Australia's universities are steady performers on the international stage but their fast-rising Asian competitors are overtaking them.
And that could happen more quickly if the Turnbull government's proposed funding cuts clear parliament.
The University of Melbourne (32nd) and the Australian National University (48th) again top local entrants on the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, released overnight.
All up, 35 of Australia's 40 universities made the rankings.
Out of these, 11 jumped ahead, 14 held steady and 10 fell compared with their results last year.
By comparison, Chinese universities are rapidly climbing the rankings each year.
In 2017, Tsinghua University overtook the University of Melbourne while the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology now outperforms ANU.
"Australia's leading institutions are already falling behind peers in mainland China and Hong Kong, which receive high and sustained levels of state funding," global rankings director Phil Baty said.
"Funding cuts proposed by the government could seriously harm the country's institutions in future editions of the rankings."
Australia had to continue to invest in its universities and stay a welcoming place for international students and staff if it wanted to remain a key global player in higher education, Mr Baty said.
The government wants to cut funding from universities in 2018 and 2019 and lift student fees.
Its proposed changes to temporary working visas have also raised concerns about the impact on academics and researchers coming to work in Australian institutions.
Education Minister Simon Birmingham said the results showed Australian universities punched above their weight on the global stage.
"These rankings highlight that Australia's university sector continues to go from strength to strength," he said.
"In a competitive world Australia and our universities cannot rest on their laurels. We need to adapt and respond to student needs and ensure our universities are set up for the future."
He insists the government's funding overhaul will maintain a strong level of investment in universities.
AUSTRALIAN UNIVERSITIES IN THE GLOBAL TOP 100
* University of Melbourne (32)
* Australian National University (48)
* University of Sydney (61)
* University of Queensland (65)
* Monash University (80)
* University of New South Wales (85)
