Our Top 5 Reasons to Study in Adelaide
- Adelaide has many international students
- How many international students are there in Adelaide?
- How diverse is the population in Adelaide?
- Adelaide is affordable for international students
- What is the cost of living in Adelaide for international students?
- What are the most affordable suburbs in Adelaide for students?
- Adelaide has some of the world’s highest-ranking universities
- The University of Adelaide
- Which Nobel Prize awardees came from the University of Adelaide?
- What is the ranking of the University of Adelaide?
- University of South Australia
- What is the ranking of the University of South Australia?
- Flinders University
- What is the ranking of Flinders University?
- Torrens University of Australia
- What is the ranking of Torrens University of Australia?
- Adelaide’s transportation system is well-made
- What makes Adelaide’s public transportation good?
- Public Transportation Fares in Adelaide
- Does Adelaide have public transportation discounts for students?
- Adelaide has a great quality of living
- What are Adelaide’s famous festivals for college students?
- Adelaide Fringe Festival
- Adelaide Festival
- Illuminate Adelaide
The city you study can spell the quality of your learning, the community you meet, and the opportunities you get. If you’re eyeing Australia for your college years, we highly recommend sweet and sunny Adelaide!
We’ve seen students from all over the world spend some of their best years in the city. It’s no wonder, given that we have some of the best of everything—universities, culture, transportation, and more!
Whether you’re a local or an international student, our list is made for anyone curious about studying in the city. Sit back and relax as we guide you through the top reasons why Adelaide is the perfect place for you to study in!
1. Adelaide has many international students
One of the things we’re most proud of as Adelaideans is our diverse student population. We welcome students from over 120 countries yearly!
How many international students are there in Adelaide?
As of 2023, there are more than 30,000 international students in Adelaide. Interestingly, international education is our 3rd largest export for 2021!
Students here play a big part in the local community. After all, more than 30% of students provide volunteer work and help create thousands of jobs for locals yearly.
How diverse is the population in Adelaide?
International students will find it easy to integrate with our highly welcoming local community. After all, our population is diverse, and it includes citizens with Chinese, English, Australian, Irish, and Scottish ancestry.
| Ancestry | Percentage |
| English | 27.3% |
| Chinese | 20.0% |
| Australian | 17.2% |
| Irish | 8.3% |
| Scottish | 7.5% |
The majority of Adelaideans are English, followed by Chinese and Australians. Other ancestries in Adelaide not listed are German, Italian, Indian, Greek, and Vietnamese.
You can also see this diversity with its citizens’ religions! Adelaide has a high level of religious tolerance, hence our fancy title of “City of Churches.”
| Religion | Percentage |
| Roman Catholic | 12% |
| Anglican | 5.6% |
| Buddhism | 4.1% |
| Hinduism | 2.8% |
| Islam | 2.6% |
As we can see from the table, the majority of Adelaideans are Roman Catholics, Anglicans, and Buddhists.
There are many places of worship around Adelaide for them, such as St. Francis Xavier’s Catholic Cathedral, St. John’s Anglican Church, and Adelaide Sri Lanka Buddhist Vihara.
2. Adelaide is affordable for international students
If there’s anything almost all students are wary of, it’s the cost of studying! This shouldn’t be much of a worry when living in Adelaide, as it has a relatively affordable cost of living compared to other cities in Australia!
What is the cost of living in Adelaide for international students?
The average monthly cost of living in Adelaide is about $1620 according to StudyAdelaide. You’ll be paying the most for rent, entertainment, and groceries.
| Costs | Monthly price |
| Rent for shared space in the city | $740 |
| Entertainment | $320 |
| Groceries | $240 |
| Utilities | $160 |
| Phone and internet | $100 |
| Public transportation | $60 |
Compared to other cities in Australia, Adelaide is the most affordable according to the cost of living index by Numbeo.
| City | Cost of living index (higher means more affordable) |
| Adelaide | 91.2 |
| Canberra | 89.9 |
| Brisbane | 84.4 |
| Sydney | 84.1 |
| Perth | 82.1 |
| Melbourne | 80.7 |
| Hobart | 67.4 |
The fact that Adelaide is affordable and has some of the best universities in the world makes choosing the city a no-brainer!
What are the most affordable suburbs in Adelaide for students?
Regarding the cost of living, international students should also consider whether to start worrying about roommates, or to fly solo and handle the rent alone. According to data by RealEstate Australia, the following are the best spots for students:
| Suburb | Median rent | Distance from CBD |
| Salisbury | $289 | 30 minutes |
| Salisbury East | $291 | 28 minutes |
| Andrews Farm | $306 | 34 minutes |
| Salisbury North | $312 | 29 minutes |
| Elizabeth North | $326 | 35 minutes |
Of course, you can choose to stay at the good ol’ dormitories provided by the university. However, getting a slot is hard due to high demand, so inquire about it in advance!
3. Adelaide has some of the world’s highest-ranking universities
Another thing we’re proud of as locals is that we have some of the best universities in the world. The following are some of the universities in Adelaide.
The University of Adelaide
Established in 1874, the University of Adelaide is the 3rd oldest university in Australia. It’s known for producing five Nobel Laureates, so the university’s a great launch pad if getting the award is your lifetime goal!
What makes them such a great option is that their campuses are the most accessible. Their campuses are in Waite, Roseworthy, and North Terrace.
Which Nobel Prize awardees came from the University of Adelaide?
The University of Adelaide has a total of five Nobel Prize awardees. They are
- J Robin Warren (Physiology or Medicine)
- John Coetzee (Literature)
- Sir Howard Walter Florey (Physiology or Medicine)
- Sir William Lawrence Bragg (Physics)
- Sir William Henry Bragg (Physics)
What is the ranking of the University of Adelaide?
The University of Adelaide is 109th in the QS World University Rankings. This makes them the highest-ranking university in Adelaide!
University of South Australia
Also known as “UniSA,” the University of South Australia is one of the top universities in Adelaide for graduate students. They’re connected with over 2,500 companies from various industries, making employment easier after graduation.
They also have one of the most extensive lists of degrees, with more than 200. Their degrees vary in academic areas, including psychology, aviation, business, and more.
What is the ranking of the University of South Australia?
As of writing, the University of South Australia is 363rd in the QS World University Rankings. It dropped from its former rank of #326 in 2022.
Flinders University
Flinders is a popular choice for those who want to pursue medicine. After all, it’s adjacent to Flinders Medical Center, which also houses doctors-in-training from the university.
Aside from this, their facilities are among the most advanced in Adelaide. A quick look at their stunning architecture is enough to entice prospective students to the university!
What is the ranking of Flinders University?
Flinders University is 425th in the QS World Ranking for 2023. It has dropped from its former rank of #407 in 2022.
Torrens University of Australia
We recommend Torrens if you want to pursue a business course, as their curriculum is one of the best we’ve seen. They also have many industry connections, perfect for jumpstarting your career.
The university’s corporate design can easily inspire business-minded folks to study here. This can be seen in its colorful discussion tables, modern architecture, and more.
If you’re looking for other colleges in Adelaide, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best ones here.
What is the ranking of Torrens University of Australia?
Torrens University of Australia is not part of the QS World Rankings for 2023. I still encourage you to apply for it, as it’s a great university for business and creative courses.
4. Adelaide’s transportation system is well-made
One of the things we’re most proud of is our public transportation system. In fact, Adelaide was given the moniker the “20 minute city!”
Nowadays, travel time is about 25 to 30 minutes, but it’s still an impressive feat considering Adelaide’s increasing number of private car owners. This is made possible by the smartly designed tram, bus, and railway lines all over the city.
What makes Adelaide’s public transportation good?
One of the reasons why Adelaide’s public transportation is fast is that all its forms are connected to one company: Adelaide Metro.
With just one metroCARD, you can easily catch your class or ride a bus home. The best part is that transportation stops are near many restaurants, cafes, and theme parks scattered around Adelaide.
Public Transportation Fares in Adelaide
Adelaide’s public transportation is priced differently based on your travel time. Peak times have higher rates, so it’s probably best to sit out the rush hour.
| metroCARD or MetroTicket | Peak (9 AM – 3 PM Weekdays, all day during Weekdays) | Off-peak |
| Regular card/tap to pay | $4.05 | $2.25 |
| Single trip | $5.90 | $4.00 |
| Daytrip (all-day pass) | $11.20 |
Does Adelaide have public transportation discounts for students?
Adelaide provides discounts for college students and those in primary and secondary education. College students need to avail of the concession cards, which you can apply for using a university ID.
The rates are
| metroCARD or MetroTicket | Peak (9 AM – 3 PM Weekdays, all day during Weekdays) | Off-peak |
| Concession metroCARD | $2.00 | $1.10 |
| Concession Single trip | $3.00 | $1.40 |
| Daytrip (all-day pass) | $5.60 |
5. Adelaide has a great quality of living
Adelaide holds the record for being Australia’s most liveable city! Our city’s known for its excellent healthcare, education, environment, and infrastructure.
Students here have plenty of spaces to visit for recreation, live music, art, culture, and more! After a long day of studying, you can unwind here.
What are Adelaide’s famous festivals for college students?
There are plenty of festivals held in Adelaide yearly. Here, wine enthusiasts, music lovers, and performers gather regularly in some of Australia’s best festivals!
Fun fact: Adelaide holds over 400 festivals every year!
Adelaide Fringe Festival
Adelaide Fringe is the largest arts festival in the Southern Hemisphere! It’s a favorite of many college students because art, music, and theater are celebrated here!
Attending the festival is one of the best ways to feel Adelaide’s creativity and artistry at its peak! After attending it, it was easy for us to see why Adelaide is one of UNESCO’s Cities of Music.
Adelaide Festival
Adelaide Festival is the Fringe’s classier sister. Here, films, classical music, jazz, and highbrow performances are for everyone to watch.
Some of Adelaide Festival’s notable past performers include Grammy-winning artist Lorde, recording artist George Maple, and singer-songwriter Jessica Mauboy.
Illuminate Adelaide
Illuminate Adelaide is a magical view to see. The stunning light displays in various city spots during the winter will surely bring out the inner child in anyone!
Our favorite display is the one held in Adelaide Botanic Garden’s Palm House. The stunning mix of glass architecture and futuristic lighting made its way to many of our Instagram feeds!
