Three Queensland universities, including one institution you might not have expected, have ranked among the world's best in a range of subjects.

The latest QS World University Rankings by Subject lists Queensland universities 22 times in the top 50 rankings, with the state's largest and oldest university leading the charge.

Queensland universities have been ranked among the world's best. Credit:Louise Kennerley

The University of Queensland was ranked in the top 50 globally for 19 subjects including education, medicine and law.

UQ topped the class nationwide with a global ranking of 11 in environmental sciences and was the second highest-ranked for agriculture and forestry at 15, trailing only the Australian National University's seventh place.