The University of South Australia is a young and agile institution solving today’s challenges by educating tomorrow’s professionals. As a University of Enterprise, our efforts are focused on providing economic and social benefits to the nation and the world.
Formed in 1991 and built on more than 150 years of creating and applying knowledge, the University has quickly established a global reputation for the quality and creativity of its graduates and the innovative, outcomes-focused relevance of its research.
As South Australia’s largest university we have over 32,000 students, of which approximately 6,000 are international students. The University offers approximately 400 undergraduate and postgraduate programs, both on and off campus, across multiple disciplines and the UniSA College. These are located within the University’s seven academic units:
UniSA maintains a strong commitment to teaching and learning, and ranks in the top ten nationally for the proportion of staff with a doctorate (74 per cent compared to a national average of 64 per cent). In addition, our MBA program has held a five-star rating for ten consecutive years (as awarded by the Graduate Management Association of Australia) and we are No.1 in SA for student satisfaction (QILT: Undergraduate Course Experience Questionnaire 2016-17. Public SA-founded universities only).
The University continues to develop a strong research environment, and has university supported research institutes and centres undertaking world-leading research. We are ranked as Australia's No.1 Young University in Australia for industry income (2023 THE Young University Rankings.), and in the 2015 Excellence in Research for Australia evaluation more than 97 per cent of our assessed research was ranked at or above world standard.
A hallmark of the University’s research is our close engagement with many industry, government, collegiate and community partners, which sees us as Australia’s leading university for interdisciplinary research. This collaboration with end-users ensures that our research outcomes are relevant and address real-world issues.
With campuses in the heart of Adelaide and metropolitan areas of Mawson Lakes and Magill, as well as locations in Whyalla and Mount Gambier, the University provides opportunities to students from a wide range of geographic, socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. Additionally, a $1 billion-plus building program is currently being implemented to further enhance our physical and virtual infrastructure.
ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET
Approx $A600 million
STUDENTS
Approx 32,000
(6,000 international students)
TOTAL UNIVERSITY ASSETS
Approx $A1.5 billion
RESEARCH INCOME
Approx $A63.6 million
(Department of Industry, Innovation and Science Categories 1-4)
ACADEMIC STAFF
1,398 full-time equivalent*
PROFESSIONAL STAFF
1,550 full-time equivalent*
*Includes casual staff
UniSA will be a leading contributor to Australia having the best higher education system in the world, supporting the world’s best educated and most innovative, cohesive and sustainable society.
UniSA educates professionals and citizens to the highest standards; creates and disseminates knowledge; and engages with our communities to address the major issues of our time.
UniSA promotes and sustains open intellectual enquiry characterised by high standards of ethics and integrity. Academic rigour, excellence and relevance underpin our actions in research and its application, in teaching and learning and in engagement with our communities.
UniSA is outward looking, welcoming diversity and the wide range of perspectives it brings, international in outlook, collaborative, creative, agile and enterprising.
UniSA gives effect to reconciliation with Indigenous Australians and builds social cohesion by achieving equitable educational access and outcomes across our diverse student community, through research that aims to improve the quality of life and by acting responsibly as a corporate citizen.
UniSA contributes to environmentally, economically, socially and culturally sustainable development, and we aim to reduce our own environmental impact.
UniSA’s teaching and research connects strongly with the issues of our local, national and international stakeholders - students, alumni, staff, partners, professions, government, industry, academic peers and community groups.
UniSA anticipates change and acts quickly to seize opportunities and solve problems.
The University of South Australia is Australia’s University of Enterprise. Our culture of innovation is anchored around global and national links to academic, research and industry partners.
We offer degree programs across a wide range of subjects including business, law, education, arts and social sciences, health sciences, information technology, engineering and the environment.