Uni of Melbourne ranked best for computer science in Oz

When it comes to sourcing graduates, Australian businesses have their pick from about 39 local universities. But only eight of these institutions rank in the top 100 for computer science degrees, according to Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings.

The University of Melbourne topped the eight, equal with the University of Hong Kong at 21st place, globally. Australian National University trailed behind 20 spots, falling in at 31st.

At 39th place, the University of Queensland beat the University of New South Wales by one spot. The sandstone University of Sydney lagged behind at 48th place, sharing the spot with the Tokyo Institute of Technology.

QS doesn't rank universities beyond the 50th place, instead placing them in 50 university brackets. Monash University, Queensland University of Technology and RMIT University made the 51-100 bracket; the University of Western Australia and the University of Technology, Sydney, sat in the 101-150 bracket; and Curtin University and the University of Adelaide trailed behind in the 151-200 bracket.

The top places on the board have traditionally been fought out by US and UK universities, and this year was no exception. Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Stanford University held first and second places, respectively. But the UK's University of Cambridge, which previously held on to the bronze medal, has been ousted by Carnegie Mellon University, resulting in an all-US podium this year.