Announcing the winners of The Good Universities Guide 2023 ratings

We’re delighted to announce the winners of The Good Universities Guide 2023 ratings.

For over 30 years, our ratings put the student at the centre. We are thrilled by the positive response from the education sector and look forward to further developing these ratings in the future.

This year as part of our launch activities, we celebrated the achievements of metropolitan and regional universities that have consistently topped our measures in the last five editions. These winners were announced at an online event on Wednesday 14 September.

We are also excited to announce the creation of a new advisory board to help guide the development of these ratings:

• Professor Wendy Cross – DVC Education, Federation University
• Dr Stephen Weller – Chief Operating Officer & DVC, Australian Catholic University
• Mr Angel Calderon – Principal Advisor Institutional Research and Planning RMIT 
• Mr Greg Jakob – Independent Consultant
• Ms Cheryl Jolliffe – VP Future Students, Bond University
• Professor Simon Ridings – DVC International, Swinburne University

2023 winners of The Good Universities Guide ratings – undergraduate

Below, we've listed our 2023 award winners for each rating category. These refer to the metropolitan and regional universities that have consistently topped our measures for the last five editions. 

First Generation

The proportion of domestic students commencing a bachelor degree whose parents’ education is known and did not exceed Year 12.

Metro winner: Victoria University

Regional winner: Federation University

Social Equity

This rating shows what proportion of domestic students enrolling at each university come from low socioeconomic or disadvantaged backgrounds.

Metro winner: CQUniversity

Regional winner: Western Sydney University

Staff Qualifications

This rating looks at the proportion of staff who hold a masters or doctoral degree. 

Metro winner: The Australian National University

Regional winner: University of Wollongong

Student : Teacher ratio

This rating looks at the number of students per teaching staff member. A five-star rating indicates that for every teacher at the university there are relatively few students — a potential sign of small class sizes and more one-on-one interaction. 

Metro winner: Bond University

Honourable mention: James Cook University

Student Demand

This rating looks at where high-achieving domestic students choose to study by comparing the proportion of commencing students with high ATAR scores at each university.

Metro winner: The University of Melbourne

Honourable mentions: University of The Sunshine Coast and University of Wollongong

Teaching Quality

This rating looks at the proportion of students who were satisfied with the quality of teaching they experienced. It is based on students’ ratings of their overall educational experience; the quality of teaching they received; and the extent to which they felt lecturers and tutors actively engaged them in and demonstrated concern for learning, provided clear explanations of coursework and assessment, inspired them intellectually, seemed helpful and approachable and provided useful feedback on work, among various other factors.

Metro winner: Bond University

Regional winner: University of New England

Learning Resources

This rating looks at the proportion of students who were satisfied with the learning resources provided by their institution. It is based on students’ average ratings of teaching spaces (including lecture theatres, laboratories and tutorial rooms), student spaces and common areas, online learning materials, computing and IT resources, assigned books and notes, laboratory or studio equipment and library facilities.

Metro winner: Bond University

Regional winner: University of The Sunshine Coast

Learner Engagement

This rating looks at the proportion of students who felt they were engaged with learning at their institution. It is based on the extent to which students felt prepared for study, had a sense of belonging at their institution, participated in discussions online or face to face, worked with other students, interacted with students outside of study and interacted with students different to them (including local students for international respondents).

Metro winner: Bond University

Regional winner: James Cook University

Overall Quality of Educational Experience

This rating looks at the proportion of students who were satisfied with the overall quality of their educational experience.

Metro winner: The University of Notre Dame

Regional winner: University of New England

Skills Development

This rating looks at the proportion of students who were satisfied with the skill development they experienced through their studies. It is based on the extent to which students felt their course developed their critical-thinking skills, ability to solve complex problems, ability to work with others, confidence to work independently, written communication skills, verbal communication skills, knowledge of the field they are studying, and work-related knowledge and skills.

Metro winner: Bond University

Regional winner: University of Wollongong

Student Support

This rating looks at the proportion of students who were satisfied with the support they received from their institution. It is based on the extent to which students felt they received support to settle into study; experienced efficient enrolment and admissions processes; felt orientation activities were helpful; and found administrative staff and services, career advisers, academic or learning advisers, counsellors, financial advisers and health services to be available and helpful.

Metro winner: Bond University

Regional winner: University of New England

Graduate Employment

This rating compares the employment rates of graduates from different universities. It looks at the proportion of graduates who were employed full-time four months after completing their course.

Metro winner: UNSW Sydney

Regional winner: Charles Sturt University

Graduate Salary

This rating compares the median salary of graduates from different universities.

Regional winner: University of Southern Queensland

Honourable mention: University of Tasmania

You can view the winners of each category for postgraduate study here.