University of Adelaide
A world-leading research university known for academic excellence and innovation. Consistently ranked among the top institutions globally, offering cutting-edge programs across multiple disciplines with strong industry connections.
- Acceptance Rate
- 17.2%
- SAT Range
- 1330–1480
- ACT Range
- N/A
- Avg GPA
- 3.85
- Size
- Large (32,723 students)
- Type
- N/A
- Student:Faculty
- 1:11
- Setting
- urban
- Graduation Rate
- 89.0%
- Retention Rate
- 97.0%
- Tuition (In-State)
- $12,000
- Tuition (Int'l)
- $45,000
Academic Programs
STEM
Business
Social Sciences
Humanities
Health
Arts
English Proficiency Requirements
Student Life & Environment
Campus life centers on the Hub, a modern student center on North Terrace featuring food outlets, study spaces, and the student association offices. The Adelaide University Union runs over 130 clubs covering interests from anime to zoology, and new students quickly find communities matching their passions. Residential colleges including St. Mark's, St. Ann's, Lincoln, and Aquinas provide on-campus living with meals, academic support, and active social calendars. College life can be formative, building friendships that last beyond graduation. Most students after first year find housing in nearby suburbs like North Adelaide, Norwood, or the CBD itself, where apartment living puts them close to the city's bars, restaurants, and cultural venues. Sports and recreation use the university's facilities as well as Adelaide's excellent public parklands surrounding the city center. The Adelaide Oval, one of the world's most beautiful cricket and football grounds, sits adjacent to campus. The social scene extends into Rundle Street's cafes and the laneways of the East End, where students mix with the broader Adelaide creative community.
Location & Surroundings
Adelaide occupies a unique position among Australian capitals. Smaller than Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth, it offers genuine urban life without the congestion and costs of larger cities. The city of about 1.3 million spreads across a coastal plain between the Adelaide Hills and Gulf St. Vincent, with parklands ringing the city center in a design dating to the original colonial survey. The climate delivers Mediterranean conditions with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 35°C and heat waves above 40°C occur annually. Winter days hover around 15°C with regular rainfall. The beach suburbs from Glenelg to Henley provide summer swimming and a coastal lifestyle, while the Hills offer cooler temperatures, wineries, and bushwalking within 30 minutes of the CBD. South Australia's wine regions cluster remarkably close to the city. The Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Adelaide Hills, and Clare Valley all sit within an hour's drive, making wine tourism an easy weekend pursuit. Kangaroo Island requires a longer journey but rewards with wildlife encounters.
Costs & Career Outcomes
Australian students access HECS-HELP loans for tuition, with repayment deferred until income exceeds threshold levels. Annual contributions range from about $4,000 for humanities to $11,000 for medicine, varying by field of study. International students pay full fees ranging from approximately $35,000 to $90,000 AUD annually depending on program. Living costs in Adelaide run noticeably lower than in Sydney and Melbourne, a significant advantage for students managing budgets. Shared housing near the city costs roughly $150 to $250 weekly, and modest student lifestyles require $15,000 to $20,000 annually beyond tuition. Career outcomes reflect Adelaide's strong industry connections and the Group of Eight reputation. Graduates find opportunities in South Australia's key sectors including defense, wine and food, health, and resources. The university's smaller scale means stronger alumni community connections than some larger institutions provide. Career services offer resume reviews, interview coaching, and employer networking events. Work-integrated learning programs embed industry experience into many degrees. Graduates increasingly look beyond South Australia, with the Adelaide credential recognized nationally and internationally.
Campus Location
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