Adelaide University

This article is about the future merged university. For the university to be merged, see University of Adelaide.
Adelaide University
This is an emblem of Adelaide University.
Other name
The University of Adelaide
(1874-present)
University of South Australia
(1991-present)
Motto
A university for the future
TypePre-merger university with transitional council[1]
Established8 March 2024; 7 months ago (8 March 2024)[2]
AccreditationTEQSA[3]
AffiliationGroup of Eight (invited)[4]
ChancellorPauline Carr[1]
Co-Vice ChancellorsPeter Høj[1]
David Lloyd[1]
Academic staff
2,705 (FTE, 2023)[a]
Administrative staff
3,340 (FTE, 2023)[a]
Total staff
6,620 (2023)[a]
Students65,157 (2023)[a]
Undergraduates34,299 (EFTSL, 2023)[a]
Postgraduates10,709 (EFTSL, 2023)[a]
Other students
772 (2023)[b]
Address
North Terrace
,
Adelaide
,
South Australia
,
5001
,
Australia[7]
CampusMetropolitan and regional with multiple sites[c]
Colours  White
  Dark Blue
  Bright Blue
  Limestone
  Purple[d]
Websiteadelaideuni.edu.au
This is the logo of Adelaide University.

Adelaide University is a planned public research university based in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 2024, it will combine the University of Adelaide, the third-oldest university in Australia, and the University of South Australia (UniSA) which has an antecedent history dating back to 1856. It is expected to operate concurrently with the two universities during a transition period with the merged university formally opening on January 2026. It will be adjacent to the Australian Space Agency in Lot Fourteen, form part of the Adelaide BioMed City research precinct and have a presence in the Adelaide Technology Park. The two institutions are currently neighbours on North Terrace but have additional campuses in other parts of the city and state.

The two antecedent universities' histories date back to the former Royal South Australian Society of Arts. The University of Adelaide was founded in 1874 by the Union College with studies initially conducted at its Institute Building. The society was also the birthplace of the South Australian Institute of Technology founded in 1889 as the School of Mines and Industries. The institute later became the University of South Australia during the Dawkins Revolution following a merger with amalgamated colleges dating back to the School of Art, also founded at the society. The two universities, which account for approximately three-quarters of the state's public university population, agreed to merge as Adelaide University in mid-2023.

The university will inherit seven campuses including the combined flagship Adelaide City campus in North Terrace, a tech-oriented campus in Mawson Lakes, the Magill campus specialising in social sciences, the Waite campus in Urrbrae and three regional campuses in Roseworthy, Mount Gambier and Whyalla. Its academic activities are currently divided between the two universities, which had a combined revenue of A$1.85 billion in 2023. It will also manage several museums and exhibitions in a range of fields, including the Samstag Museum and Adelaide Planetarium. It has been invited to join the Group of Eight, an association of research-intensive universities in Australia, and will play roles in the Australian space and defence sectors.

Adelaide University alumni, which will include those of the two antecedent universities, include the first female prime minister of Australia, two presidents of Singapore, the first astronaut born in Australia and the first demonstrator of nuclear fusion. The two universities have also produced a combined 116 Rhodes scholars, 169 Fulbright scholars and three Nobel laureates. Its history involve the development of penicillin, space exploration, sunscreen, the military tank, Wi-Fi, polymer banknotes and X-ray crystallography, and the study of viticulture and oenology.

  1. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference Governance was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Williams, John (12 March 2024). "Provost's message". The University of Adelaide. Adelaide, South Australia. Archived from the original on 29 March 2024. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
  3. ^ "Adelaide University". Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency. Melbourne, Victoria. Archived from the original on 25 July 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  4. ^ Savage, Crispin (2 July 2023). "Councils confirm support to transform higher education in SA". The University of Adelaide. Adelaide, South Australia. Archived from the original on 28 March 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  5. ^ a b "2023 Pocket Statistics" (PDF). The University of Adelaide. Adelaide, South Australia. June 2024. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 July 2024. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  6. ^ a b "2023 Annual Review" (PDF). University of South Australia. Adelaide, South Australia. 30 June 2024. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 September 2024. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Adelaide City Campus was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference Campuses was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ "Adelaide University Brand Story". Adelaide University. Adelaide, South Australia. Archived from the original on 15 July 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2024.


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