University of South Australia Latest Updates

  • 16 Nov 2021: University of South Australia and Accenture forms Alliance to Introduce a Business and Digital Innovation Academy.

University of South Australia is a public university and home to over 33,800, around 18% of the student body comprises international students from all over the world. The university offers more than 200+ programs at the undergraduate, graduate and doctoral levels. It has 90 exchange partners in more than 24 countries that offer a competitive edge towards studying in Australia.

The primary intake months for admission to University of South Australia are February, July and August. Applications are accepted throughout the year and there are no formal application deadlines. The university accepts online applications through registered UniSA agents, which are processed within one to two weeks from the submission date. Selection of applications is mainly based on the academic profile of the candidate, carefully drafted application requirements like SOP, LOR, competitive Engliash language proficiency scores (IELTS score of 6.5, TOEFL IBT score of 60 or equivalent). MBA applicants must have at least 3 years of full-time professional work experience. Click Here to know more about MBA in Australia!

The tuition fee for international undergraduate programs ranges between 29,400 AUD-37,700 AUD while graduate programs range between 29,400 AUD-42,400 AUD. The university provides accommodation to students through Urbanest. The weekly rent of accommodation starts from 199 AUD and depends on the accommodation type. Adelaide, besides being one of the most liveable cities, is also up to 14% more affordable than other major Australian cities. The university also offers generous scholarships to international students that cover up to 50% of the tuition fees.

University of South Australia Rankings

The rankings of University of South Australia for 2021 are as follows:

  • Ranked #326 in QS World University Rankings 2022 and #29 in QS Top Universities Aged Under 50 in 2021.
  • Placed 301-350th in THE World University Rankings 2021
  • Bagged 101-200th position in THE Impact Rankings 2021
  • Placed at the #372 positions in Best Global Universities and 22nd in Best Global Universities in Australia in the U.S. News and World Report 2021

Highlights

Type of Establishment Public
Location Adelaide, South Australia
Campus Setting Urban
Mode of Program Full-time/ Part-time/ Online
Total Enrollment 37,000+
Percentage of International Students 18%
Application Portal Online Application/ via UniSA registered agent
Application Fees None
Test Score Accepted TOEFL/ IELTS/ PTE/ CAE/ CPE
Basic Tuition Fee for International Undergraduate Students 29,400-37,700 AUD
Basic Tuition Fee for International Graduate Students 29,400-42,400 AUD
Financial Aid Scholarships/ Grants
Official Website https://unisa.edu.au/

University of South Australia Campus

University of South Australia is located in Adelaide which is known as Australia’s education city. The university has campuses at 4 locations i.e. City West, City East, Magill and Mawson Lakes.

  • The City West campus offers programs in Accounting, Art, Architecture, Business, Finance, Law, Management, Marketing and others. It features a trading room, mock court, law clinic, architecture studio, UniSA Cancer Research Institute, etc.
  • The City East campus has more health and medical science facilities in a vibrant city setting surrounded by entertainment, shopping and food venues.
  • The Magill campus is at a short distance from the city and offers programs in Arts, Communication and Journalism, Education, Media Arts, Psychology and Social Work.
  • The Mawson campus is home to 5 faculties of Aviation, Education, Engineering, Science and Mathematics and Information Technology.
  • Over 50 events are organized across all campuses each year.
  • Students can participate in any of the 100+ academic, social and cultural clubs functional on campus.
  • UniSA sports has more than 25 sporting clubs including rowing, football, volleyball, rowing, etc.
  • Students also get access to the Pridham Hall, training spaces, on-campus gyms and participate in competitions and community events.

University of South Australia Accommodation

University of South Australia students are offered accommodation by Urbanest at 12 Bank Street at Adelaide CBD. It is located close to the university’s city campus in an area connected with the central railway and tram stations.

  • The accommodation provides studios and apartments built with modern design and technology.
  • Students living in these accommodations get access to a lot of exciting events, outdoor balconies with BBQ facility, gym access, bike storage, support staff available 24/7, iMac stations, etc.
  • The rent of accommodation in Australia starts from 199 AUD per week and includes electricity, air conditioning and unlimited internet access.
  • Other accommodation options include student hostels, apartments, homestay and private rental. Among these homestay and student apartments remain popular choices.

The rent of various accommodation options for UniSA students are as follows:

Accommodation Option Rent per week (AUD)
Student Hostels 140-200 
Student Apartments 150-460 
Homestay 250-310 
Private Rental 120-350 

Know more about UNISA campus life through student reviews

University of South Australia Programs

Over 200 undergraduate and graduate programs are open for enrollment at the University of South Australia. The university also offers short courses, diplomas, certificates, executive education and research opportunities.

  • Programs at the University of South Australia are offered in more than 40 areas of study such as Accounting and Finance, Architecture, Arts, Business, Engineering, Communication, Law, Science, Management and HRM, etc.
  • It is the only university in South Australia to offer undergraduate degrees in Aviation, Journalism, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Illustration and Animation, Property and Surveying.
  • At the graduate level, programs in Cybersecurity, Communications, Visual Effects and Arts and Cultural Management are unique to UniSA.
  • The top ranked disciplines taught at UniSA are Management, Nursing, Exercise and Sports Science ranked in the top 100 and Law, Education, Computer Science, Business and Economics and Pharmacy ranked in the top 150 in QS subject rankings 2021.
  • Some of the high demand graduate study areas include Business, Health, Architecture, Design, Cybersecurity, Data Science, Education and Medical Sonography.

University of South Australia Admission Process

University of South Australia accepts applications throughout the year. International applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible. There is no application fee for applying at UNISA. International applicants can submit the online application or apply through a registered agent of the university.

How to Apply?

Prospective applicants seeking admission to the University of South Australia must take note of the following details:

Application Portal: Online International Application System/ through UniSA agent
Application Fee: None
Application Deadlines: Throughout the year
Admission Requirements: The following documents must be submitted for admission:

  • Completion of Australian Year 12 or equivalent international qualification
  • Certified copy of academic transcripts, graduation certificates including information of grading system with English translation if required
  • Proof of English language proficiency
  • Academic and employer reference letters
  • Copy of personal detail page of passport
  • Updated resume
  • Relevant work experience

English Proficiency Test Score Requirements

The university accepts various English proficiency test scores such as IELTS, TOEFL, PTE and Cambridge English. The minimum score requirements for international undergraduate and graduates are given below:

Test Undergraduate Requirements Graduate Requirements
IELTS 6.0 6.5
TOEFL-IBT 60 60
TOEFL-PBT 550 577
CAE/ CPE 169 177
PTE 50 58

University of South Australia Cost of Attendance

The tuition fee for programs offered by the University of South Australia varies depending on the type of program. The fees for various undergraduate and graduate programs in UNISA are summarized in the table below:

University of South Australia Financial Aid

University of South Australia offers scholarships and grants to more than 2,500 students. There are various categories of scholarships in Australia including those for high achievers, international students and financial need.

  • Students are required to submit the scholarship application form along with the admission application. Once students are accepted to the university, the outcome of the scholarship application will also be notified.
  • Applicants who did not complete the scholarship application form but are eligible, will be invited to apply for the same.
  • Scholarship recipients must maintain a minimum GPA of 5.0 to be able to retain the scholarship throughout the period of study.
  • Details of the international student scholarships are given in the table below:
Name of Scholarship Eligibility Criteria Amount of Scholarship
Vice Chancellor’s International Excellence Scholarship Offered to international students eligible to study in Australia and meet high distinction average in the previous education. 50% of tuition fees
International Merit Scholarship Awarded to outstanding international candidates who have achieved the equivalent of 5.0 GPA. 15% of tuition fees
Urbanest Accommodation Support Scholarship Awarded to incoming students commencing studies in Adelaide in Semester 2, 2021 50% discount on rent of accommodation (single room type: 164.50 AUD per week; large studio: 234.50 AUD per week)
Australia Government Scholarships (Australia Awards) Offered to international students by Australian Government to next generation leaders who wish to undertake study, professional development courses or research. Varies

University of South Australia Alumni

University of South Australia has a network of over 226,000 alumni all over the world. The university offers ample opportunities for alumni to connect after graduation and a range of benefits as well.

  • The benefits available to alumni of the university are listed below:
    • Free library membership for graduates
    • Access to career resources and opportunity to advertise vacancies
    • Gym and professional service benefits
    • Discount on corporate short courses
    • Access to alumni business directory

Some notable alumni of the UniSA are:

  • Penny Wong - Australian Senator
  • Christopher Pyne - Former Member of the Australian Parliament
  • Steven Marshall - Australian politician
  • Sally Sara - Australian journalist
  • Mark Parnell - Members of the South Australian Legislative Council

University of South Australia Placements

Around 90% of the university’s graduates are employed full-time within 4 months from graduation. University of South Australia has collaborations with more than 2,500 companies that bring some of the top employment opportunities in Australia to students from companies such as Nestle, Siemens, Samsung, KPMG, SAAB, Rising Sun Pictures, MinterEllison, DXC Technology and others. In one of the recent QILT surveys, the university ranked one of the top 10 in Australia for employer satisfaction. In 2020, the university ranked among #301-500 universities in QS Graduate Employability Rankings.

The salary of University of South Australia graduates according to emoluments is given in the table below:

Program Average Salary (in AUD)
MBA 165,000
Masters in Finance 107,000
BBA 96,000
Other degrees 91,000
Other bachelor’s degrees 78,000
Bachelor of Science 75,000

In 2020, University of South Australia ranked at the 2nd position for teaching quality in THE Young University Rankings. According to the QILT survey conducted in 2020, the university has occupied the 1st position in South Australia for graduate careers, student satisfaction, employer satisfaction, student experience and campus facilities. It is the no. 1 young university in Australia for industry collaborations in THE Young University Rankings 2020 in the industry income indicator. Students at the University of South Australia have the opportunity to study world-class degrees with top ranking teachers in a state-of-the-art facility campus having modern purpose-built spaces.

FAQs

Ques. Is the University of South Australia a reputed institution?

Ans. University of South Australia is a world-class Australian university. It ranked #295 in the world in QS World University Rankings 2021. The university is also one of the top young university in Australia ranked #29 in QS Top Universities Aged Under 50.

Ques. What are the most popular programs at University of South Australia?

Ans. University of South Australia is most popular for programs in Business, Health, Architecture, Design, Cybersecurity, Data Science, Education, Nursing, Exercise and Sports Science, etc.

Ques. Where does the University of South Australia rank in Australia?

Ans. University of South Australia ranks 22nd in Best Global Universities in Australia in the U.S. News and World Report 2021.

Ques. Does the University of South Australia offer accommodation?

Ans. Students of the University of South Australia are provided accommodation by Urbanest at 12 Bank Street at Adelaide CBD. All basic facilities are included in the rent of the accommodation which starts from 199 AUD per week. Several other accommodation options are also available for the students.

Ques. Does the University of South Australia offer scholarships to international students?

Ans. Yes, the University of South Australia offers scholarships to over 2,500 recipients every year. The value of scholarships for international students can go up to 50% of the tuition fees.

Ques. Is the MBA at University of South Australia worth doing?

Ans. University of South Australia is one of the premier universities for business and the only business school in South Australia with both AACSB international and EQUIS. Globally, it is acknowledged as the top 1% university for studying business. Therefore, an MBA from the University of South Australia is definitely worth doing.

Ques. What are the available intakes for MBA at University of South Australia?

Ans. The available intakes for MBA at University of South Australia are January, April, June and September.

Ques. What level of English language proficiency is required for admission to the University of South Australia?

Ans. A minimum IELTS score of 6.0 is required for admission to undergraduate programs while minimum IELTS score of 6.5 is necessary for graduate programs.

Ques. What percentage of international students attend University of South Australia?

Ans. Around 18% of the total students i.e. around 6,200 international students attend University of South Australia.

Ques. Are graduates of the University of South Australia employable?

Ans. Graduates of the University of South Australia are highly valued among the employers. Over 90% of the graduates are employed within 4 months from graduation. The university is also 5+ star rated for employability in QS Stars Rating.