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The University of Western Australia has joined the ranks of the world's top 100 universities - one of only five in Australia to achieve this milestone - by rising 14 places to 96.

The world's foremost indicator - the Shanghai Jiao Tong University's Academic Ranking of World Universities - today released its 2012 rankings, placing UWA in the world's top 100 for the first time.

For the past decade, UWA has strived to reach this target by its Centenary celebrations next year.  Today's achievement forms part of the University's over-arching goal to reach the world's top 50 by 2050.

The University's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Paul Johnson, said today's rise into the world top 100 was a tribute to the hard work, dedication and commitment of all UWA staff in their pursuit of international excellence.

"We have implemented strategies to attract the highest quality staff to strengthen our leading research and teaching profile, and to increase international journal publication of world-quality UWA research," Professor Johnson said.

"A resolute focus on quality has enabled UWA to achieve this goal and prepares the way for the University to achieve being counted among the world's top 50 by 2050."

The ARWU ranked The University of Western Australia 26th in the world (up seven places) for Life and Agricultural Sciences, in the band 51-75 in the field of Clinical Medicine and Pharmacy and in the subject band 76-100 for Chemistry.

Next year, UWA celebrates 100 years since its first intake of 184 students in a single wooden building in Irwin Street, Perth.  The University now has more than 24,000 students and 3500 staff.

UWA has also produced Western Australia's only Nobel Prize winners, Professor Barry Marshall and Emeritus Professor Robin Warren.

Media references

Michael Sinclair-Jones (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 3229  /  (+61 4) 00 700 783