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.
Adelaide boasts 3 top-ranked universities for international students, in addition to many other specialist universities which offer work-oriented academic programs and specialised courses in a limited range of subject areas. International students will have plenty of great universities to choose from in Adelaide.
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 including:
Ranked as one of the top 10 Australian universities year after year, The University of Adelaide has 21,000 students enrolled in total, of which nearly 7,500 are international students.
One of Australia’s oldest universities, the University of Adelaide was founded in 1874 and is a member of the Group of Eight (Go8), a prestigious group of Australian universities with a shared focus on providing world-class faculty and research facilities.
The University of Adelaide has four campuses across Adelaide – North Terrace, The Waite, Thebarton, and Roseworthy. International students will feel completely at home at the University of Adelaide because it has students from over 100 countries currently enrolled and promotes an immigrant-friendly campus culture. The university’s famous alumni include Julia Gilliard, Australia’s first female prime minister.
The University of Adelaide offers high-quality courses in most subject areas, some of which are:
Founded in 1991, the University of South Australia has quickly turned into one of Australia’s best young universities for international students. The university of South Australia is the largest of Adelaide’s three top-ranked universities – it enrols nearly 32,000 students of which 5,500 are international students. With work partnerships with over 2,500 Australian and international companies, the University of South Australia makes it easy for you to locate your ideal job following graduation.
Courses at the University of South Australia’s six Adelaide campuses – Adelaide (City East), Adelaide (City West), Magill, Mawson Lakes, Whyalla, and Mount Gambier – are taught in a variety of subjects such as:
Below is a list of the top Adelaide universities in 2025, according to QS world rankings and Times Higher Education:
| University | QS World Ranking 2025 | Times Higher Education Ranking 2025 |
| The University of Adelaide | =82 | =128 |
| Flinders University | =336 | 301-350 |
| University of South Australia | =340 | 301-350 |
As the list above shows, the University of Adelaide is the best Adelaide university for international students. Flinders University and the University of South Australia, meanwhile, are similarly ranked in both QS and THE world rankings, and both will be great choices for international students interested in Adelaide for their university degree.
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:
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:
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 such as the University of Adelaide 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.
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. The University of South Australia 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.
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:
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.
See all universities in Australia.
Study in AustraliaSign up to StudyLink.com, the home of quality study abroad advice.
Sign up now
Read our key advice article to help you make the best decision for your education and start your International study adventure.
In this article we look at how to approach choosing where in the world you would like to study.
Read StudyLink's suggestions on your first steps when deciding where to study abroad, with helpful tips to make your decision easier.
Find out more about English language tests, your options and what is required as an overseas student.
StudyLink.com take a detailed look into the costs of studying abroad and all the aspects that you should budget for when embarking on your studies.
We answer 10 common questions about applying for a student visa to help make your visa application quick and easy.
Find out more about international student visas for studying abroad, as well as how, where and when to apply for yours.
Find out more about funding and scholarships for international students, and what financial assistance might be available to you.
How to choose a course that fits you? Check our top tips on choosing which course is best for you to help you make an informed decision.
The latest articles from study abroad providers and StudyLink.com to hep you on your study abroad journey.
