In Summary

For the third consecutive year, Swinburne University of Technology has been named as one of the world's top 400 universities by the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU).

Swinburne has ranked in the ARWU’s top 400 since 2012, having been in the top 500 since 2009.

Swinburne has improved its standing in the field of physics, joining the Australian National University in the world’s top 75 universities for this discipline.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Development), Professor George Collins, said the result confirmed Swinburne’s status as a world-ranking and research-intensive university.

‘’This reflects our focus on quality and recognises the outstanding work of our researchers,’’ Professor Collins said.

‘’It's particularly pleasing that we have been able to maintain our overall ranking, and enhance it in physics, in the face of growing international competition.’’

As examples of Swinburne’s world-leading research, over the past year:

  • Physicists from Swinburne’s Centre for Micro-Photonics have developed a high-quality continuous graphene-oxide thin film that shows potential for ultrafast telecommunications.
  • Inspired by the surface of dragonfly wings, researchers from the School of Science have shown the potential of black silicon as a new antibacterial surface.
  • Dust may be rarer than expected in galaxies of the early Universe, according to an international research team, led by Swinburne astrophysicist Dr David Fisher.
  • By mimicking microscopic structures in the wings of a butterfly, researchers developed a device smaller than the width of a human hair that could make optical communication faster and more secure.

The ARWU ranking puts Swinburne in the top 3 per cent of universities in the world.