← Universities

SAPublicEst. 1874

The University of Adelaide

Australia's third-oldest university, on Kaurna Country. Strong in wine science, medicine, engineering and law.

North Terrace, Adelaide SA 5005

  • Group of Eight member
  • QS World Top 100

What student life looks like

The North Terrace city campus sits on Kaurna Country directly opposite Parliament House and the Adelaide Cultural Boulevard, with the Bonython Hall, Mitchell and Barr Smith libraries the long- running anchors. Engineering and Mathematical Sciences sit a short walk from the law and humanities precinct, and the Adelaide Health and Medical Sciences building connects to the Royal Adelaide Hospital across the road. Two further teaching sites sit at Waite, the agricultural and viticulture campus 15 minutes south, and Roseworthy, the veterinary, dryland farming and animal sciences campus 50 kilometres north. From 2026 the institution is merging with the University of South Australia to form Adelaide University; until full merger most teaching continues at North Terrace. Accommodation runs through the on-campus colleges (St Mark's, St Ann's, Lincoln, Aquinas, Kathleen Lumley) and Adelaide Graduate Centre. Most students live in the inner-north suburbs along the Gawler line or in the city itself. The Adelaide Uni Student Representative Council and the Adelaide University Union run a long-standing clubs programme. Semester one runs late February to early June and semester two late July to early November.

Known for

  • Group of Eight research-intensive
  • Australia's third-oldest university with strong medical and law schools
  • Adelaide Medical School with Royal Adelaide Hospital teaching network
  • Faculty of Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Sciences
  • School of Agriculture, Food and Wine at Waite (top in Australia for wine)
  • Adelaide Veterinary School at Roseworthy
  • Adelaide Business School with AACSB accreditation

Research strengths

  • Robinson Research Institute for reproduction and child health
  • Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing
  • Australian Centre for Cancer Genomics and Personalised Medicine
  • Centre for Global Food and Resources
  • Australian Institute for Machine Learning
  • Stretton Institute for public policy
  • Centre for Energy Technology

Cost of living (student estimate)

$21,000 - $29,000 per year

Adelaide is one of the more affordable Australian student cities. Includes shared rental in the city or inner north, groceries, public transport, utilities and modest entertainment. Excludes tuition.

Source: https://www.studyaustralia.gov.au/en/plan-your-studies/living-costs. Last reviewed 2026-05-21.

Student support

  • Wirltu Yarlu Aboriginal Education Unit
  • Disability Support
  • Counselling and Mental Health
  • International Student Support
  • Writing Centre and academic skills support
  • Financial Assistance and emergency loans
  • Safer Campus Community team

Is this the right uni for you?

You probably thrive here if

  • You want a Go8 reputation in a compact walkable city
  • You are aiming at medicine, veterinary science, wine science or agriculture
  • You want low cost-of-living relative to Sydney or Melbourne
  • You want strong research-led teaching on a single inner-city site
  • You are open to relocating between North Terrace, Waite and Roseworthy

It is probably not for you if

  • You want a CBD with the scale of inner Sydney or Melbourne
  • You depend on a large international airport with frequent direct flights
  • You want a multi-campus university across multiple states
  • You expect a large student nightlife precinct on the doorstep

The year at a glance

Semester one runs late February to early June with a mid-semester break in mid-April and exams in early June. Semester two runs late July to early November with a mid-semester break in late September and exams in early November. Results release follows in early July and mid-December. Summer school runs December to February in short condensed units. Orientation week sits in the week before semester one.

Faculties and courses

16 undergraduate courses across 9 faculties.

Sources

TEQSA registered Australian University. Member of the Group of Eight.