The University of Adelaide is a public research university located in Adelaide, South Australia. It was started in 1874, making it the third-oldest university in Australia. The university's main campus is on North Terrace in the centre of Adelaide. It is right next to the Art Gallery of South Australia, the South Australian Museum, and the State Library of South Australia.

The university has four campuses. Three are in South Australia: the North Terrace campus in the city, the Roseworthy campus at Roseworthy, and the Waite campus at Urrbrae. There is also one campus in Melbourne, Victoria. The university also uses other places like Thebarton, the National Wine Centre, and a centre in Singapore.

The University of Adelaide has three main parts called faculties, and each faculty has different schools. These are the Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology (SET), the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences (FHMS), and the Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Economics (ABLE). The university is part of the Group of Eight, which is a group of leading Australian universities. It is also a member of the Sandstone universities, which are mostly older universities built during the colonial era in Australia.

The university is connected to five Nobel laureates, who are people who have won a Nobel Prize. This is one-third of all of Australia's Nobel Prize winners! It is also linked to 114 Rhodes scholars, who are students chosen for special scholarships to study at Oxford University. The university has had a big impact on South Australia. Many of the state's top business people, lawyers, doctors, and politicians studied there. The university has been involved in important discoveries and developments. These include penicillin, space exploration, sunscreen, the military tank, Wi-Fi, polymer banknotes (plastic money), and X-ray crystallography. It has also done important studies in viticulture (grape growing) and oenology (wine making).

University History: How It Started
- University in the 21st Century
Future Plans: Merging Universities
University Campuses
Student Accommodation: Residential Colleges
University Leadership
How the University is Organized
Special Lectures and Events
University Research
University Rankings
Student Life at the University
University Venues
Famous People from the University
See also

University History: How It Started

The founders of the Adelaide University in 1875.

The University of Adelaide began on 6 November 1874. This was possible thanks to a large donation of £20,000 from a farmer and copper miner named Walter Watson Hughes. Other people, like Thomas Elder, also gave support and donations.

The first leader of the university was Sir Richard Hanson. The first vice-chancellor was Augustus Short. The first degree students could study was the Bachelor of Arts. Teaching officially started in March 1876.

The university has always supported women's rights in education. It was the second university in the English-speaking world to allow women to study on the same terms as men, starting in 1881. However, women had been studying alongside men since classes began in 1876. They could also win all the same academic awards. The first woman to graduate from the university was Edith Emily Dornwell. She was also the first person in Australia to get a Bachelor of Science degree in 1885. The university also had Australia's first female surgeon, Laura Fowler, who graduated in 1891. Ruby Davy was the first Australian woman to get a doctorate in music in 1918. In 1914, the university was also the first to choose a woman, Helen Mayo, to be part of its governing council in Australia.

The Exhibition Building, which was taken down in the 1960s.

The university's large hall, Bonython Hall, was built in 1936. This was after Sir John Langdon Bonython, who owned The Advertiser newspaper, left £40,000 in his will for a great hall.

University in the 21st Century

On 2 July 2010, the university started its "Smoke-Free Policy". This meant that smoking was not allowed in university buildings, gardens, or walkways. It was the first university in South Australia to do this.

Future Plans: Merging Universities

In June 2018, the University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia started talking about possibly joining together. This idea was called forming a "super uni" by the Premier of South Australia at the time, Steven Marshall. However, the plan was stopped in October 2018.

In early 2022, the idea of a merger came up again. The new government suggested looking into combining the University of South Australia, the University of Adelaide, and Flinders University. University staff had mixed feelings about this idea.

In December 2022, the University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia announced they would consider merging again. They started a study to see if it was possible. On 1 July 2023, the universities agreed to officially work towards merging. A new university, called Adelaide University, is planned to start in January 2026.

Not everyone agrees with the merger. A survey of 1100 university staff found that only a quarter supported it. Some people also said the government pressured the universities to agree. The government suggested it would set up a special group to force the merger if the universities did not agree on their own.

The two universities believe that by combining their knowledge, resources, and money, they can be stronger financially. They also think it will lead to better teaching and research results.

University Campuses

North Terrace Campus: The Main Hub

The Mitchell Building from the front in 2008.

The main campus of the university is on North Terrace. It is next to the Art Gallery of South Australia, the State Library of South Australia, the South Australian Museum, and the University of South Australia's "City East" campus. The Medical and Dental Schools were moved to the western end of North Terrace, near the new Royal Adelaide Hospital. These buildings were renamed Helen Mayo North and South in honour of Dr. Helen Mayo.

Most students and staff are based at the North Terrace campus. This is where most courses are taught and most schools are located. The university's main office and the main library, the Barr Smith Library, are also here. The University of Adelaide is special among older Australian universities because its main campus is right next to the city's main business and shopping area.

Important Buildings on Campus

Mitchell Building and Mortlock Library around 1882.

The Union Building in 1930.

Bonython Hall (the university's great hall), Elder Hall, and the Reading Room of the Barr Smith Library are all along North Terrace. The Napier, Mitchell, and Ligertwood buildings also face the street.

The Napier Building was built between 1958 and 1965. It was named after Sir Mellis Napier, who was the university's leader from 1948 to 1961. This modern building is ten storeys high. It has lecture theatres and classrooms at the bottom, and offices and smaller rooms in the tower.

The Adelaide University Union redevelopment was finished in stages between 1967 and 1975. This project created some of the most important buildings on campus. The group of buildings includes the new Union House and also the Lady Symon Building, the George Murray Building, the Cloisters, and the Western Annexe.

Campus Development Plans

In 2016, the university started a big plan to improve its three campuses over 20 years. This plan will cost about $1 billion. It includes new facilities for all schools and better areas for students. It will focus on making pathways safer for people walking and cycling, and reducing car traffic. At North Terrace, the Schulz building will become a place for students to live on campus. It will have accommodation and fun facilities like a gym. This big change comes as the old Royal Adelaide Hospital site on North Terrace is also being redeveloped. The university also has a presence at the new hospital site, which is part of a large health and science area.

Waite Campus: Focus on Agriculture

The main building at the Waite Research Institute.

The Waite campus focuses strongly on agricultural science, plant breeding, and biotechnology. The School of Agriculture, Food and Wine is based here. Parts of the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences are also on this campus. It is next to the Urrbrae Agricultural High School.

Many other organizations are also located at the Waite Research Precinct. These include the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI), Australian Grain Technologies, the Australian Wine Research Institute, and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).

The campus is in the hills south-east of Adelaide, in the suburb of Urrbrae. It covers 174 hectares (about 430 acres). Much of this land was given in 1924 by a farmer named Peter Waite. Large amounts of money were also donated by Rosina and John to help set up the Peter Waite Institute of Agricultural Research, which later became the Waite campus.

In 2004, the Premier opened the Plant Genomics Centre at the Waite campus. Then in 2010, The Plant Accelerator, a $30 million research facility, was opened. It is the largest and most advanced of its kind in the world.

Roseworthy Campus: Farming and Animals

The Roseworthy campus is north of the city. It has 16 square kilometres (about 6 square miles) of farmland and is a big centre for agricultural research. It was Australia's first agricultural college, started in 1883. It also opened South Australia's first veterinary school in 2008.

In 1991, the college joined with the University of Adelaide and became its Roseworthy campus. Before this, Roseworthy had trained many famous winemakers. After the merger, the focus of the campus changed to dryland agriculture, managing natural resources, and animal production. The campus is now home to South Australia's first veterinary science training program. This program started in 2008. The new Veterinary Science Centre has teaching facilities, including a place to practice surgery. It also has a public veterinary clinic for pets and special labs for research and diagnosis. In 2013, the veterinary facilities grew with the opening of the Equine Health and Performance Centre. This is a very modern facility for horse surgery, sports medicine, and reproduction.

Other University Locations

National Wine Centre

The Wine Centre is in the Adelaide Park Lands, at the eastern end of North Terrace. It offers some of the university's winemaking courses. The centre opened in 2001 and also has public displays about winemaking in South Australia. It has an interactive exhibition where visitors can learn about how wine is made. There is also a wine tasting area to try wines from different parts of Australia.

Thebarton

The Stirling Street entrance to Thebarton.

Thebarton is where the university's Office of Industry Liaison is based. This area works with the university's business partners. Businesses at Thebarton include those in materials engineering, biotechnology, environmental services, information technology, and more. The flames for the Sydney and Athens Olympic Games were even developed here!

Ngee Ann (Singapore)

The Ngee Ann – Adelaide Education Centre (NAAEC) in Singapore was the University of Adelaide's first overseas centre. It was a partnership that started in 1998. In 2016, the University of Adelaide stopped this partnership, after about 3000 students had graduated over 18 years.

In 2018, the Singapore institution was renamed the Ngee Ann Academy. In 2019, it partnered with the University of Adelaide again, along with three British universities.

Gallery

View of eastern side of the Mitchell Building from North Terrace, 2007.
Bonython Hall and the Ligertwood Building (viewed from North Terrace).
Bust of Sir Douglas Mawson and the Elder Conservatorium of Music (viewed from North Terrace).
Bonython Hall and the Elder Conservatorium of Music (viewed from North Terrace).
Bonython Hall and the Elder Conservatorium of Music (viewed from the north).
Bonython Hall and the Napier Building (viewed from the north).
The Cloisters.
The Cloisters and the Student Union Building.
The Barr Smith Library with the Napier building visible in the background.
Barr Smith Lawns.
The old Adelaide Teachers College buildings, now part of the university.
University of Adelaide site map 1926.
Statue of foundation philanthropist, Sir Walter Watson Hughes, facing North Tce.

Student Accommodation: Residential Colleges

The University of Adelaide did not originally set aside land on its North Terrace campus for student housing. However, students wanted places to live, so private colleges connected to the university were built. St. Mark's College was founded in 1925, Aquinas College in 1950, Lincoln College in 1952, and later St Ann's College, Kathleen Lumley College, and Australian Lutheran College. All these colleges are a short walk from the university, across the River Torrens in North Adelaide. They provide housing and meals for students from Adelaide, other parts of Australia, and other countries. Each college also helps students with their studies, social events, and sports.

University Leadership

In 2021, Peter Hoj became the 24th Vice-Chancellor of the university. The Vice-Chancellor is like the chief executive officer of the university.

How the University is Organized

Bonython Hall and Mitchell Building from North Terrace.

The university is divided into three main parts called faculties. Each faculty has different schools within it. This is a change from 2022, when there were five faculties. The Arts faculty joined with the Professions faculty, and the Sciences faculty joined with the Engineering, Computer, and Mathematical Sciences faculty.

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

This faculty includes schools for:

Adelaide Medical School
Adelaide Dental School
Adelaide Nursing School
School of Public Health
School of Psychology
School of Allied Health Science and Practice
School of Biomedicine
Adelaide Rural Clinical School

Faculty of Sciences, Engineering, and Technology

As of April 2024, this faculty has these schools:

Centre for STEM Education and Innovation
School of Agriculture, Food, and Wine
School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences
School of Architecture and Civil Engineering (includes environmental engineering, construction management, and landscape architecture)
School of Biological Sciences
School of Chemical Engineering
School of Computer and Mathematical Sciences
School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering
School of Physics, Chemistry, and Earth Sciences

Faculty of Arts, Business, Law, and Economics

This faculty includes:

Adelaide Business School
Adelaide Law School
Elder Conservatorium of Music
School of Humanities
School of Education
School of Social Sciences
School of Economics and Public Policy
The National Centre for Aboriginal Language and Music Studies (NCALMS) has three parts: Kaurna Warra Pintyanthi (KWP), the Mobile Language Team (MLT), and the Centre for Aboriginal Studies in Music (CASM).

The J. M. Coetzee Centre for Creative Practice (JMCCCP) was started in 2015. It is named after the famous author J. M. Coetzee. This centre focuses on how different art forms come together. It uses research to explore creativity and creative processes. It is a cultural centre that looks at both traditional and new art forms, like spoken word, sound, and video art. People who work in music, writing, philosophy, and art history work together on projects and events here.

Wirltu Yarlu: Indigenous Education

The university has a long history of supporting Indigenous education. It started its first formal courses in the Centre for Aboriginal Studies in Music (CASM) in 1972. Wirltu Yarlu is a separate unit that helps to connect with and recruit Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It also supports these students while they are studying at the university.

Special Lectures and Events

The university hosts several special lecture series. These include the Joseph Fisher Lecture in Commerce, which started in 1903 to promote the study of business. The Gavin David Young Lectures in Philosophy began in 1956 to encourage the study of philosophy.

The university also presents the James Crawford Biennial Lecture Series on International Law. This series is named after James Richard Crawford SC, a university graduate who became a well-known expert in international law. The first lecture in this series was given in 2004. The university is also one of several places that hosts an Edward Said Memorial Lecture. The first one was in 2005.

University Research

BrendonCoventryattendingafunctionatSpringfieldAdelaide

Former Vice-Chancellor Gavin Brown (left) with his wife Diane Ranck and Brendon Coventry in 2009.

The University of Adelaide is one of Australia's top research universities. It receives over $180 million in research money each year. Its researchers work on both basic science and research that can be used by businesses. They cover many areas, including agriculture, psychology, health sciences, and engineering.

The university is especially strong in research in engineering, mathematics, science, medical and health sciences, agricultural sciences, artificial intelligence, and the arts.

The university is part of Academic Consortium 21 (AC21), a group of 20 research universities. The University of Adelaide has been very good at turning its research into useful products or services. It has the most commercial research agreements of all Australian universities. It works with local and international companies, as well as governments, on many research projects. This work is managed by the university's company, Adelaide Research & Innovation Pty Ltd (ARI).

Some examples of how research helps are the university's work with the Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG). The university provides many graduates in psychology, physics, engineering, and IT to DSTG. Also, the growth of South Australia's wine industry is supported by the Waite and National Wine Centre campuses, which train experts in winemaking and agriculture.

The university is also part of the Auto-ID Labs. This is a group of seven research universities that study networked radio-frequency identification (RFID) and new sensing technologies.

A four-year research project built a small satellite called CubeSat. It was launched by NASA and sent out from the International Space Station. This was part of a European project to create an international network.

In August 2019, the Primary Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA) and the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) started working with the university. Scientists can now use PIRSA's research farms and share their knowledge with the farming sector. This partnership is expected to help South Australia become better at dryland agriculture and create new export opportunities.

In 2020, the university worked with SA Health to train dogs to detect COVID-19.

Other university partners include the Royal Adelaide Hospital and the Hanson Institute.

In March 2022, the Australian Space Agency and the University of Adelaide announced they would work together on space research.

University Rankings

University rankings
Adelaide University
QS World	=82
THE World	111
ARWU World	132
US News World	74
CWTS Leiden World	185
Australian rankings
QS National	8
THE National	7
ARWU National	8
US News National	7
CWTS Leiden National	7
ERA National	8

The University of Adelaide is often ranked among the top 100 or 150 universities in the world. This is according to major global rankings like the Academic Ranking of World Universities, the QS World University Rankings, the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, and the U.S. News & World Report. This means it is in the top 1% of all ranked universities worldwide. In 2022, it was ranked as the 90th best university overall when combining results from QS, THE, and ARWU.

Student Life at the University

Student Groups and Associations

Since 1 July 2006, joining the Adelaide University Union (AUU) has been optional for students. The AUU supports five groups that run on their own. These are the Adelaide Postgraduate Students' Association (APGSA), the Clubs Association (CA), the Roseworthy Agricultural Campus Student Union Council (RACSUC), the Student Representative Council, and the Waite Institute Students' Association (WISA).

The Adelaide University Union used to organize the yearly Prosh (University of Adelaide) events.

The Adelaide University Society of Architecture and Built Environment (AUSABE) is a group run by architecture students. It was started in 2020 to support students in their field. They organize competitions, networking events, and social gatherings. They also help students get ready for jobs in the industry.

University Media

The University of Adelaide has three print publications:

On Dit, which is the student magazine.
Adelaidean, the university's newspaper.
Lumen, the magazine for former students.

The University of Adelaide Press publishes academic works by staff and interesting stories about the university's history. The Press also publishes the Adelaide Law Review.

The University of Adelaide started Australia's first community radio station, Radio Adelaide, in 1972.

Students can also take part in theatre productions through the University of Adelaide Theatre Guild and the Law School Revue.

Sports at the University

Most university sports are organized by the Adelaide University Sports Association (AUSA). This group was founded in 1896 by the university's Boat, Tennis, and Lacrosse Clubs. The AUSA supports 37 sports clubs, offering many different sports to students. The AUSA is also a big part of the Sports Hub fitness centre on the North Terrace Campus and the university playing fields in North Adelaide.

University Venues

UniBar

The old UniBar closed in 2018. A new UniBar opened in a different spot on the ground floor of Union House.

College Green

On 4 November 2020, a new outdoor area called the College Green opened. It stretches from the Cloisters across the lawns to Victoria Drive, next to the Torrens River. From its opening until New Year's Eve 2020/21, it hosted live bands, DJs, free outdoor movies, the South Australian Music Awards, and Christmas markets. This move was partly to help live music venues deal with social distancing rules during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia.

Little Theatre

The Little Theatre is located in The Cloisters. It can seat 120 people and is mainly used for plays by the University of Adelaide Theatre Guild. It is also used by other university groups and amateur theatre companies. During the Adelaide Fringe Festival, professional performers also use the venue.

Scott Theatre

The Scott Theatre is the largest lecture theatre on the North Terrace campus. It is often rented out for different types of performances, including events for the Adelaide Fringe festival.

Famous People from the University

Robin Warren, a pathologist and Nobel Prize winner, studied here.

Many famous people have studied or worked at the University of Adelaide. These include leaders of countries, Nobel Prize winners, business and political leaders, and pioneers in science and medicine.

Notable alumni include 16 chancellors, 20 vice-chancellors, 114 Rhodes Scholars, and 5 Nobel laureates. One of these Nobel winners was Lawrence Bragg, who was the youngest laureate ever at 25 years old when he won for physics in 1915. One Prime Minister of Australia, Julia Gillard (the first female Prime Minister), also studied at the University of Adelaide.

Robin Warren, who, along with Barry Marshall, discovered that peptic ulcers were mostly caused by a bacteria called Helicobacter pylori, graduated from the university in the 1950s. Warren and Marshall won the Nobel Prize for their discovery in 2005.

Other Nobel Prize winners include Howard Florey, who shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1945 for his work in developing penicillin. Also, J.M. Coetzee, a novelist and linguist, won the 2003 Nobel Prize in Literature.

Other well-known graduates and professors include Leo Blair (the father of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who taught law here), Edward Charles Stirling (a physiologist and politician who supported women's suffrage), Tim Flannery (named Australian of the Year), Margaret Reid (the first female president of the Australian Senate), and Janine Haines (the first female federal parliamentary leader of an Australian political party). Also, Margaret White (the first female judge of the Supreme Court of Queensland), Roma Mitchell (the first female Queen's Counsel in Australia and the first female superior court judge in the British Commonwealth), and Joni Madraiwiwi, who was Vice-President of Fiji and Chief Justice of Nauru.

University of Adelaide facts for kids

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