The top universities in Canberra and ACT
As the Australia’s capital, it’s no surprise that the ACT offers study options in areas such as international relations, politics, law, journalism, security and public policy, specialised defence education and training through the Australian Defence Force Academy. In saying that, there’s a good range of undergraduate courses across all fields of study, from the traditional professions to specialties like aviation, design and sports management.
Canberra is a friendly, liveable city within easy reach of the mountains, the coast and the bustling metropolis of Sydney. As the seat of government and home to Australia’s public service, it combines the cultural variety of bigger cities with a relaxed pace you’d find in a smaller one.
There’s always something happening on or around campus. Locals are passionate rugby fans and turn out in droves to support their teams, the Canberra Raiders and ACT Brumbies. Lake Burley Griffin is a popular spot for students to relax and there are plenty of bars, nightclubs and live music venues.
Where to study in Canberra
Universities with campuses in the ACT include:
The best universities in Canberra for study in 2025
There is no one university that is best for all students, since different things matter to different people. The Good Universities Guide ratings provide a series of insights on Australian universities, helping those in the process of deciding where to study.
Courses and institutions differ in many ways and only the student can decide which differences really matter to them. Check out the ratings for universities in the ACT and filter by study level (undergraduate or postgraduate). Some ratings are also available to filter further by field of study.
In the tables below, we’ve listed the university that ranked highest in each rating category for the ACT in the 2025 edition of The Good Universities Guide ratings.
Characteristics
|
Rating type |
Definition |
Top university |
|
Social Equity |
The proportion of domestic students enrolling at each university from low socioeconomic or disadvantaged backgrounds |
Charles Sturt University – 25% |
|
Staff Qualification |
The proportion of staff who hold a masters or doctoral degree |
UNSW Sydney — 88% |
|
Student Demand |
Where high-achieving students choose to study — compares the proportion of commencing students with high ATAR scores at each university |
Australian National University (ANU) — Low: 0.35 Medium: 0.6 High: 0.05 |
|
Student – Teacher Ratio |
The number of students per teaching staff member |
|
|
First Generation |
The proportion of domestic students commencing a bachelor degree whose parents’ education is known and did not exceed Year 12 |
Charles Sturt University — 39% |
The Student Experience
|
Rating type |
Definition |
Top university |
Top university |
|
Learner Engagement |
The proportion of students who felt they were engaged with learning in their institution |
University of Canberra — 59.5% |
|
|
Learning Resources |
The proportion of students who were satisfied with the learning resources provided by their institution |
||
|
Overall Experience |
The proportion of students who were satisfied with the overall quality of their educational experience |
Charles Sturt University — 79.7% |
|
|
Skills Development |
The proportion of students who were satisfied with the skill development they experienced through their studies |
University of Canberra — 80.6% |
|
|
Student Support |
The proportion of students who were satisfied with the support they received from their institution |
Charles Sturt University — 72.9% |
University of Canberra — 76.9% |
|
Teaching Quality |
The proportion of students who were satisfied with the quality of teaching they experienced |
Charles Sturt University — 83.4% |
Graduate Outcomes
|
Rating type |
Definition |
Top university |
Top university |
|
Graduate Salary |
The median salary of graduates from different universities |
Charles Sturt University —$64,100 |
UNSW Sydney — $80,600 |
|
Full-time Employment |
The employment rates of graduates from different universities |
Charles Sturt University — 88.9% |
Head to the Ratings tab to view our most recent ratings for ACT universities — filter by subject and level of study to find the one that suits.
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