The University of South Australia is Australia’s University of Enterprise on the global stage, agile and astute, known for relevance, equity and excellence.
We educate and prepare global learners from all backgrounds, instilling professional skills and knowledge, and capacity and drive for lifelong learning.
We undertake research that is inspired by global challenges and opportunities, delivers economic and social benefits, and which informs our teaching.
We operate through a partnered, end-user informed culture of teaching and research with a commitment to outstanding service, continuous improvement and sustainability.
The way all great stories start is with a challenge, and this is where our story started. In 1991, a new force was established – we challenged the norm by bringing together an Institute, a College and a School of Art, to form the University of South Australia.
Today, we have more than 240,000 alumni, industry partnerships with more than 2500 companies worldwide, offer degrees that are industry-focused and informed, and have become one of Australia’s largest online education providers. It is this drive and ambition to break the norm that makes us who we are. Australia’s University of Enterprise.
The University of South Australia (UniSA) was established in 1991 but our foundations date back to the latter half of the 19th century.
The forerunners of today’s UniSA were the South Australian School of Art, founded in 1856, the first of several Teacher Training Colleges formed in 1876, and the School of Mines and Industries which was established in 1889. These schools were renowned for providing quality education and for responding to the needs of the nascent colony of South Australia.
Under the University's Act, our mission was "to preserve, extend and disseminate knowledge through teaching, research, scholarship and consultancy, and to provide educational programs that will enhance the diverse cultural life of the wider community."
A faculty structure was adopted in 1992, and in 1993 UniSA established the Australian Technology Network (ATN) with the Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, Curtin University of Technology in Perth, RMIT University in Melbourne and the University of Technology, Sydney.
In 1994, the first two research institutes the Ian Wark Research Institute and the Institute for Telecommunications Research were established, followed in 1996 by the Flexible Learning Centre, which played a major role in facilitating strategic directions for improving teaching and learning.
In 1997, UniSA became one of the first universities to identify seven Graduate Qualities, which remain central to our teaching and learning framework, and adopted a Statement of Commitment to Aboriginal Reconciliation.
A Statement of Strategic Intent was formalised in 1998 to clearly define the University's character and objectives, and the current divisional structure replaced the faculty structure.
Central to the University's evolution as a modern and diverse institution was Blueprint 2005, a $140 million project that saw the closure of the Underdale campus, the construction of major buildings at City West, City East and Mawson Lakes campuses, and the extension of others. Phase one was completed in early 2005 and phase two which included the construction of the Hawke Building at City West was completed in October 2007.
In 2008 a new Vision, Mission and Values statement was released as a 21st century statement of who we are and what is important to us.
In 2010 Horizon 2020, a 10-year plan to guide our growth and development, was launched and in 2013, Crossing The Horizon refined that vision with detailed action sets that the University has taken towards becoming Australia’s University of Enterprise. In 2018, Enterprise25 was released to build and refine the University's strategic direction and set further goals for the next seven years.
- UNISA has two campuses in the Adelaide city center (both on North Terrace), two metropolitan campuses (at Mawson Lakes, formerly The Levels, and Magill), and two campuses in regional South Australia, (Whyalla and Mount Gambier). The University of South Australia also delivers its offshore degree programs in collaboration with private institutions in Hong Kong Baptist University and other higher education institutions throughout Asia.
- UniSA Sport, which manages the sporting life of students at the university, organizes and facilitates the development of sports clubs and activities on campuses.
- University of South Australia Students Association (USASA, formerly UniLife) is a democratic organization run by students. USASA provides administrative support to over 100 sporting and social clubs, a range of events throughout the year and free advocacy and advice services, and also produces the UniSA student magazine Verse Magazine.
- UniSA is among the world's top universities, ranked in the World's Top 50 Under 50 by both the Quacarelli Symonds (QS) World University Ranking (#25) and Times Higher Education (THE) (#26).
- Honorary Awards :- The university awards the Honorary Doctorate to recognise an individual who has achieved eminence in an area of education or research, or is distinguished by eminent service to the community.
Global recognition
One of the world’s best young universities
Ranked #52, 2023 THE Young University Rankings
#1 in Australia for graduate employability
QILT Employer Satisfaction Survey, 2020-22 – Employability Skills Indicator. Public universities
5 Star overall rating for excellence
2023 QS Stars Ratings
Rated five stars for excellence in research, employability, teaching, facilities, internationalisation, inclusiveness and innovation
2023 QS Stars Ratings
#1 young university in Australia for industry collaborations
2022 THE Young University Rankings - Industry Income Indicator
One of the world’s best places to study
UniSA Business is ranked in top 1% worldwide
UniSA Business is one of just 12 institutions in Australia and approximately 200 globally (from over 25,000 universities) to be EQUIS accredited. EFMD, March 2022.
World top 100 for nursing
2023 QS Subject Rankings
World top 100 for hospitality and leisure management
2023 QS Subject Rankings
World top 100 for education
2023 THE Subject Rankings
World top 100 for exercise and sport science
2023 QS Subject Rankings, Sport-Related Subjects
World top 150 for pharmacy and pharmacology
2023 QS Subject Rankings
Top 15 in Australia for business and economics
Ranked equal #14, 2023 THE Subject Rankings
Top 15 in Australia for computer science
Ranked equal #12, 2023 THE Subject Rankings
Our research excellence
100% of our assessed research rated at or above world-class
2018 Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA), 4-digit Fields of Research
#1 young university in Australia for industry research income
2022 THE Young University Rankings
#1 in Australia for research impact and engagement
2018 ARC Engagement and Impact Assessment (EI), Combined Impact - Approach to Impact and Engagement on Assessed Fields.
#2 young university in Australia for research quality
2022 THE Young University Rankings
We're number one
#1 in SA for graduate careers
ComparED (QILT) Graduate Outcomes Survey 2020-22 – Full-time Employment Indicator (Domestic Undergraduate). SA public universities.
#1 in SA for student satisfaction
ComparED (QILT) Course Experience Questionnaire 2021-22 – Overall Satisfaction Indicator (Domestic Undergraduate). SA public universities.
#1 in SA for graduate employability
2022 QILT Employer Satisfaction Survey – Graduate Employability Skills Indicator
#1 in SA for teaching quality
ComparED (QILT) Student Experience Survey 2021-22, Teaching Quality Indicator (Postgraduate). SA public universities.
#1 in SA for graduate starting salaries
2024 Good Universities Guide–Undergraduate.
#1 in SA for graduate full-time employment
2024 Good Universities Guide – Undergraduate.
