Best universities by subject in each state: Australian skill shortage list

Other categories

Knowing which professions are facing a national skills shortage is one thing, but it is another to choose the right provider and undergraduate course for you.

Queensland Minister for Skills and Training, Brendan O’Connor, says on The Courier Mail that you need to be supported to do what you are good at and what you enjoy no matter whether it is through the VET or university pathway.

He says: ‘… access to education and training … is critical to a person’s employment prospects.’

‘Learning new skills, acquiring knowledge and cultivating innovation is key to boosting incomes and living standards…’

By simply coming across this article, we understand you’ll likely be part of a ‘bigger, better trained and more skilled workforce’.

The Australian Government has identified high priority occupation areas that require more talent nation-wide, highlighting the amount of employment opportunities there.

Find the right provider for you and make your decision regarding your undergraduate study – whether or not it’s aligned with Australia’s talent gap.

Our latest university rankings will also help you to identify which universities rank highest in several categories, including the overall experience and full-time employment criteria. The overall experience rating looks at the proportion of students who were satisfied with the overall quality of their educational experience. The full-time employment rating looks at the proportion of graduates who were employed full-time four months after completing their course.

Depending on what’s important to you – e.g. a great study experience or other – we have listed the universities that come on top in each of these categories, in study areas that feed into Australia’s skills shortage according to the National Skills Commission, by state.

Every student and every provider are different, so speak with the institution representatives, its alumni and current students and/or independent career advisors to find an institution that fits you best.

For now, let’s look at each state’s top-ranking education providers in courses that are attached to the national skills shortage list.

Professions facing national skills shortages: Clinical, educational and organisational psychologists

Best universities for psychology in Australia, in order:

VIC

Overall experience	Full-time employment
Deakin University	Monash University
Swinburne University of Technology	Swinburne University of Technology
Victoria University	Deakin University
RMIT University	University of Melbourne
La Trobe University	RMIT University

NSW

Overall experience	Full-time employment
University of New England	University of New England
Southern Cross University	Charles Sturt University
Macquarie University	University of New South Wales
University of Newcastle	University of Sydney
University of Western Sydney	Macquarie University

ACT & NT

Overall experience	Full-time employment
University of Canberra	Charles Darwin University
Charles Darwin University	University of Canberra
Australian National University	Australian National University

QLD

Overall experience	Full-time employment
Bond University	University of Southern Queensland
University of Southern Queensland	University of Queensland
University of Sunshine Coast	University of Sunshine Coast
University of Queensland	Queensland University of Technology
Griffith University	Griffith University

TAS

Overall experience	Full-time employment
University of Tasmania	University of Tasmania

Overall experience	Full-time employment
Edith Cowan University	Edith Cowan University
Curtin University	Curtin University
Murdoch University	Murdoch University
Murdoch University	University of Western Australia

Overall experience	Full-time employment
Flinders University	Flinders University
University of South Australia	University of South Australia
University of Adelaide	University of Adelaide

If you want to learn more about the relevant courses of study, check out our guide on how to become a psychologist.

Professions facing national skills shortages: Veterinarian and veterinary nurse

Best universities for veterinary science, in order:

VIC

Overall experience	Full-time employment
La Trobe University	La Trobe University

NSW

Overall experience	Full-time employment
Charles Sturt University	Charles Sturt University
University of Sydney	University of Sydney

ACT & NT

N/A

QLD

Overall experience	Full-time employment
James Cook University	James Cook University
University of Queensland	University of Queensland

TAS

N/A

Overall experience	Full-time employment
Murdoch University	Murdoch University

Overall experience	Full-time employment
University of Adelaide	N/A

If you want to learn more about the relevant courses of study, check out our guide on how to become a vet or veterinary nurse.

Professions facing national skills shortages: Registered nurse (in the fields of aged care, child and family health, community health, developmental disability, medical, mental health and more)

Best nursing university in Australia, in order:

VIC

Overall experience	Full-time employment
Deakin University	Monash University
Swinburne University of Technology	Deakin University
La Trobe University	La Trobe University
Federation University	Federation University
Monash University	RMIT University

NSW

Overall experience	Full-time employment
Avondale University	Charles Sturt University
University of Wollongong	Southern Cross University
University of Sydney	University of Sydney
University of New England	University of Technology Sydney
University of Technology Sydney	University of Newcastle

ACT & NT

Overall experience	Full-time employment
Charles Darwin University	University of Canberra
University of Canberra	Charles Darwin University

QLD

Overall experience	Full-time employment
Griffith University	James Cook University
University of Sunshine Coast	University of Southern Queensland
James Cook University	University of Queensland
University of Queensland	Queensland University of Technology
University of Southern Queensland	Bond University

TAS

Overall experience	Full-time employment
University of Tasmania	University of Tasmania

Overall experience	Full-time employment
Edith Cowan University	Curtin University
Murdoch University	Murdoch University
Curtin University	Edith Cowan University

Overall experience	Full-time employment
University of Adelaide	University of South Australia
University of South Australia	University of Adelaide
Flinders University	Flinders University

If you want to learn more about the relevant courses of study, check out our guide on how to become a registered nurse.

Professions facing national skills shortages: Medical practitioner

Best universities in Australia for medicine, in order:

VIC

Overall experience	Full-time employment
Monash University	Deakin University
	Monash University
	University of Melbourne

NSW

Overall experience	Full-time employment
University of Sydney	University of Western Sydney
University of Wollongong	University of New South Wales
University of New England	University of Newcastle
University of New South Wales	University of New England
University of Newcastle	University of Sydney

ACT & NT

N/A

QLD

Overall experience	Full-time employment
James Cook University	James Cook University
Bond University	James Cook University

TAS

Overall experience	Full-time employment
University of Tasmania	University of Tasmania

Overall experience	Full-time employment
Curtin University	Curtin University
Curtin University	University of Western Australia

Overall experience	Full-time employment
Flinders University	Adelaide University
Adelaide University	Adelaide University

If you want to learn more about the relevant courses of study, check out our guide on how to become a medical practitioner.

Professions facing national skills shortages: Dentist

Best dentistry universities in Australia, in order:

VIC

Overall experience	Full-time employment
La Trobe University	La Trobe University
University of Melbourne	University of Melbourne

NSW

Overall experience	Full-time employment
University of Newcastle	Charles Sturt University
Charles Sturt University	University of Newcastle
University of Sydney	University of Sydney

ACT & NT

N/A

QLD

Overall experience	Full-time employment
James Cook University	James Cook University
Griffith University	University of Queensland
University of Queensland	University of Queensland

TAS

N/A

Overall experience	Full-time employment
Curtin University	N/A

Overall experience	Full-time employment
University of Adelaide	University of Adelaide

If you want to learn more about the relevant courses of study, check out our guide on how to become a dentist.

Professions facing national skills shortages: Electrical and civil engineers

Best engineering universities in Australia, in order:

VIC

Overall Experience	Full-time employment
Deakin University	Monash University
RMIT University	La Trobe University
Federation University	Deakin University
Victoria University	Swinburne University of Technology
La Trobe University	RMIT University

NSW

Overall Experience	Full-time employment
Southern Cross University	University of Wollongong
Charles Sturt University	University of Newcastle
University of Newcastle	University of Sydney
University of Sydney	University of New South Wales
University of Wollongong	University of Technology Sydney

ACT & NT

Overall Experience	Full-time employment
University of Canberra	Charles Darwin University
Australian National University	Australian National University
Charles Darwin University	Australian National University

QLD

Overall Experience	Full-time employment
University of Southern Queensland	University of Southern Queensland
University of Sunshine Coast	James Cook University
University of Queensland	University of Queensland
James Cook University	University of Sunshine Coast
Griffith University	Queensland University of Technology

TAS

Overall Experience	Full-time employment
University of Tasmania	University of Tasmania

Overall Experience	Full-time employment
Edith Cowan University	Curtin University
Curtin University	Murdoch University
Murdoch University	Edith Cowan University
Murdoch University	University of Western Australia

Overall Experience	Full-time employment
Flinders University	Flinders University
University of South Australia	University of Adelaide
University of Adelaide	University of South Australia

If you want to learn more about the relevant courses of study, check out our guide on how to become a civil engineer and electrical engineer.

Professions facing national skills shortages: Physiotherapist

Best physiology universities in Australia, in order:

VIC

Overall experience	Full-time employment
Federation University	Monash University
Deakin University	La Trobe University
La Trobe University	Deakin University

NSW

Overall experience	Full-time employment
Southern Cross University	Charles Sturt University
University of Newcastle	University of Newcastle
University of Sydney	Western Sydney University
Western Sydney University	Southern Cross University
Charles Sturt University	University of Sydney

ACT & NT

Overall experience	Full-time employment
University of Canberra	University of Canberra

QLD

Overall experience	Full-time employment
University of Sunshine Coast	James Cook University
Griffith University	University of Sunshine Coast
James Cook University	University of Queensland
University of Queensland	Griffith University

TAS

N/A

Overall experience	Full-time employment
Edith Cowan University	Edith Cowan University
Curtin University	Curtin University

Overall Experience	Full-time employment
Flinders University	University of South Australia
University of South Australia	Flinders University
University of Adelaide	Flinders University

If you want to learn more about the relevant courses of study, check out our guide on how to become a physiotherapist.

Best universities by subject in each state: Australian skill shortage list

Other categories

Spotlight on careers

After graduation: getting a job

Professions facing national skills shortages: Clinical, educational and organisational psychologists

Professions facing national skills shortages: Veterinarian and veterinary nurse

Professions facing national skills shortages: Registered nurse (in the fields of aged care, child and family health, community health, developmental disability, medical, mental health and more)

Professions facing national skills shortages: Medical practitioner

Professions facing national skills shortages: Dentist

Professions facing national skills shortages: Electrical and civil engineers

Professions facing national skills shortages: Physiotherapist

Other categories

Spotlight on careers

After graduation: getting a job