How do we calculate our University Ratings?

Based on thousands of ratings provided by current uni students all around Australia, our Univesity Rating comprehensively rates all universities in Australia on the basis of real student experiences across twelve diverse categories.

The University Ratings are unique in that it is the first rating system in Australia that has been created by students. Instead of rating unis based on factors such as research grants, citations per faculty and university income, Uni Australia rates Australian unis based on factors that actually matter to students.

So how does it work?

As a starting point the Uni Australia team surveyed high school students and prospective uni goers to discover what they really wanted to know about Australian unis. We asked them what factors they considered to be important when selecting a university. Using this research we developed twelve categories that resonated most with prospective uni students.

Using these twelve categories we approached tens of thousands of uni students from every university in Australia and asked them to rate their uni across the twelve categories based on their personal experiences as a student.  Each uni student who contributed rated their university out of a score of 10.

The Uni Australia team then using a weighting system determined by research with prospective uni students, calculated each students total score for a university. Using each students total weighted score we calculated the total average score for every Australian university. This average total score (to specific decimal places) has been used to then numerically rank all Australian unis, from 1st to 40th.

The result?

Australia’s only ratings system based on real student experiences, across categories which matter to real students.

University Ratings Category Definitions

So, what does each of our 12 categories of student experience in our University Ratings really cover?

Academics:

Academics covers students' ratings on the overall quality of their course, including course structure, the practicality of the course and the theory components, flexibility of timetabling, administration, student centres and ease of enrolment, the assignment and assessment schedules, the range of electives and majors and minors.

Lecturers & Tutors:

Lecturers and tutors  covers students' rating of the approachability, qualifications, experience and communication skills of lecturers and tutors at their university.

Job Prospects:

Job prospects refers to students' rating of their own employability, based on the reputation of the university, quality of course, any relevant accreditation  or practical experience, and university assistance in job searching.

Facilities:

Facilities refers to students' ratings of the quality of and access to library, labs, sport facilities including gyms and swimming pools, disabled access and support, and course specific facilities, like film studios.

Technology:

Technology refers to students' ratings of the quality of and access to WiFi, computers, labs, computer programs, and online course interfaces.

Food:

Food refers to the students' rating of both on and off campus food options, including the price, quality, and range of food options.

Housing:

Housing refers to students' ratings of the cost, availability, location and quality of both on and off campus housing.

Males & Females:

Males & Females refers students' ratings of the friendliness & overall attractiveness of the student population.

Social Life:

Social Life essentially covers students' ratings on the range of societies, and quality and frequency of social interactions such as BBQ’s, sporting events, or just general hang outs.

Night Life:

Night Life covers students' ratings on the quality & frequency of university parties, pub crawls, cruises and club events.

Accessibility:

Accessibility refers to students' ratings on the ease of access by public transport, or car to the university.

Parking:

Parking refers students' ratings on the availability and cost of parking.