Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
Career Counselling
The University of Adelaide is a pioneering institution of tertiary education located in Adelaide, South Australia. Almost 24,000 full-time students study at the university, of which over 30% are international students, and 73% are undergraduates, making for a vibrant, active, and diverse global student body. Established in 1874, it is Australia’s third oldest university.
The University is spread across four campuses: North Terrace, the main campus, is in central Adelaide and houses the majority of the teaching and research work. Roseworthy, situated t...
| Establishment year | 1874 |
| Total Students | 23,905 (equivalent full time students) |
| International Students | 9,155 |
| QS World University Rankings 2024 | 89 |
| Campus Size | N/A |
| Total Number of Campuses | 4 |
| University Website | https://www.adelaide.edu.au/ |
| No. of Schools and Divisions | 3 Faculties (Arts, Business, Law and Economics, Health and Medical Sciences, Sciences, Engineering and Technology) |
| Nobel Prize Winner Alumni | 5 (3 alumni + 2 faculty members) |
| No. of Education Programs | 164 (undergraduate), 220 (postgraduate) |
| Student to Faculty ratio | 22:1 |
The University of Adelaide offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses through 3 Faculties, which are further subdivided into schools and institutes.
International students must meet the minimum level of English proficiency required by the University. For this, four test scores are preferred by Uni Adelaide (applicants can choose any one): IELTS, TOEFL, Pearson Test of English, and Cambridge English Advanced. Other test scores may also be allowed on a case-by-case basis.
Undergraduate international applicants should first use the degree finder tool to check the minimum eligibility criteria relevant to the program to which they are applying. These criteria will be converted into equivalents for different countries of origin: the University maintains a full list of recognised Year 12 exams by country. Based on the degree, additional auditions may be required (for music degrees) and selection tests may be involved (for medical degrees).
Postgraduate international applicants will need an undergraduate degree from a recognised institution in most cases. Some degrees may accept graduate certificates or diplomas: these and other course- specific admission requirements can be found using the degree finder tool.
Domestic applicants (both undergraduate and postgraduate) primarily have to satisfy academic requirements that are similar to those for international candidates, which can be checked using the same degree search tool. The Year 12 results will usually be expressed as an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) score; every program has a minimum ATAR level, though competitive degrees may admit people with a score much above this. In addition, many degrees have prerequisite subjects that must have been taken in school, with a minimum qualifying level of performance required.
Domestic applicants to both undergraduate and postgraduate courses should follow these steps while applying:
International applicants to UG and PG degrees at the University start by checking eligibility criteria; application deadlines should also be checked since the timeline for international admission is longer than that for domestic candidates. Applications can either be submitted through a local agent of the university or directly to the university, in which case certified document copies must be mailed. Once the university accepts the application, an email with an offer letter is sent either to the applicant or to the agent. At the time of offer acceptance, international students will need to pay a deposit of $14,000 towards their tuition fees.
Undergraduate domestic students pay the lowest fees, on average: most tuition fees are subsidised by the Government through the Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) scheme. For example, the student contribution fee towards the Bachelor of Commerce degree is $13,095 per year.
International undergraduate students pay annual tuition fees that are substantially higher than those for domestic UGs. The corresponding international tuition fee for the Bachelor of Commerce degree is $46,000 per year. The highest fees are seen in the Bachelor of Dental Surgery program: the annual amount payable is $87,500.
Domestic postgraduate students have a fewer number of degrees subsidised under the CSP scheme; they have to pay full domestic fees in such cases as the MBA program, where the annual amount payable is $37,000.
International postgraduate students pay the highest average tuition fees at the University. For example, international tuition fees for the MBA degree are $49,000.
All students also have to pay a Student Services and Amenities Fee of $326 per year. The University helps students estimate living costs (including the cost of accommodation, food, travel, entertainment, books, and clothes) at approximately $350 - $700 per week spent on campus, with a total of 40 weeks spent on campus per year on average for an annual total of $14,000 to $28,000. International students must also buy health insurance as a prerequisite to joining the University.
The University of Adelaide has four campuses. The North Terrace campus is the main location, and is home to most academic and research activities at the University. It is located close to the City Centre of Adelaide. The Roseworthy campus is located 50 km north of the city of Adelaide, contains a farm, and houses veterinary research and agriculture facilities. The Waite campus, located just outside Adelaide, covers an area of 300 acres and is a centre of excellence in agriculture and wine making. The Melbourne campus is located at the Docklands in Melbourne, and is home to many foundation courses.
The University contains a range of campus facilities designed to assist academic activity, maintain health and fitness levels, and take part in social activities. There are four Student Hubs in the University; they serve as spaces for students to interact, study, and make new friends. University Health Practice provides clinical care to staff and students across all four campuses.
Adelaide University Sport and Fitness works to help students keep fit and maintain high physical health. Nearly 40 sports clubs and 3 gyms operate on campus, and ensure that there's always something for every student to do to stay active. Four main sports programs are in operation, for players at every level of experience and skill. Social sports are an ideal way for people to discover new sports while having fun. Sports clubs are an ongoing commitment, and help students develop teamwork and leadership skills through sport. Inter-varsity events are for the more skilled sportspeople, where they represent their University. Finally, Elite Athletes at the University of Adelaide are given personal mentoring to balance their sports careers with academic commitments.
The Career Services team at the University of Adelaide works to prepare students for professional life, and as a bridge between potential employers and the student body. CareerHub is the online portal that facilitates all these activities, with students able to view and apply to internships and jobs, and access online preparation resources. It can also be used by alumni of the University for up to a year after they graduate.
Career Services organises the Grad Employment Bootcamp for students entering their final year. This lasts for more than a month, and involves multiple seminars by Career Development Practitioners, ranging from job search training to practical interview simulators, resume development, and branding via LinkedIn. The aim is to ensure that every final year student is given an accurate picture of the job hunt process, and is completely ready to excel.
The University of Adelaide provides hundreds of scholarships to help students defray the high expenses arising from tuition and living costs. The full scholarship database contains filters so that UG and PG students can find options relevant to their Faculty and qualifications.
The Global Academic Excellence Scholarship is for both undergraduate and postgraduate international students. It is awarded upon entry based on previous academic excellence at the school / undergraduate degree level. Awardees receive a 50% tuition fee reduction; every Faculty awards two of these to students with the highest academic score, subject to certain minimum criteria (an ATAR of 98 or equivalent for undergraduates and a UG GPA of 6.8 out of 7 or equivalent for postgraduates).
There are also country specific scholarships at the University: for example, the Ashok Khurana Scholarship for Outstanding Indian Student is offered to one Indian full time postgraduate student every year (in specific areas, e.g. Aerospace, Clean Technology, Health Services, Education, Resources, Environment): it entails a tuition fee reduction of 50% throughout the degree, and an additional stipend of $30,000 that can be used to pay the remaining tuition fees and living costs. Selection for this award is made on the basis of academic excellence and a personal statement that reflects the applicant’s determination and potential to use their leadership skills to work towards the development of India in the long run.
