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28 Best Public Bachelor's Universities in Australia

University of Melbourne tops our list of 28 Public Bachelor's universities in Australia at #19 in the QS World University Rankings 2026. University of New South Wales (QS World #19) and University of Sydney (QS World #25) complete the top three. Across the whole list there are 677 courses to choose from.

28 universities · ranked best first

how we rank

By university type

How these universities are ranked

19 of these universities hold a QS World position, from #19 (University of Melbourne) to #587 (Bond University); they are listed first, in that order. Below them, universities follow their research output: University of Melbourne is cited most (31,503,308 citations). 3 universities have neither a QS position nor a research record yet and appear at the end, marked "Not yet ranked".

Public, private and where they are

28 are public and 0 private (100% public). By location, Victoria (2), New South Wales (2) and Australian Capital Territory (1) account for the most of those we can place. The oldest is University of Sydney, founded in 1850. Monash University is the largest, with 86,000 students.

Inside the course list

The most common subjects are Business & Management (130), Arts, Design & Architecture (77), Engineering (72) and Education (61). The usual length is 4 years and 3 years. 98% are full-time and 6 can be studied online. Start dates lean to Spring (94% of courses with a stated intake) and Fall (78% of courses with a stated intake). Western Sydney University offers the widest choice, with 198 of these courses.

What it costs

We hold indicative fees for 6 of these universities. Monash University is the least expensive at USD 30,000 a year and University of Sydney the most at USD 33,000; the middle of the range is about USD 32,000. Check each university's own fee page before you budget — figures change every year.

Frequently asked questions

Which is the best university in Australia for Public Bachelor's?

University of Melbourne (QS World #19), University of New South Wales (QS World #19) and University of Sydney (QS World #25) lead this list. QS World positions come first; the rest are ranked by research impact.

Which is the cheapest university for Public Bachelor's in Australia?

Of those with published fees, Monash University is the least expensive at about USD 30,000 a year. Fees are indicative — confirm on the university's site.

How many public universities offer Public Bachelor's in Australia?

28 public and 0 private universities are on this list.

How long does a Public Bachelor's course take in Australia?

Most listed courses run 4 years, with 3 years the next most common.

When do Public Bachelor's courses start in Australia?

Spring is the main intake — 94% of courses with a stated start date begin then, and Fall is the second.

Can I study Public Bachelor's online with a university in Australia?

6 of these courses are listed as online.

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