Macquarie University vs Monash University: Which Is Right for You in 2027?
Macquarie University vs Monash University: Which Is Right for You in 2027?
Introduction
Choosing between Macquarie University and Monash University is really two decisions. First: Sydney or Melbourne, and do you want to move states? Second: what kind of uni? Macquarie centres on one main campus with its own metro station, a hospital on site and a business park around it. Monash is bigger and spread out, with Clayton at the centre and smaller campuses that each specialise.
Monash is ahead on rankings, fifth in Australia in QS 2027 to Macquarie's 11th. But the bigger differences are how you get in, what's built into your degree and where you'll live.
The short version
- Lean Macquarie if you live in Sydney and want a metro ride to class.
- Lean Monash for a double degree: more than 90 per cent of its Law students take one.
- Lean Macquarie if you're in Year 10 or 11 with strong results and leadership to show: its early entry scheme uses Year 11 results.
- Lean Monash if you've had a tough run: the Monash Guarantee publishes a lower guaranteed ATAR for equity backgrounds.
- Lean Monash for a guaranteed short industry project (you'll need room for an elective).
1. Overview and Reputation
On paper, Monash is ahead: higher in the QS 2027 rankings, a Group of Eight member and much bigger. Macquarie is younger and smaller, centred on one main campus, and it leads with industry links and the health precinct around its hospital. If rankings weigh heavily for you, Monash has the edge; if you want one main campus close to employers, Macquarie makes a strong case.
Macquarie was founded in 1964. Its main campus, the Wallumattagal Campus in Macquarie Park, is 15 km from the Sydney CBD by the uni's count. In 2025 it had about 46,000 students across seven faculties.
Its pitch is getting you ready for work: Macquarie says more than 300 industry partners are on campus or in the precinct next door (its 2023 figure). It came equal 126th in the QS World University Rankings 2027 (11th in Australia). For you, that means one self-contained campus where business and health sit right beside your classes.
Monash was founded in 1958, named after Sir John Monash, and is a Group of Eight member (one of the eight leading research unis); Macquarie isn't.
Monash calls itself Australia's largest university, with 78,230 students in 2024. Clayton, in Melbourne's south-east, is the main campus, while Caulfield, Peninsula and Parkville each focus on particular fields. Monash came 31st in the QS World University Rankings 2027 (fifth in Australia). For you, that's a huge range of degrees, so check which campus teaches yours before you picture yourself at Clayton.
QS World University Rankings 2027: equal 126th (11th in Australia)
Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2027: equal 161st (9th in Australia)
Student experience: 74.8% of undergraduates rate their overall educational experience positively (national average 76.5%)
Graduate employment: 71.5% of undergraduate graduates looking for full-time work had found it (national average 76.2%)
Graduate median salary: $72,000 for undergraduate graduates in full-time work (national average $74,000)
QS World University Rankings 2027: 31st (5th in Australia)
Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2027: 61st (3rd in Australia)
Student experience: 74.5% of undergraduates rate their overall educational experience positively (national average 76.5%)
Graduate employment: 77.2% of undergraduate graduates looking for full-time work had found it (national average 76.2%)
Graduate median salary: $73,900 for undergraduate graduates in full-time work (national average $74,000)
2. Academic Focus and Teaching Style
Both let you head towards a profession straight from Year 12; the difference is what each wraps around it. Macquarie's signature is PACE, which brings work and community experience into study, plus a broad business line-up. Monash's is the double degree, the norm in its Law school, along with a mid-year intake for many courses and a dedicated IT faculty.
The feature to know is PACE (Professional and Community Engagement), Macquarie's programme of work placements and community experiences. It's compulsory: Macquarie says every bachelor degree includes at least one PACE unit, and that it has delivered more than 40,000 of them.
The year runs in sessions, and UAC lists 22 February 2027 as the next start. Business is a big part of the mix: Macquarie Business School is on campus and accredited by AACSB, an international business school body, with degrees including Commerce, Actuarial Studies and Applied Finance.
Macquarie tends to suit you if you:
- want placements or community work built into every degree
- are drawn to commerce, actuarial studies or finance
Monash lets you start professional degrees straight from school, including Laws (Honours), Engineering (Honours) and Medicine. What stands out is how many students double up: its 2027 course guide says more than 90 per cent of Law students and more than half of Arts students take a double degree. Engineering (Honours) is four years: a common first year, then one of 10 specialisations, all accredited by Engineers Australia.
Many courses also take a July intake, and Monash says it's the only Group of Eight uni with a whole faculty dedicated to IT.
Monash tends to suit you if you:
- want a double degree to keep two career paths open
- are set on law, engineering, IT or medicine from school
3. Research and Global Impact
Macquarie University
Macquarie's research is easiest to see in health. Macquarie University Hospital is on campus, and the uni says it's the centre of Australia's first fully integrated health precinct, with public clinics such as a Psychology Clinic and a Speech and Hearing Clinic. Heading into health or psychology? Ask how undergrads use them.
Monash University
At Monash, the hands-on route for undergrads runs through industry: the Monash Innovation Guarantee (see section 6) and faculty options such as Engineering's Industry Innovation Program. Pharmacy students are based at Parkville, close to hospitals and research institutes.
4. Campus Life and Student Experience
A day in the life at...
Macquarie University
Monash University
Macquarie University
Macquarie says it's the only university in Australia with its own metro station, so if you live near the line, getting to class is easy. On site you'll find the hospital, a bulk-billed GP Clinic and the Sport & Aquatic Centre, and Macquarie lists over 90 student and sports groups. The feel: its own green suburb, with a business park wrapped around it.
Monash University
Clayton is a campus town, with housing, sport, libraries, health services and shops. There's no train station on campus: take the train to Huntingdale, then a bus. A free shuttle links Clayton and Caulfield. The Monash Student Association lists over 100 clubs and societies at Clayton. The feel: big and self-contained, easy if you live on or near it and a trek if you commute across Melbourne.
5. Student Support and Wellbeing
On QILT data, 68.2 per cent of Macquarie undergrads and 67.4 per cent of Monash's rated their support positively: about the same, and a little under the national average of 71.2 per cent. The help is there at both, so find it early.
Macquarie University
Macquarie's wellbeing service offers counselling one-on-one, in groups or online. Accessibility Services sets up an Individual Education Access Plan covering things like exam adjustments and note takers. Walanga Muru is the uni's Indigenous unit.
Monash University
Monash offers counselling, Counselling Help Online, and medical and dental services. Disability Support Services arranges study and exam adjustments. Through Peer Mentoring, first-years are matched with two senior students before semester starts. The William Cooper Institute supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and runs the Indigenous Entry Scheme.
6. Employability and Industry Connections
The graduate figures lean to Monash. On QILT data via ComparED, 77.2 per cent of Monash graduates looking for full-time work had found it, against 71.5 per cent at Macquarie (national average 76.2 per cent). Median salaries were closer: $73,900 at Monash and $72,000 at Macquarie.
Macquarie University
Macquarie's case rests on PACE and location: with 300-plus industry partners nearby, placements and part-time work could be close. Career support helps with job searches and applications, and you can keep using it for 12 months after you graduate.
Monash University
The standout is the Monash Innovation Guarantee: a three-week industry challenge unit with one of 50 partners, open to eligible degrees with no application or interview, if you have room for an elective. In 2027 it runs from 11 to 29 January. Faculties add more, such as Engineering's Co-operative Education Program and Law's clinical legal education.
Watch our unbiased, independent reviews for Macquarie University and Monash University
7. Cost, Entry and Lifestyle
Getting in
You apply to Macquarie through UAC (NSW's admissions centre) and to Monash through VTAC (Victoria's), even from another state. Your selection rank is your ATAR plus adjustment factors (bonus points for things like strong related subjects or tough circumstances).
- Macquarie: the Leaders and Achievers Early Entry Scheme makes early offers based on Year 11 results plus leadership and community involvement. Applications for 2027 closed on 24 July and 3 September 2026, so Year 10 and 11 students should plan for next year. Academic Advantage adds up to 6 points automatically for strong related Year 12 subjects, and the Educational Access Scheme up to 10.
- Monash: its admissions pages list no early offer scheme. The Monash Guarantee promises an offer at a lower published ATAR if you have an equity background: for 2027, 77 for Commerce, 75 for Engineering and 85 for Laws. It needed the VTAC equity application, which closed on 9 October 2026. Adjustments are capped at 20 points on your aggregate (the raw total your ATAR comes from).
Commerce, lowest ATAR offered before adjustments, 2026 intake: 67.60 at Macquarie (Semester 1) and 77.20 at Monash (school leavers). Macquarie's lowest selection rank for Commerce was 80.15. Both offer diplomas as a second route in.
What it costs
In a Commonwealth supported place (CSP), the government pays part of your fees and your capped contribution is the same at both: in 2026, up to $9,537 a year for science, engineering or computing and $17,399 for law, commerce or humanities. HECS-HELP, a government loan, means you don't pay upfront.
- Macquarie: the Leaders and Achievers Scholarship pays $10,000 a year for up to five years; the 2027 round closed on 3 September 2026.
- Monash: the Sir John Monash Scholarships for Distinction pay $8,000 a year for up to four years at an ATAR of 99.95, assessed automatically. Hardship scholarships came through the equity application that closed on 9 October 2026.
Where you'll live
Monash's 2027 rates run from $355.95 to $443.80 a week at Clayton Residential Village, utilities and internet included; applications opened on 1 September 2026, first come, first served. Macquarie's Central Courtyard charges $308 to $644 a week in 2027, bills, wi-fi and gym included. Macquarie's affiliated colleges include meals, with 2027 fees of $530 to $803 a week at Robert Menzies College (RMC's accommodation page) and $644 to $798 at Dunmore Lang College (its fees page).
International students: see Monash's fees page and Macquarie's international student pages.
8. Which One’s Right for You?
You might feel at home at Macquarie University if you:
- live in Sydney and want a campus you can reach by metro
- want placements and an industry precinct on your doorstep
- are heading into health or psychology
- are drawn to commerce, actuarial studies or finance
You might feel at home at Monash University if you:
- want a double degree, especially with Law or Arts
- want a guaranteed industry project during your degree
- are into IT and want a dedicated faculty
- are happy to move to Melbourne, or already live there
Neither is the better uni. Your next step: compare entry scores, placements and double-degree options for your course at each. Moving states? Price a room and the trips home. And if you can, go to both Open Days and ride the commute you'd actually do.
Here to help you choose the right uni
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