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The  evaluate academic programs across five key indicators including academic reputation, employer reputation, research citations per paper, H-index, and international research networks.  

The upward movement has been driven by several key factors including funded research programs that have produced highly cited publications, growing international collaborations in research and student placements, and stronger partnerships with healthcare providers and employers. 

Strong graduate outcomes drive employer reputation 

ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Cross recorded a rise in employer reputation, reflecting the strong career outcomes of its nursing graduates. According to the Good Universities Guide 2026, 89 per cent of undergraduate and 93 per cent of postgraduate ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ nursing students secure full‑time employment within four months of completing their studies. 

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Julie Jomeen, said the ranking result reflects the quality of ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½’s nursing courses. 

“This strong performance highlights the University’s focus on industry‑ready graduates who are highly regarded by healthcare employers in Australia and internationally,” Professor Jomeen said. 

Growing recognition for nursing research excellence 

The University also saw improved academic reputation, indicating increased recognition from external academics who regard ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½’s Faculty of Health as a leader in nursing research.  

The Faculty of Health has been championing innovative research in the nursing field, with projects such as a $1.3 million world-first pilot study of an online tool for assessing delirium, co-authoring new national guidelines for First Nations Peoples with kidney disease, and innovative research into the role of artificial intelligence in healthcare. 

Industry partnerships and global learning experiences 

Executive Dean of Health, Professor Fiona Naumann, said the achievement reflects a collective effort across staff and partners, positioning ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Cross for continued growth and global recognition across health-related disciplines. 

“This result is a strong endorsement of the quality of our teaching, research and industry partnerships, and reflects the collective effort of our staff, collaborators and healthcare partners,” said Professor Naumann.  

“Our rise in the QS rankings highlights ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½’s growing global reputation and positions us well to attract outstanding students, strengthen international collaborations, and continue building impact across nursing and the broader health disciplines.” 

ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½’s nursing discipline is underpinned by strong community and industry partnerships. In 2025, the University announced its partnership with the Academic Health Alliance at the new Tweed Valley Hospital, a collaborative education and research network comprising ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½, Bond University, Griffith University and TAFE NSW, in partnership with the Northern NSW Local Health District. 

Nursing students also participate in an annual international placement at KLE University in Belagavi, Karnataka, India, supported by the New Colombo Plan Mobility Grant. 

Bachelor of Nursing student Thomas Neller travelled to India last year and said it was a life-changing experience.  

“We went to schools, orphanages and aged care homes to see different ways of health promotion and how to build healthy communities,” he said. 

“These opportunities have reinforced for me that I am entering a field where I will have a pretty big purpose.” 

Tom’s studies have opened doors to many opportunities including a scholarship to attend the National Nursing Forum in Canberra and obtaining employment as an Assistant in Nursing through a placement in an aged care facility. 

Learn more about nursing at ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½.  

Broader QS success across disciplines 

ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ also ranked among the top 475 universities for Agriculture and Forestry. The ranking comes on the back of the launch of the Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine (Honours) in 2026 and the recent official opening of the Veterinary Sciences precinct on the Northern Rivers campus.  

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