=10. University of Wollongong

Concluding our list and also ranked 151-200 for graduate employability this year is the University of Wollongong, which also features at 12^th in the world for its graduate employment rate. The university’s careers center offers a number of work-integrated learning programs (such as Career Accelerate, for high-achieving students), employability workshops and opportunities to meet employers on campus at career expos, industry panels and other events. 

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