Charles Darwin University
(CDU)
About
In the spirit of our namesake, Charles Darwin, the naturalist, geologist and father of modern evolutionary theory, CDU places great emphasis on innovative study and research that will change the world and improve people’s lives. Today we have over 22,000 students enrolled in Higher Education, Research and VET spread across nine campuses and centres in the Northern Territory, as well as in Melbourn...
In the spirit of our namesake, Charles Darwin, the naturalist, geologist and father of modern evolutionary theory, CDU places great emphasis on innovative study and research that will change the world and improve people’s lives. Today we have over 22,000 students enrolled in Higher Education, Research and VET spread across nine campuses and centres in the Northern Territory, as well as in Melbourne and Sydney. As one of a handful of universities in the country that provides both Higher Education and Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, we offer alternative ways to access education, particularly for mature-aged and Indigenous students. As well as gaining a qualification, CDU believes that every graduate should acquire universal skills, qualities and understanding regardless of their disciplines.
Reasons to choose CDU:
- we are in the top two per cent of universities in the world and in the top 100 universities worldwide under 50 years old. (Times Higher Education 2013) - we are the second-fastest growing university in Australia - we are in the top four universities in Australia and New Zealand for research in environmental science and ecology - we teach over 4000 Indigenous students each year.
Ranking Overview
Ranked Top 401 worldwide across 4 major ranking systems
Ranked in 22 subject rankings
QS World University Rankings
Academic Ranking of World Universities
U.S. News Best Global Universities Rankings
Key Facts
- Students
- 7,195
- Student-Staff Ratio
- 23.9 : 1
- Int'l Students
- 38%
- Female : Male
- 65 : 35
- Staff
- 1,124
Historical Trend
Longitudinal View
QS
ARWU
US News
Top Subjects
Best-performing areasSubject Rankings
Detailed breakdownUS News
7 subjects|
Subject
|
Rank
|
Score
|
Year
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Infectious Diseases | 87 | 44.9 | 2026 |
| Ecology | =213 | 44.9 | 2026 |
| Public, Environmental and Occupational Health | 469 | 44.9 | 2026 |
| Environment/Ecology | =487 | 44.9 | 2026 |
| Plant and Animal Science | =640 | 44.9 | 2026 |
| Social Sciences and Public Health | =647 | 44.9 | 2026 |
| Clinical Medicine | =683 | 44.9 | 2026 |
ARWU
6 subjects|
Subject
|
Rank
|
Score
|
Year
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Ecology | 201-300 | - | 2025 |
| Public Health | 201-300 | - | 2025 |
| Nursing | 201-300 | - | 2025 |
| Electrical & Electronic Engineering | 301-400 | - | 2025 |
| Human Biological Sciences | 301-400 | - | 2018 |
| Computer Science | 401-500 | - | 2025 |
THE
8 subjects|
Subject
|
Rank
|
Score
|
Year
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | 251–300 | 45.3 | 2026 |
| Social Sciences | 251–300 | 42.1 | 2026 |
| Engineering & Technology | 301–400 | 41.5 | 2026 |
| Life Sciences | 301–400 | 42.4 | 2026 |
| Physical Sciences | 301–400 | 42.4 | 2025 |
| Business & Economics | 401–500 | 36.4 | 2026 |
| Education & Training | 401–500 | 32.7 | 2026 |
| Clinical & Health | 501–600 | 33.9 | 2026 |
QS
2 subjects|
Subject
|
Rank
|
Score
|
Year
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Environmental Sciences | 451-470 | - | 2023 |
| Medicine | 651-700 | - | 2026 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ranking of Charles Darwin University?
Charles Darwin University's performance in the latest university rankings: QS Rank =584, THE Rank 401–500, ARWU Rank 601-700, US News Rank =797.
When was Charles Darwin University founded?
Charles Darwin University was founded in 2003.
What are the top subjects at Charles Darwin University?
Top subjects at Charles Darwin University include: Infectious Diseases, Ecology, Public Health, Nursing, Ecology.
Where is Charles Darwin University located?
Charles Darwin University is located in Darwin, Australia.