University of South Australia

The University of South Australia is a globally connected and engaged university with industry-informed teaching and research that is inventive and adventurous.

Ranked number one in Australia for graduate employability^*, the University offers students the chance to gain real-world experience.

Focused on life beyond the classroom, the University of South Australia offers a practical approach to teaching and learning. Degrees are designed in partnership with industry, giving students opportunities to gain the latest insights and trends and ensuring they graduate career ready.

The University collaborates with more than 2,500 companies worldwide to bring students valuable networking and work opportunities including placements, internships and real-world projects. Its graduates are the new professionals, global citizens at ease with the world and ready to create and respond to change.

The University offers more than 200 world-class degrees across a range of academic areas including business, law, psychology, social work, education, architecture, design, creative industries, health sciences, pharmacy, nursing, information technology, engineering, environmental science and aviation.

With 100% of its assessed research rated at or above world-class^~, the University supports research which is inspired by challenges, ensuring it connects with industry and community needs.

Students at the University of South Australia learn in modern campus facilities in Adelaide - one of the most liveable cities in the world^#.

Acknowledgement of Peoples and Country

The University of South Australia respectfully acknowledges the Kaurna, Boandik and Barngarla First Nations Peoples and their Elders past and present, who are the First Nations’ traditional owners of the land that is now home to the University’s campuses in Adelaide, Mount Gambier and Whyalla.

The institution released the first university Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) for South Australia in 2014 and continues to build on its proud history in Aboriginal education and research. The University of South Australia is working to embed real and measurable actions, and extend the process of cultural change to strengthen its position as a University of Choice for Aboriginal Peoples.  

* #1 in Australia for Graduate Employability, QILT Employer Satisfaction Survey, 2020-22 – Employability Skills Indicator. Public universities.

~ 2018 Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA), 4-digit Fields of Research

# Adelaide is one of the most liveable cities in the world, Ranked equal 12th, 2023 Economist Intelligence Unit’s Global Liveability Index.

The University of South Australia is #1 in Australia for research impact and engagement*. The University is also one of the top young universities in Australia for research quality [1]. Its research culture is outward-facing and delivers new social, economic, and environmental advancements.  

The institution is Australia’s leading young university for research income [2]. It is also ranked in the world’s top young universities [3] and 100% of the University’s assessed research is rated at or above world-class*.

The University has interdisciplinary teams that tackle significant real-world problems, with more than 30 research institutes, centers, and concentrations working to generate development and change. These research groups focus on diverse areas, including, but not limited, to:

Health, medicine, and cancer

The University of South Australia’s research in the health sciences contributes to practical solutions which address local, national, and international health-related challenges.

The University of South Australia has the Centre for Cancer Biology, which has made breakthrough discoveries in the causes of cancer, and the AUD$247 million Cancer Research Institute. The institute brings together some of Australia’s brightest minds to fight cancer, with a focus on personalised precision treatments, better diagnostics, prevention, and survival. The institute also focuses on the discovery and development of new cancer drugs, and early detection and prognosis.

Business and marketing

The University of South Australia’s business school is ranked in the top 1% worldwide* and is home to the world’s largest marketing research center.

The prestigious Ehrenberg-Bass Institute for Marketing Science has a team of over 50 marketing scientists who make fundamental discoveries about how brands grow and how buyers behave. It is a leader in key research areas including pricing, advertising, and marketing metrics, and sets the tone for international conversation and principles surrounding marketing practice. The institute works with major international companies, like Coca-Cola, MARS Incorporated, Pepsico, and Kellogg’s, to deliver competitive marketing insights and strategy. The work of the institute has earned the University of South Australia the title of ‘best in the word’ for brand management research [4].

Emerging industries and technologies

Industries are increasingly impacted by global health challenges, technological leaps, economic uncertainty, and climate change. But, while disruption creates challenges, it also highlights opportunities for innovation and growth.

Researchers and experts of the University of South Australia are helping companies to capitalise on these opportunities. From using AI to detect infectious disease, to creating lightweight car mirrors to reduce fuel consumption, and developing aboriginal medicine to fight inflammation, the University is providing leading solutions to solve critical challenges.

The University’s Enterprise Hub is a dedicated space for industry stakeholders to meet with university staff and work on collaborative projects. Launched in 2021, the University’s Enterprise Hub is an online portal, and a physical business hub, that houses the university’s key services, including research commercialisation and business development.

*Rankings and achievements.

To see more information on the University of South Australia’s global and national rankings, please visit the university’s website here.

[1] Top 5 young university in Australia for research quality: Ranked #4, 2023 THE Young University Rankings.

[2] #1 young university in Australia for industry income: 2023 THE Young University Rankings.

[3] Ranked #52, 2023 THE Young University Rankings.

[4] #1 in the world for brand management

The University of South Australia works with organisations of all sizes to devise new ideas and add value to their business, and wider industry. This commitment to industry engagement has culminated in the creation of the University of South Australia Enterprise Hub. The Enterprise Hub, launched in 2021, is the University’s central location for brokering cross-sector collaborations between industry, government, and academia.

An example of the institution’s key partnerships are those in the commercial space sector. Thanks to its research expertise in areas including telecommunications, engineering, earth observation, and cybersecurity, the University of South Australia works with the likes of Boeing Co and BAE Systems to advance the global commercial space sector.

To discover more about University of South Australia’s industry partnerships, visit the website here.