CDU rises to top 200 for impact across universities worldwide

Charles Darwin University (CDU) has achieved its strongest-ever result in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, securing a place among the world's top 200 universities for impact.

Based on the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the Impact Rankings evaluate more than 1600 universities across the globe and rank their overall performance as well as their performance against individual goals. A university’s research, stewardship, outreach, and teaching contribute to the score in each of the goal categories, and contribute to the overall score.

CDU placed 8th in the world and 3rd nationally for Gender Equality (Goal 5), a marked improvement from an already strong position in 2025 at 41st internationally and 7th in Australia.

The University also ranked within the top 100 globally for Good Health and Wellbeing (Goal 3), Reduced Inequalities (Goal 10), and Sustainable Cities and Communities (Goal 11) this year.

CDU Interim Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Fiona Coulson said the results were reflective of the University’s continued commitment to serving the Northern Territory community and beyond, across a range of sectors.

"These results demonstrate that CDU is making a real difference through education, research and partnerships that improve lives across the Northern Territory and beyond," Professor Coulson said.  

“CDU champions respect as one of its core values, and to see such strong improvement in the University’s progress toward the UN’s Gender Equality goal is something we’re very proud of as an institution,” she said.

The strong performance follows CDU's recent rise in the QS World University Rankings, where the University climbed to 551 globally in 2027, up from 584 in 2026.  

The University’s strongest indicator was in the International Students category, improving from its position of 178 in 2026 to 119 in this year’s rankings and climbing to 14th among Australian universities.

The International Faculty category also contributed to CDU’s soaring position in the rankings, shifting from 483 to 441 globally and rising to 34th nationally.