Group of Eight Universities Explained

The Prestigious Group of 8: Australia’s Top-Ranked Research Universities

The Group of Eight (Go8) is a group of prestigious Australian universities with a shared focus on providing world-class faculty and research facilities to improve academic standards across Australian university education.

Founded in 1999, the Group of Eight is commonly referred to as “Go8”, and its eight founding member universities currently host around 400,000 domestic and international students, accounting for nearly one-fourth of all university students in Australia.

Group of Eight Universities

The Go8 universities are commonly considered the best Australian universities for international students. The eight Go8 member universities are:

• Australian National University
• Monash University
• The University of Adelaide
• The University of Melbourne
• The University of Queensland
• The University of Sydney
• The University of Western Australia
• University of New South Wales

Of these prestigious Australian universities, The University of Sydney and University of New South Wales are both located in Sydney, Australia’s most populous city and a popular destination for international students. Melbourne, meanwhile, hosts Monash University and the University of Melbourne, while the Australian National University is located in the capital city of Canberra. Adelaide, the capital of South Australia, is home to the University of Adelaide. Finally, Perth and Brisbane host the University of Western Australia and University of Queensland respectively.

Go8 Universities by Ranking

As the chart shows, there are differences in rankings of the 8 Go8 members between the two prestigious university rankings, QS World and Times Higher Education. While Australian National University is well ranked on QS World, the University of Melbourne is the best university in Australia for international students according to Times Higher Education.

Is Go8 the same as the G8?

It is important to note that there is no connection between the Group of Eight Australian universities and the G8 group of countries. The G8 was a political organisation formed in 1997 and closed in 2014.

France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Japan, Canada and Russia were G8 members. After Russia’s exit in 2014, the group returned to being the G7.

Go8 versus Ivy League & Russell Group

The Russell Group is a group of 24 Universities in the United Kingdom with a reputation for academic achievement and world-class research. The Russell Group Universities include the original six red brick Universities, which are usually seen as the most prestigious universities in league ranking tables in the United Kingdom.

Meanwhile, the Ivy League is a group of 8 Universities in the United States of America. Just like the Go8 universities in Australia, the Ivy League Universities are usually some of the top-ranked universities worldwide for international students.

Go8 Degree Advantages for Employment

International students with degrees from Go8 colleges have secured nearly 75,000 jobs across Australia, indicating the high employability potential of a Go8 university degree. However, it is essential to understand that employers are more interested in your academic grades and professional skills than in your university degree.

The fact that nearly 50% of Australia’s employed engineers, doctors and many such high-income professionals are Go8 university graduates shows the advantages you can obtain as an international student with a good degree from a Go8 university in the Australian and international job market. The strong professional and research partnerships maintained by the universities will also make it far easier for you to locate and apply for your ideal jobs.

Go8 universities provide international students with an edge over others in terms of employment and name recognition, especially if you have a postgraduate degree.

Australia, additionally, is a popular choice for international students due to its vibrant life outside the classroom, high-quality sporting and cultural facilities, and a friendly atmosphere with a high immigrant population. Regardless of which university you prefer as an international student, you will surely have a memorable university experience at any of the prestigious Group of Eight Australian universities!

See all universities in Australia.