The university was founded in its current form in 1991 with the merger of the South Australian Institute of Technology (SAIT, established in 1889 as the South Australian School of Mines and Industries) and the South Australian College of Advanced Education (SACAE, established 1856).[22] The legislation to establish and name the new University of South Australia was introduced by the Hon Mike Rann MP, then Minister of Employment and Further Education.[23] Under the University's Act, its original mission was "to preserve, extend and disseminate knowledge through teaching, research, scholarship and consultancy, and to provide educational programs that will enhance the diverse cultural life of the wider community".[24]
UniSA is among the world's top newer universities, ranked in the World's Top 50 Under 50 (universities which are under 50 years old) by both the Quacarelli Symonds (QS) World University Ranking (#29) and Times Higher Education (THE) (#46). It has two Adelaide city centre campuses, two Adelaide metropolitan campuses, and two South Australian regional campuses.
^"About UniSA". University of South Australia. Archived from the original on 8 July 2024. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
^ abcdefgh"2022 Annual Review"(PDF). University of South Australia. 30 June 2023. Archived(PDF) from the original on 2 June 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
^"Chancellor's Office". University of South Australia. Archived from the original on 26 December 2023. Retrieved 14 July 2024.