Study in Adelaide, international student city guide

Adelaide is Australia’s fifth-largest city with a population of 1.4 million residents, and a popular choice for international students seeking a top-ranked Australian university. Adelaide offers international students the signature Australian study experience with its beautiful university campuses, vibrant and young atmosphere and an endless list of historical and tourist sites to visit away from the classroom.

The affordable Australian university tuition fees and living costs are an added bonus for international students, and provide Adelaide universities the benefit of being good value for money.

International students studying at top-ranked Adelaide universities will also enjoy the immigrant-friendly nature of the city, which is even nicknamed the ‘city of churches’ because of the many religions which city residents follow in Adelaide.

Top universities in Adelaide

Flinders University

If you are looking for an innovation-friendly university degree which allows you to explore cutting-edge research facilities with the help of a high-quality teaching faculty, then Flinders University will be a great choice for you.

Flinders University was founded in 1966 and has a current size of 25,000 students, of which nearly 6,000 are international students. In addition to its award-winning faculty and curriculum, Flinders even offers international students joint degrees with top-ranked universities in countries such as Indonesia, China, and Malaysia. 

International students will also be able to take advantage of chances for professional growth and business learning at the Flinders University New Venture Institute, an award-winning start-up and innovation centre at the university. 

Aside from Flinders University’s main campus in the Tonsley neighbourhood in Adelaide, international students can work and study at one of the university’s many study spaces and official buildings all over Adelaide. As is the case with most research-focused universities, Flinders University’s primary strengths include research-heavy subject areas.

Adelaide University

If you are looking for a future-focused university degree that combines strong industry engagement with world-class research and teaching, Adelaide University will be an excellent choice.

Adelaide University was officially established through the merger of the University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia, bringing together more than 70,000 students, including a large international student community from around the world. Built on the strengths of two globally recognised institutions, Adelaide University offers high-quality teaching, modern facilities, and a curriculum designed to address real-world challenges across industry, science, health, business, and technology.

International students at Adelaide University benefit from opportunities for innovation, entrepreneurship, and professional development through innovation hubs, start-up accelerators, and strong partnerships with global industries and research organisations. These initiatives allow students to gain hands-on experience, industry exposure, and career-ready skills alongside their academic studies.

With major campuses and learning spaces located across Adelaide’s city centre and metropolitan areas, students have access to advanced research facilities and collaborative study environments. As a research-intensive institution, Adelaide University’s key strengths lie in high-impact research, industry-aligned education, and innovation-driven subject areas, making it an attractive destination for international students seeking both academic excellence and strong career outcomes.

Universities in Adelaide rankings 2025

Below is a list of the top Adelaide universities in 2025, according to QS world rankings and Times Higher Education:

Adelaide TAFE institutes

TAFE (Technical and Further Education) institutes, an Australian government initiative, are Registered Training Organisations (RTOs). TAFE institutes offer vocationally-oriented degrees that train you for semi-skilled as well as skilled industrial occupations through collaborations with employers across Australia. TAFE qualifications range from certificates to diplomas and advanced diplomas.

More than one million students have received degrees and certificates from TAFE South Australia since its establishment in 1971. Over 70,000 domestic and international students enrol at one of 300 TAFE SA locations in South Australia.

TAFE SA locations in the Adelaide region include:

• Adelaide Metropolitan
• Adelaide Hills and Fleurieu
• Barossa and Riverland
• Far North
• Limestone Coast
• Eyre Peninsula
• Yorke Peninsula and Mid North
• APY Lands

List of other top-ranked colleges & universities in Adelaide

In addition to the top-ranked Adelaide universities for international students, the city also offers many specialised institutes providing high-quality degrees and certificate programs. Some of them are:

• Kaplan Business School Australia
• Torrens University Australia
• Carnegie Mellon University (Adelaide)
• International College of Hotel Management
• St. Mark’s College
• Adelaide College of Divinity
• St. Ann’s College
• Eynesbury Institute of Business and Technology
• Kathleen Lumley College

Public versus private universities in Adelaide

Australian private universities are run by privately-owned organisations, while public colleges & universities receive funding from the Australian government. As a result, Torrens University and other such private universities are ‘for-profit’ and charge higher tuition fees, whereas public universities are more affordable for domestic and international students. The well-funded educational infrastructure and universities in Australia means that the best Adelaide universities for international students are all public institutions.

Tuition and living costs in Adelaide

As is the case with most Australian top-ranked universities, tuition costs for Adelaide universities depend on the volume and level of courses taken for a degree. The average tuition fee is usually 25,000 US Dollars per year for an international student pursuing an undergraduate degree in Adelaide, and this figure is higher at 27,000 US Dollars per year for post-graduate programs.

The costs of living for international students in Adelaide are generally lower than in other major Australian cities. Adelaide University estimates that international students will require between 11,500 US Dollars and 15,000 US Dollars every year to cover living expenses in Adelaide. This figure includes approximately 100-300 US dollars every week for accommodation, 150 US Dollars weekly for groceries and utilities, 30 US Dollars every week for transport and 40-60 US dollars every week for entertainment as well as emergency expenses in Adelaide.

Life in Adelaide for international students

Adelaide offers an ideal mix of big-city atmosphere, tourist attractions, and entertainment options alongside small-city benefits such as large college campuses, friendly student communities and easy access to locations outside the city region.

The city of Adelaide stretches from the South Australian coast to the foothills of the Mount Lofty Ranges, allowing its residents to have beautiful sights of the ocean and the nearby mountains. Adelaide offers international students a wide range of choices to spend their time away from the classroom.

The city’s most famous sights and sounds include:

• The Adelaide Oval Stadium
• Thebarton Theatre
• Adelaide Botanic Garden
• Adelaide Entertainment Centre
• Elder Park
• Art Gallery of South Australia
• South Australian Museum
• National Wine Centre
• State Library of South Australia
• Lion Arts Centre

In addition, international students in Adelaide can always make short trips to other major Australian cities such as Sydney and Melbourne, all of which are only an hour to two hours away by air, and a few hours away by road.

The city of Adelaide’s rich cultural history and award-winning urban planning will be of special interest to history and architecture students. This combination of an energetic city life and top-ranked education means Adelaide and its world-class universities should be on the list for every international student.