5 Australian Universities in Top 100 of 2013 Academic World Universities Rankings, University of Melbourne in 54th Place

The University of Melbourne has once again claimed a top spot in the 2013 Academic World Universities Ranking produced by Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China. Australia's premier university, in terms of world academic rankings, has ranked 54^th among the Top 100 universities in the world.

University of Melbourne soared three places higher than last year's ranking. Australia has 5 universities that made it to the top 100 and 19 universities in all listed in the top 500. It cements the University of Melbourne's position as the most prestigious and premier educational institution in Australia.

Australia National University ranked 66^th in this year's Academic World University Rankings compared to its previous position in 2012 at 64^th place. University of Queensland ranked 85^th in the top 100, University of Western Australia at 91^st place and Sydney University at 97^th place to make 5 Australian universities to make it to the top 100.

Despite intense competition with other countries and the latest report that Australia is the most expensive country for foreign students, the Australian universities' performance still has one of the world's advanced research systems which still have ongoing funding concerns.

The Academic World University Rankings is considered as the most prestigious league table for universities. Belonging to the Top 100 or even Top 500 in the world rankings is said to be a great honour for universities around the world.

The recently released rankings measured the research performance of universities. To get on the list has become increasingly important since it attracts research students and academics which brings up the quality of education of any institution.

Harvard University maintains its reign as the world's best university, gaining first place in the 2013 Academic World University Rankings. The U.S. continues its ranking domination with 8 of the country's universities in the Top 10.

Only Japan's Kyoto University made it as Asia's representative in the Top 100 at 21^st place.

The 2013 list saw new universities entering the Top 500 for the first time. This includes King Abdullah University of Science and Technology which was involved in a controversy in 201 when it was accused of buying many world-class teachers and professors to improve its rankings among the universities in the world.

The Academic World Universities Rankings list also revealed that Australia possessed a strong life sciences discipline.

Top 100 Universities (Source: Times Higher Education)