University of Adelaide Admission Guide for International Students

About the University of Adelaide and Adelaide University

Adelaide University is a public research university in Adelaide, South Australia, and a member of Australia's Group of Eight (Go8). It was formed in January 2026 by combining the long-established University of Adelaide with the University of South Australia (UniSA), officially opening on 5 January 2026. If you previously searched for "University of Adelaide", the official information now sits on the Adelaide University website (adelaide.edu.au); in its founding legislation the university was also given the Kaurna name "Tirkangkaku", meaning "Place of Learning".

This guide outlines the general international-application process for studying in Adelaide. Requirements differ by program and are updated every year, so always confirm the current details for your chosen course on the official Adelaide University website before applying.

How Adelaide University is organised

Adelaide University is structured into six colleges, each subdivided into academic schools: the College of Business and Law; the College of Creative Arts, Design and Humanities; the College of Education, Behavioural and Social Sciences; the College of Engineering and Information Technology; the College of Health; and the College of Science. Knowing which college your subject sits in helps you find the right entry requirement and application page.

Teaching is spread across seven campuses in South Australia — Adelaide City, Magill, Mawson Lakes, Waite, Roseworthy, Mount Gambier and Whyalla — with the Waite and Roseworthy campuses long associated with agriculture and veterinary science. Applicants who need to strengthen their English before a degree can use in-house options such as the Pre-Enrolment English Program (PEP) and the University's English Language Centre.

• Six colleges: Business & Law; Creative Arts, Design & Humanities; Education, Behavioural & Social Sciences; Engineering & IT; Health; Science
• Seven South Australian campuses — including Waite and Roseworthy (agriculture, veterinary science)
• In-house English pathways: the Pre-Enrolment English Program (PEP) and the English Language Centre

Entry requirements (general)

Adelaide sets entry requirements on a per-program basis. Each undergraduate and postgraduate course publishes its own academic requirement, and competitive programs may add criteria such as prerequisite subjects, a portfolio, an interview or an admissions test.

The university assesses overseas qualifications against its own country-by-country standards, so results from Indian boards, the IB, A-Levels or other systems are mapped to an Adelaide equivalent. Read the entry requirement on the specific program page rather than assuming one university-wide cut-off.

• Academic entry requirement is set per program — check the program page
• Some courses require prerequisite subjects, a portfolio, an interview, or an admissions test
• Overseas qualifications are mapped to Adelaide's country-specific standards

English-language requirements

International applicants whose first language is not English generally need to demonstrate English proficiency. Adelaide accepts several recognised tests, and the minimum score differs by program (some, such as health or education courses, expect higher scores).

Commonly accepted tests include IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT and Pearson PTE Academic, among others. The university publishes the exact accepted tests and required scores on its English-requirements page — confirm the current details there before booking a test.

• IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT and PTE Academic are commonly accepted
• Required scores vary by program — some ask for higher scores
• Verify the current accepted tests and scores on the official Adelaide English-requirements page

Intakes and how to apply

Adelaide runs major intakes during the year, with deadlines that depend on the program and your circumstances. International students can apply directly through the university's online application system or via an authorised representative; higher-degree research programs use a separate admission route.

A usual sequence is: choose your program, confirm you meet the academic and English requirements, gather your documents (transcripts, certificates, English proof, passport), submit your application, and follow the university's steps for any offer. Use the deadlines on the official program and apply pages.

• Apply directly through Adelaide's online system or an authorised representative
• Higher-degree research programs follow a separate process
• Deadlines depend on the program and intake — read the official program page

Fees, scholarships and the student visa

Tuition at Adelaide varies by program and is published on each course page. The university runs several named scholarships for international students — for example the Adelaide Academic Excellence Scholarship, the Adelaide Emerging Leaders Award, the Adelaide Merit Scholarship and the Adelaide Global Alumni Scholarship — each with its own eligibility rules on the international-scholarships page. Fees and scholarship amounts change every year, so rely only on the official figures.

Full-time study in Australia generally requires a student visa (subclass 500) from the Australian Department of Home Affairs, with conditions including health cover (OSHC) and financial evidence; international applicants are also assessed under the Australian Government's Genuine Student requirement. This is general information, not immigration advice — verify all visa rules on the official Australian Government source before acting.

• Named international scholarships include Academic Excellence, the Emerging Leaders Award, Merit and Global Alumni — check eligibility on the official page
• Full-time study usually needs a subclass 500 student visa (Department of Home Affairs)
• Applicants are assessed under the Genuine Student requirement and need health cover (OSHC) — verify on the official government source