The University of Newcastle (UON) is Australia’s number one university in the 2014 QS Top 50 Under 50 rankings. UON also ranked in the world’s top 20 universities under 50 years of age, after rising 12 positions to be ranked at number 19.

UON Vice-Chancellor, Professor Caroline McMillen, said the independent rankings were evidence of a commitment and focus across the University on research excellence and education outcomes.

“I am delighted that the University of Newcastle climbed to be the top young university in Australia,” Professor McMillen said.

“Our world ranking as 19th among universities under the age of 50 shows UON is on the right trajectory, and inspires us to continue building an institution that students, staff, our alumni and the wider community can be proud of.”

The QS ‘Top 50 Under 50’ ranks universities established since 1965 according to their position in the QS World University Rankings 2014/15.

The rankings saw UON achieve a 16% rise in academic reputation during the past year and a 17% rise in UON’s employer reputation ranking, while citations in research publications per faculty rose 16%.

Now in its 10th year, QS World University Rankings rank the world’s top 863 universities based on research, teaching, employability and internationalisation.

Institutions are assessed on six indicators – academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty student ratios, citations per faculty, international students and international faculty.