University of Adelaide logo

University of Adelaide

Adelaide, AU · Ranking #89

The University of Adelaide is one of Australia’s oldest and most prestigious public research universities, located in Adelaide, South Australia. As a member of the Group of Eight, it is recognised globally for research excellence, academic rigour, and industry‑linked education. The university offers a wide range of undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programs across disciplines including arts and humanities, business, engineering, health sciences, law, and sciences. It fosters a strong research culture with partnerships both locally and internationally, and emphasizes graduate employability, work‑integrated learning, and real‑world experiences. The Adelaide campus community supports a diverse student body with extensive student services, clubs and extracurricular activities.

University of Adelaide logo University of Adelaide

University of Adelaide

About the university

The University of Adelaide is one of Australia’s oldest and most prestigious public research universities, located in Adelaide, South Australia. As a member of the Group of Eight, it is recognised globally for research excellence, academic rigour, and industry‑linked education. The university offers a wide range of undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programs across disciplines including arts and humanities, business, engineering, health sciences, law, and sciences. It fosters a strong research culture with partnerships both locally and internationally, and emphasizes graduate employability, work‑integrated learning, and real‑world experiences. The Adelaide campus community supports a diverse student body with extensive student services, clubs and extracurricular activities.

Key information

  • Location: Adelaide, AU
  • Ranking #89
  • QS #82
  • THE #128
  • US News #92
  • National ranking #8
  • Institution type: public

Popular faculties

  • Arts & Humanities
  • Business
  • Engineering
  • Health Sciences
  • Law
  • Science
  • Food & Wine
  • Agriculture

Programs (29)

  • Computer Science
  • Engineering
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Medicine
  • Nursing
  • Pharmacy
  • Business Administration
  • Economics
  • Finance and Accounting
  • Marketing
  • Tourism and Hospitality
  • Law
  • Political Science
  • International Relations
  • Philosophy
  • History
  • Linguistics
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Physics
  • Mathematics
  • Environmental Science
  • Psychology
  • Sociology
  • Anthropology
  • Education
  • Fine Arts
  • Music

Student body

  • Total students: 30,000
  • Undergraduate: 19,000
  • Graduate: 10,000
  • International students: 35%

Campus life

The University of Adelaide's North Terrace campus is located in the heart of Adelaide's cultural boulevard, surrounded by the Art Gallery of South Australia, the South Australian Museum, and the Adelaide Botanic Garden. The campus blends beautiful 19th-century heritage buildings with modern research facilities. As part of Australia's Group of Eight, the university offers a prestigious research-intensive experience in one of the world's most livable cities. Adelaide is renowned for its affordable cost of living compared to Sydney and Melbourne. In 2026, the University of Adelaide will merge with the University of South Australia to form Adelaide University. The campus hosts over 130 clubs, and students enjoy Adelaide's famous food and wine culture, with the Barossa Valley wine region just an hour away.

Housing & accommodation

Housing cost: $900 - $1,500 / per week

Housing options

  • The Village (CBD location, largest university-managed)
  • Mattanya (near campus)
  • Roseworthy Residential College (rural campus)
  • Scape at University of Adelaide (on-campus)
  • St Mark's College (North Adelaide)
  • Yugo Adelaide City (700+ beds)

Student clubs and organizations

  • Adelaide University Union
  • Engineering Society
  • Medical Students Society
  • Wine Appreciation Society
  • Debating
  • Over 130 clubs

Sports

  • Football
  • Cricket
  • Rowing
  • Swimming
  • Rugby
  • Hockey
  • Tennis
  • Netball

Career & internships

Employment rate: 90%

Partner companies

  • PwC
  • Deloitte
  • EY
  • KPMG
  • BHP
  • CSIRO

Internships: The University of Adelaide integrates internships and placements as part of its Work Integrated Learning (WIL) approach, offering structured short‑term industry placements and research internships that help build employability skills and practical experience. These opportunities are designed to connect academic study with real‑world professional environments and are available across diverse disciplines, enhancing career readiness. Career Services and CareerHub provide support for finding placements, preparing resumes and developing employability skills.

Admission requirements

Required tests

  • IELTS
  • TOEFL

Required documents

  • Application form
  • Academic transcripts
  • English proficiency (IELTS/TOEFL)
  • Personal Statement
  • References

Minimum GPA: 3

Tuition costs

  • $28,000 - $48,000 / per year
  • Acceptance rate: 70.00%
  • Scholarships available: The University of Adelaide provides a variety of scholarships for international and domestic students. These include academic merit scholarships, Global Citizens Scholarships with tuition fee reductions, Global Academic Excellence Scholarships, and research scholarships like Adelaide Graduate Research Scholarships (AGRS) for higher degree research candidates. Faculty‑specific and region‑based awards may also be available, and eligibility is generally competitive, based on academic performance, leadership or research potential. Students can explore and apply for scholarships through the central university portal with defined criteria and deadlines.

Quick facts

  • Founded: 1874
  • Teaching languages: english
  • Study formats: offline

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