University of Adelaide

The University of Adelaide

Coat of arms
Latin:Universitas Adelaidensis[1]
Former name	Union College[2] (1872-1874)
Motto	Sub Cruce Lumen( Latin)
Motto in English	"The light (of learning) under the (Southern) Cross"[3]
Type	Publicresearch university
Established	6 November 1874; 149 years ago(1874-11-06)[4]
Accreditation	TEQSA[5]
Academic affiliations	Group of Eight APRU Australian Space Agency SAHMRI UniSA OUA Universities Australia
Endowment	A$393.4million(2023)[6]
Budget	A$1.09billion(2023)[7]
Chancellor	Catherine Branson[8]
Vice-Chancellor	Peter Høj[9]
Academic staff	1,700 (2023)[10]
Administrative staff	1,978 (2023)[10]
Total staff	3,678 (2023)[10]
Students	30,279 (2023)[10]
Undergraduates	19,493bachelor(2023)[10]
Postgraduates	7,962 coursework (2023) 2,362 research (2023)[10]
Other students	772 (2023)[10]
Address	North Terrace , Adelaide , South Australia , 5001 , Australia [11]
Campus	Urbanandregionalwith multiple sites[12]
Colours	University Navy, blue and red[13] Sporting BlackWhite[14]
Nickname	The Blacks[14]
Sporting affiliations	UniSport EAEN UBL
Mascot	Gus the Black Lion[15]
Website	adelaide.edu.au

The University of Adelaideis apublicresearch universitybased inAdelaide,South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third-oldest university in Australia. Its main campus in theAdelaide city centreincludes manysandstonebuildings of historical and architectural significance, such asBonython Hall. Itsroyal charterawarded byQueen Victoriain 1881 allowed it to become thesecond universityin theEnglish-speaking worldto confer degrees to women. It is neighbours with theUniversity of South Australiaand theAustralian Space Agencyheadquarters onLot Fourteen, and is active in the Australian space industry.

The university was founded at the formerRoyal South Australian Society of Artsby the Union College and studies were initially conducted at itsInstitute Building. The society was also the original birthplace of theSouth Australian Institute of Technologyas the School of Mines and Industries. The institute later became theUniversity of South Australiaduring theDawkins Revolutionfollowing a merger with anadvanced collegedating back to theSchool of Art, also founded at the society. The two universities, which accounted for approximately three-quarters of the state's public university population in 2022, agreed to merge in mid-2023. The future combined institution will be rebranded asAdelaide University, previously a colloquial name for the university, with the merged state expected to become operational by 2026.

The university currently has four campuses, three inSouth Australia: its mainNorth Terracecampus in central Adelaide, theWaite campusinUrrbrae, a regional campus inRoseworthyand a study centre inMelbourne,Victoria. Its academic activities are organised into three faculties, which are subdivided into numerous teaching schools. It also has several research subdivisions. In 2023, the university had a total revenue ofA$1.13 billion, withA$334.15 millionfrom research grants and funding. It is a member of theGroup of Eight, an association of research-intensive universities in Australia, and theAssociation of Pacific Rim Universities.

Notable alumni of the university include thefirst female prime ministerof Australia, twopresidents of Singapore, thefirst astronautborn in Australia and thefirst demonstrator of nuclear fission. It is also associated with fiveNobel laureates, constitutingone-thirdof Australia's totalNobel laureates, 116Rhodes scholarsand 164Fulbright scholars. It has had a significant impact on the public life of South Australia, having educated many of the state's leading businesspeople, lawyers, medical professionals and politicians. It has also been associated with the development ofpenicillin,space exploration,sunscreen, themilitary tank,Wi-Fi,polymer banknotesandX-ray crystallography, and the study ofviticultureandoenology.

The history of the university dates back to the Union College established in 1872 to provide education to aspiringProtestantministers who were previously required to travel to theUnited Kingdom.^{[16][2][17][18]}It provided education in the natural sciences, mathematics, English literature and theological studies of the Greek Testament.^[19]The college approachedScottish-bornpastoralistSirWalter Watson Hugheswith the proposal for a then-called Adelaide University with a request for endowment towards its creation.^[20][19][18]Following an agreement, the Adelaide University Association was established by the Union College on 23 September 1872 to manage the creation of the university.^[18][20][21]

The University of Adelaide, which is named after its founding city namesake toQueen Adelaide, was formally established on 6 November 1874 following the passage ofThe Adelaide University Act of 1874through theSouth Australian parliament.^[22][23]Its royal charter, which was granted byQueen Victoriain 1881, allowed the university to confer degrees to women.^[18][24][25]Its early benefactors, many of whomScottish immigrants, made large donations to develop the university that are now worth tens of millions adjusted for inflation.^[25][4]

It was founded with the backing of its first benefactor Walter Hughes and SirThomas Elder, also a Scottish-born pastoralist and founder of the university, who each donated £20,000 towards the association.^{[25][4][26][27]}The university initially occupied theSouth Australian Institute Buildingprior to the construction of the University Building which housed the entire university at the time.^{[28][29][30][11]}Elder also bequeathed an additional £65,000 in his will following his death in 1897 of which £20,000 were allocated to set up theElder Conservatorium of Music.^[31][4][32]Other donors include Scottish philosopher SirWilliam Mitchellwho also taught literature and psychology, established many teaching schools and served as vice-chancellor and chancellor of the institution.^[25]The University Building was later renamed to the Mitchell Building in his honour and currently serves as the chancellery.^[33]

According to its founding Act, the university was intended as a secular institution to "promote sound learning in theProvince of South Australia" to be "open to all classes and denominations ofHer Majesty'ssubjects".^[22]It commenced its first class, aLatinlecture towards theBachelor of Arts, in March 1876 following its inauguration at theAdelaide Town Hall.^[34][35][36]Its first chancellor was former premierSir Richard Hansonand its first vice-chancellor wasAnglicanbishopAugustus Short.^[37][38]Its first graduate wasThomas Ainslie Caterer, who graduated in 1879 with a Bachelor of Arts.^[39]In 1882, it was also the first university in Australia to provide degree programs in science and its faculty of arts was inaugurated in 1887.^[40]ItsAdelaide Law Schoolwas established in 1883 as Australia's second law school, its medical school in 1885 and its Adelaide Business School in 1902 as the country's first business school.^[41][42][43]They have produced some of Australia's earliest businesspeople, lawyers, medical professionals and politicians.^[44]

Another early benefactorRobert Barr Smith, who had previously studied under financial hardship inScotlandand served on the University Council for 19 years, had long desired for education to be accessible to all students in Adelaide.^[45][46]In 1913, Robert wrote at the age of 89 that “tho' in its vigorous and lusty youth,” the university was poorly endowed and constructed on little land.^[46]His donations included a combined £9000 towards books for thethen-strugglinguniversity library and £500 towards radiation research byLawrenceandWilliam Henry Braggwho later won the 1915Nobel Prize in Physics.^{[47][46][48][49]}

Bonython Hall, the great hall of the university, was built in 1936 following a donation of over £50,000 from the owner ofThe Advertisernewspaper, SirJohn Langdon Bonython, who was inspired following his visit to theGreat Hall of the University of Sydney.^[25][50][51]The hall, which is used during graduation ceremonies among other events, was designed by architectLouis Laybourne-Smithbased on medievalgreat hallsin aGothic Revival architecturestyle inspired by theancient universitiesin Europe.^[50][51][52]

The institution was the third of its kind on the Australian continent after the Universities ofSydneyandMelbourne, which then educated solely men.^[53][54][55]The university, which allowed women to study alongside men since its commencement including eligibility for all academic prizes and honours, became the second university in theEnglish-speaking worldfollowing theUniversity of Londonin 1878 to formally admit women on equal terms as men in 1881.^[56]This was following a royal charter granted byQueen Victoriathat same year, which allowed for women to be conferred degrees.^[25]This has contributed to its long history of achievingnotable milestones and firstsfor women's rights in higher education.^[56]

TheSchool of Artwas founded in 1856 by the formerRoyal South Australian Society of Arts, predating the university which was also established there.^[57][58]The society also then included theSouth Australian Museumand later theState LibraryandArt Gallery of South Australia.^[59][28][29]The independent art school, which went through many name changes, resided for most of its history at theJubilee Exhibition Buildingwhich was later transferred to the university in 1929.^[60][58][61]The art school remained on the campus until 1962 when the building, which was then located betweenBonython Halland the South Australian Institute of Technology, was demolished to make way for a number of university buildings.^[58][62][63]

The Jubilee Exhibition Building was also the birthplace of theSouth Australian Institute of Technologywhich was established in 1889 as the School of Mines and Industries.^[62][64][65]It moved to the neighbouring Brookman Building in 1903, named after theScottish-bornbusinessmanGeorge Brookmanwho contributed £15,000 towards its construction.^[66][67][68]The institution actedde factoas part of the university while remaining legally distinct.^[69][70]The relationship was expanded in 1903 with the two institutions formally agreeing to combine teaching, laboratories and examinations across fields of engineering and sciences.^{[69][70][34][64]}Despite the university later establishing its own faculty of engineering in 1937, the reciprocal relationship remained intertwined to the University Council and studies completed at the institute were recognised as equivalent studies eligible for credit towards university courses.^{[69][70][71][72]}The institution expanded into the site of the former Adelaide Technical High School in 1963, to the regional city ofWhyallain 1962 and to the Adelaide suburb ofMawson LakesasThe Levelsin 1972.^[64][58][71]

The Adelaide Teachers College, which changed names and shifted locations multiple times throughout its existence, was established in 1876.^[73][74]Despite initially being located away from the university, students from the institution attended university lectures since at least 1878.^[73][74]The college later occupied theElder Hall'sbasement between 1900 and 1902 before being moved to the University Building as a result of "inspiring yet distracting" musical performance.^[75][73][74]It renamed to the University Training College between 1900 to 1913 before re-naming again to the Teachers Training College following concerns that student teachers were focusing more on attaining university degrees.^[73][74]In 1921, it renamed again to the Adelaide Teachers College, in line with other interstate teaching colleges such as theSydney Teachers College.^[73][74]Despite offers from the university to take control of the college, which was heavily integrated into the university, the Education Department retained administrative authority throughout its early history.^[73][74]

After moving again, the college was constructed the Hartley Building on the western border of the university campus following a staff and student visit to the more opulentMelbourne Teachers College.^[73][74][75]The Hartley Building, which was built in theSpanish Revival styleas a permanent home for the college, was named after former vice-chancellorJohn Anderson Hartley.^[73][76]It continued constructing new buildings such as the Scott Theatre, Madley and Schulz buildings and renamed to the Adelaide College of Advanced Education in 1973.^[73][77][34]It also established teacher colleges elsewhere including the Wattle Park Teachers College in 1957 and the Western Teachers College in 1962, the latter of which merged with the School of Art to form the Torrens advanced college in 1973.^[77]The Adelaide and Torrens advanced colleges eventually merged in 1979 to become the Adelaide College of the Arts and Education and the Wattle Park Teachers College became the Murray Park advanced college in 1973 during its relocation toMagill.^[58][77]

The Adelaide College of the Arts and Education later merged with the Hartley, Salisbury and Sturt advanced colleges in 1982 to form the South Australian College of Advanced Education (SACAE).^[77][78]The Hartley advanced college was formed in 1979 following the merger between the Murray Park and Kingston advanced colleges, the latter of which was established in 1907 as the Kindergarten Training College.^[79][58][77]The Salisbury advanced college was established in 1973 as the Salisbury Teachers College and was initially located on the western side of the university, which later took over the branch following its departure in 1969.^[77][80]The Sturt advanced college was established in 1966 as the Bedford Park Teachers College.^[81]Following their merger as the SACAE, the combined institution continued its presence in the Hartley, Madley and Schulz buildings as its City campus and maintained joint teaching, facilities and committees with the university until the site merged with the university in 1991.^{[34][82][60][77][80]}

Stronger demand foradvanced collegeplaces throughout the country resulted from a broadening appeal of higher education beyond the traditionally elite education provided by the universities.^{[83][84][85][86]}Advanced collegeswere originally designed to complement universities, forming a binary system modelled on that of theUnited Kingdom.^{[86][87][88][89][90]}It was originally created by theMenzies governmentfollowingWorld War IIon the advice of a committee led by physicist SirLeslie H. Martin, during a period of high population growth and corresponding demand for secondary and tertiary education.^{[83][85][90][91][92]}This sector ceased to exist when, between 1989 and 1992, theHawke-Keating governmentimplemented thesweeping reformsof Education MinisterJohn Dawkinsthat dismantled the binary system.^[86][90][93]The states, eager for increased education funding, merged the colleges either with existing universities or with each other to form new universities.^{[86][88][89][90][92][94]}Following its increasing expansion and autonomy from the university, the South Australian Institute of Technology was given the option to merge with either TAFE South Australia or the South Australian College of Advanced Education.^[60][69][70]It chose to merge with the latter advanced college resulting in the establishment of theUniversity of South Australia, which continues to remain neighbours with the university.^[60][94][95]

TheUniversity of South Australiais the state's third public university, a continuation of the formerSouth Australian Institute of Technologythat merged with the SACAE, and maintained their presence next to the University of Adelaide, in the suburbs ofMawson LakesandMagilland in the regional city ofWhyalla.^[16][58][96]Its expansion over the next few decades, including to sites on the west end ofNorth Terrace, and broadening fields of studies contributed to its status as the state's largest university by student population.^[16][96]It also became the second-largest university nationally by number of online students, either in the state or from other parts of the country, and expanded toMount Gambierin 2005.^[93][97]

In June 2018, the University of Adelaide andUniversity of South Australiabegan discussions regarding the possibility of a merger. The proposition was described as the formation of a "super uni" by then South Australian premier,Steven Marshall, andSimon Birmingham,^{[98][99][100]}but the merger was called off in October 2018 by the University of South Australia, which was less keen on the merger.^[101][102]Vice-chancellorDavid Lloyd, in an email to University of South Australia staff, claimed that the amalgamation lacked a compelling case. This statement was contradicted by the University of Adelaide's chancellor who said that the merger continues to be in the state's best interests and a spokesperson for the university added that it was still open to future talks.^{[103][104][102]}Following the release of several internalFOIdocuments retrieved byABC News, it was later revealed that the merger talks failed due to disagreements on the post-merger institution's leadership structure.^[102]The nameAdelaide University of South Australiawas agreed upon by both universities andChris Schacht, who previously served on the University of Adelaide Council, alleged that the merger talks failed due to disagreement on which vice-chancellor would replace the other following their amalgamation.^[102]

In early 2022, the topic of a merger was raised again by the new state government led by premierPeter Malinauskas, which proposed setting up an independent commission to investigate the possibility of a merger between the state's three public universities should they decline.^[103][105]He had made an election promise to take a heavy-handed approach towards the merger to reduce students departing to higher-ranking institutions on the east coast and to improve the state's ability to attract researchers.^[105][103]At the time, staff's opinions were evenly divided on the idea of the commission.^[104]Following the appointment of merger advocatePeter Højas University of Adelaide vice-chancellor, both universities announced that a merger would once again be considered.^[106][107]The universities began a feasibility study into a potential merger at the end of the year.^[107]The invitation to merger negotiations was rejected byFlinders University, the state's third public university.^[108]

The agreement for the merger was reached on 1 July 2023 by the two universities, which then accounted for approximately two-thirds of the state's public university population, in consultation with theSouth Australian Government.^{[109][110][7][111][112]}The rationale for the amalgamation was a larger institutional scale may be needed in order to increase the universities' ranking positions, ability to secure future research income and a net positive impact on the state economy.^[113][114]The two universities argued that by combining their expertise, resources and finances into a single institution, they can be more financially viable, with stronger teaching and research outcomes.^[115]Support for the merger among existing staff were mixed, with aNational Tertiary Education UnionSA survey showing that only a quarter were in favour of the amalgamation.^[116][109]Warren Bebbington, who previously served as vice-chancellor at the University of Adelaide, described the proposed institution as a "lumbering dinosaur" in reference tosize-dependent funding modelsthat are under review.^[113]Vice-chancellorColin Stirlingdescribed plans to provide the new institution with AU$300 million in research funding and scholarships as "unfair" to students who choose to study at Flinders University.^[113]The combined figure was later revised to AU$464.5 million to include land purchases, with an additional AU$40 million research fund set up for Flinders University.^[117]

In November 2023, legislation passedstate parliamentenabling the creation of the new university to be namedAdelaide University, previously a colloquial name used by the University of Adelaide.^[117][118]An application for self-accreditation authority was submitted to theTertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency(TEQSA) on 15 January 2024, which was needed for the institution to offer courses that issue qualifications.^[119][120]Following approval on 22 May 2024, students starting studies at the pre-merger institutions from 2025 onwards will be issued degree certificates from Adelaide University.^[121][122]Students enrolled on or prior to 2024 will also be able to opt in adding antecedent institutions' names and logos on their parchments.^[122]The combined institution is expected to become operational by January 2026, with an additional transitional period extending to 2034.^[115][123]Prior to federal cuts to migration caused by a national housing shortage, the state government had projected the combined institution would enrol over 70,000 students, create 1,200 new jobs and bring in an estimatedA$500 millionper year to the South Australian economy by 2034.^[124][125]The amalgamation decision has beensubject to mixed reactions.

The primary campus of the university is located onNorth Terracein theAdelaide city centre, one of four terraces bounding the inner city'scentral business district.^[11][126]It is co-located on its west with the historical Royal South Australian Society of Arts which then included theArt Gallery of South Australia, theSouth Australian Museumand theState Library of South Australiawhere the university initially conducted studies prior to the construction of the Mitchell Building.^{[59][28][29][30]}The building that then housed the entire university now serves as the chancellery and is the oldest building on campus.^[28][29][30]Built in theGothic Revival architecturestyle, it was called the University Building until 1961 when it was renamed after former chancellor and vice-chancellor SirWilliam Mitchell.^{[127][128][129]}TheBarr Smith Libraryis the main library on the site and is notable for its large reading room.^[130]On the western border, the campus is planned to merge with the neighbouringCity Eastcampus of the University of South Australia and theCity Westcampus on the west end of the terrace to form the combinedAdelaide Citycampus following the merger.^{[95][131][132]}

Bonython Hall, thegreat hallused during graduation ceremonies, is a prominent building facing the terrace.^[50][51]The hall takes inspiration from theGreat Hall of the University of Sydneyand is constructed in theGothic Revival architecturestyle to resemble the medieval halls used by the ancient universities in Europe.^[50][51][52]In between it and the Mitchell Building, which both face the terrace, is theElder Hallwhich was the former graduation venue.^[11][133]It is a large concert hall that is used by theElder Conservatorium of Musicamong others.^[133]It also hosts lunchtime concerts and, along with Bonython Hall, both feature largeorgans.^[50][133]

The university also has other venues including the Scott Theatre, Little Theatre and the College Green. The Scott Theatre is the largestlecture theatreon site and is frequently hired out for performances of various kinds such as theAdelaide Fringeevents.^[134][135]The Little Theatre is located in theCloistersand is primarily used for dramatic performances by theTheatre Guild.^[136][137]The College Green stretches from theCloistersacross the lawns down to Victoria Drive, next to theRiver Torrens.^[11][138]It hosts various social events throughout the year including parties, live bands, DJs andopen-air cinemaamong others.^{[138][139][140]}It was created in response to the impact ofsocial distancingrestrictions owing to theCOVID-19 pandemic in Australia, which hit manylive music venues.^[139]

The Napier and Ligertwood Buildings were among several buildings built following the demolition of theJubilee Exhibition Buildingin 1962.^{[141][142][143][61]}They are named after SirMellis Napierand SirGeorge Ligertwoodwho were both former chancellors of the university.^[144]Some other notable buildings include the Ingkarni Wardli Building, Benham Building,HartleyBuilding,Lady SymonBuilding,George MurrayBuilding,MawsonBuilding and theHelen MayoNorth and South Buildings.^[145][11]TheA$100 millionBraggs Building, named after two Nobel laureates associated with the university, was built in 2013 and features a large number of cross-disciplinary scientific research facilities.^{[146][147][148]}The university also has a presence in the adjacentLot Fourteenprecinct, that is home to the national headquarters of theAustralian Space Agencyamong other institutions in the fields of science and technology.^{[149][150][151]}

On the west end of North Terrace, the Adelaide Health and Medical Sciences Building is surrounded by the University of South Australia'sCity Westcampus and theRoyal Adelaide Hospitalas part of the Adelaide BioMed City precinct.^[152][153]TheA$246 millionbiomedical teaching and research facility was finished in 2017 and is home to various clinical and simulation facilities in the fields of healthcare.^[152][153]Additionally, the university previously had a presence inThebartonapproximately 3 km (1.9 mi) north of the campus.^[154]It operated research facilities across 5 hectares (12 acres) related to physical sciences and various fields of engineering until 2020 when it was sold for housing development.^[155][156]Notably, the flames for the2000 Sydney Olympics,2004 Athens Olympicsand2016 Rio Olympicsamong other sporting events were developed there with the now-called FCT Flames.^{[157][158][159]}

TheAdelaide University Union redevelopment, also known as Union Buildings or Union Building Group, was completed in stages between 1967 and 1975.^[160]It created one of the most significant buildings in the complex.^[161][162]The redevelopment was designed by lead architectRobert Dicksonand includes a heritage-listed group of buildings including the Union House, the Lady Symon Building named after the wife of SirJosiah Symon, theGeorge MurrayBuilding, theCloistersand the Western Annexe.^[163][164]The earlierGeorgian-stylebuildings were designed by the architectsWoods, Bagot, Jory and Laybourne-Smithwho also designed Bonython Hall, the Mitchell Gates, the Johnson Laboratory, the Barr Smith Library and the Benham Building.^[165]

The Waite campus specialises inagricultural science,viticulture,oenology,plant breeding, food research andbiotechnology.^[166]It is home to the School of Agriculture, Food and Wine and research centres including the Waite Research Institute.^[167][168]It is located adjacent to theUrrbrae Agricultural High School.^[169][170]The early campus was largely donated through the will of Scottish-born pastoralistPeter Waiteof which half was dedicated for studies in agriculture and the remainder as a park.^[25]

A number of other organisations are co-located in theWaite Research Precinctincluding theSouth Australian Research and Development Institute(SARDI) (part ofPrimary Industries and Regions SAwhich is also headquartered at the campus); Australian Grain Technologies;Australian Wine Research Institute; and theCommonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation(CSIRO).^[171][172]

It is located in the suburb ofUrrbraein Adelaide's south-eastern foothills on 184 hectares (450 acres), a large amount of which was donated in 1924 by thepastoralistPeter Waite.^{[173][174][169]}The Urrbrae House built in 1891, now a museum, served as the home of Peter and Matilda Waite who purchased the land with support fromThomas Elder.^[175]Its interior is designed by Aldam Heaton, who was also responsible for designing interiors for theTitanic.^[175]The campus is also home to the Waite Arboretum and Conservation Reserve.^{[176][173][177]}The Waite Arboretum is a tree museum which is home to over 2,400 tree specimens from over 1,000 taxa, many of which are endangered in the wild.^{[176][173][178][179][180]}The Waite Conservation Reserve is home to native plants and wildlife.^{[176][173][181]}

Following donations from Rosina andJohn, the widow and son ofWilliam Tennant Mortlock, the Peter Waite Institute of Agricultural Research was established in 1924.^{[182][183][184][185]}Its first director wasArnold E. V. Richardson.^[173]Later renamed to the Waite Research Institute, it produces approximately 70% of Australia's research output in viticulture and oenology and around 80% of cereal varieties used in southern Australia were created there.^[166][186]A Soil Research Centre was founded in 1929 with a donation of £10,000 fromHarold DarlingofJ. Darling and Son, grain merchants.^[187]In 2004, State PremierMike Rannopened the A$9.2 million Plant Genomics Centre at the campus.^[188]In 2010, he openedThe Plant Accelerator, a A$30 million research facility – the largest and most advanced of its kind in the world.^[189]

Located north of the city, theRoseworthycampus comprises 16 km²(6.2 sq mi) offarmlandand is a large centre foragricultural research.^[190][191]Established in 1883 as the first agricultural college in Australia, it merged with the university in 1991 to become its Roseworthy campus.^[192]Its teaching and research inoenologyandviticulturewere transferred to the Waite campus, along with the bulk of its work inplant breeding.^{[193][194][195]}Before studies in oenology were transferred to the Waite campus, Roseworthy had produced a number of highly regarded and awarded winemakers and wine critics.^[193][196]

Following the merger, the campus expanded its focus indryland agriculture,natural resource managementandanimal productionby the mid-1990s.^[197]The campus is also now home to South Australia's firstveterinary sciencetraining program, which commenced in 2008.^[197][198]The Veterinary Science Centre houses teaching facilities including a surgical skills suite, a publicveterinary clinicoffering general practice as well as emergency and specialist veterinary services for pet animals.^[199]There are also specialised pathology laboratories at the centre for teaching, research and diagnostics.^[199]In 2013, the veterinary science facilities were expanded with the opening of the Equine Health and Performance Centre, a specialised facility for equine surgery, internal medicine, sports medicine and reproduction.^[197]

In 2021, the university opened the $7 million Roseworthy Solar and Energy Storage Project, a solar farm with an output of 1.2MW with a 420/1200kWh hybrid battery.^[200]Its 3,200 solar panels are estimated to produce 42% of the campuses' energy requirements.^[201]

The university's research and teaching is organised into three faculties, each of which contains a number of schools, departments and institutes.^[202]This is down from five in 2022 following a merger between the Arts and Professions faculties and the Faculty of Sciences into the Faculty of Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Sciences.^[203]The establishment of faculties and academic departments is formally the responsibility of the University Council.^[204]

The main governing body of the institution is its Council.^[205]It is the executive committee responsible for managing operations, setting policies and appointing the chancellor and vice-chancellor.^[205]The Council comprises the chancellor, vice-chancellor, a member of the academic staff, a member of the professional staff, an undergraduate student, a postgraduate student, at least one member with a commercial background, two members with prior experience in financial management and other members appointed by the selection committee.^[205]The selection committee, which comprises the chancellor and six other appointed members, can appoint members to the Council to serve for between 2 and 4 years.^[205]This excludes elected staff and student members, which have a term limit of 2 years.^[205]

The chancellor of the university is a limitless term position that is mainly ceremonial and is held currently by formerFederal CourtjudgeCatherine Bransonwho succeededKevin Scarcefollowing his retirement in May 2020.^[8][206]Branson was appointed by the University Council.^[8]The current vice-chancellor isDanishbiochemistPeter Høj, who began his role in February 2021 following similar roles at theUniversity of South Australiaand theUniversity of Queensland.^[9]While the chancellor's office is ceremonial, the vice-chancellor serves as the university's de facto principal administrative officer.^[205]The university's internal governance is carried out by the University Council formed through the University of Adelaide Act 1971.^[205]The legislation, which superseded the Adelaide University Act 1874, is scheduled to be superseded by the Adelaide University Act 2023.^[22][207]

In 2023, the University of Adelaide had a total revenue ofA$1.13 billion(2022 –A$1 billion) and a total expenditure ofA$1.09 billion(2022 –A$995.46 million).^[7]Key sources of income includedA$228.2 millionfrom research grants and fees (2022 –A$190.97 million),A$105.95 millionfrom other research funding (2022 –A$93.22 million),A$350.71 millionfrom tuition fees and grants (2022 –A$318.44 million),A$313.91 millionfromHESAfunding (2022 –A$305.91 million) andA$134.47 millionfrom donations and investments (2022 –A$86.48 million).^[7]At year-end the university had endowments ofA$393.4 million(2022 –A$366.3 million) and total net assets ofA$2.19 billion(2022 –A$2.15 billion).^[6][208][7]

In 2023, theState Governmentestimated the merger with theUniversity of South Australiawould injectA$500 millioninto the South Australian economy by 2034 and announced plans to create aA$350 millioninvestment fund to support research and accessibility.^[209]

While all Australian universities have common seals that are used on parchments, some Australian universities also possess acoat of arms.^{[210][211][212]}These were usually grant by theCollege of ArmsinLondondue to, as opposed to theUnited KingdomandCanada,^[213][214]an absence of a national heraldic authority.^[215]Thecoat of armsof the university was grant during the reign ofGeorge Vin 1925 and has historically since been used on all degree parchments issued by the university.^[216][217]While some universities such as theUniversities of Western AustraliaandQueenslandhave modified the coat of arms issued on parchments over time,^[218][219]its design has mostly remained the same with the exception of a minor tweak to thecrux.^[220][217]The motto in Latin readsSub Cruce Lumentranslated "the light (of learning) under the (Southern) Cross".^[3]The official coat of arms, inheraldic terminology, is:^[3]

Coat of arms of the University of Adelaide

Granted in 1925 by the College of Arms, London [25] Escutcheon Per pale Or and Argent an Open Book proper edged Gold on a Chief Azure five Mullets, one of eight, two of seven, one of six and one of five points of the second, representing the Constellation of the Southern Cross [3]

Many universities possessceremonial macesused during graduation ceremonies.^{[221][222][217]}The University of Adelaide Mace was forged by silversmiths usingsilver-giltunder the supervision ofFrederick Millward Grey.^[25][217]It features the coat of arms on an orb symbolising the world protruding from an open book representing learning with gum leaves-inspired design.^[25][217]Grey was a designer based at the School of Fine Arts in Adelaide which later became an antecedent institution of theUniversity of South Australia.^[223][224]The first mace bearer was KH Boykett in 1926 who carried it during the 50th anniversary jubilee of the first classes atSt Peter's Cathedral.^[217]The mace symbolises protection of the chancellor and the mace bearer, who is usually a student of the university, carries it in front of the chancellor during ceremonies.^[217][225]

The university is a member of theGroup of Eight, a coalition of research-led Australian universities. It is also a member of theAssociation of Pacific Rim Universities, an international association of research-intensive universities, and the former Academic Consortium 21.^[226][227]The university maintains historically strong ties with the neighbouringUniversity of South Australiaand the adjacentAustralian Space Agency.^{[69][58][228][229]}The university also offers a wide range of free onlineMOOCcourses on digital learning platformsedXandFutureLearn, including the MathTrackX bridging program.^{[230][231][232]}

The university also offers degree programs inSingaporeas part of a joint venture with theNgee Ann Kongsifoundation.^[233][234]

In 2023, the University of Adelaide had a total research income ofA$261.59 million, of whichA$121.62 millionwas from the National Competitive Grants Program;A$65.48 millionfrom other public sector research;A$8.04 millionfrom Cooperative Research Centres; andA$66.44 millionfrom industry and other research.^[7]Additionally, it also receivedA$49.59 millionfrom the Research Support Program andA$53.24 millionfrom the Research Training Program as research block grants.^[10]

In the 2018ERA National Report, theAustralian Research Councilevaluated work produced between 2014 and 2018.^[235]100 per cent of the university's research activity was judged to be "at or above world standard" (3-5*) with 57 of the 67 fields of research evaluated being "above world standard" (4*) or "well above world standard" (5*).^[236]The university had a positive trajectory since 2010.^[236]

The university operates a large number of disciplinary-specific research institutes in partnership with other research institutions and private enterprises.^[237][238]Notable examples include:

TheAustralian Institute for Machine Learning(AIML) is an artificial intelligence and machine learning research and translation institute based onLot Fourteen, a business and technology precinct.^{[239][240][241][242]}It is located in a formerRoyal Adelaide Hospitalbuilding in-between theAustralian Space Agencyheadquarters and the University of South Australia's Brookman Building.^{[11][243][244]}Established in 2018 with funding from the South Australian government, it is the largest university-based research site dedicated to machine learning in Australia, as well as ranking among the global top sites for itscomputer visionresearch capability.^{[245][242][246]}

The institute runs on anopen accessbasis; most of its research is open to the rest of the world, either through conferences and journals or via open source software. Its researchers have used machine learning to support industries such as agriculture, medical imaging, defence, space exploration, manufacturing, mining operations and filmmaking.^{[241][247][248]}Notable partners have included its foundational partnerLockheed Martin,Rising Sun PicturesandMicrosoft.^{[244][249][248][250]}

The Defence and Security Institute inLot Fourteenconducts research in the defence and security sectors includinglasers,robotics,autonomous systems,CBRN defence, space exploration, artificial intelligence,cybersecurityand fields ofquantum mechanics.^[251][252]

The Environment Institute specialises inenvironmental sciencesand research in the areas ofclimate,biodiversity,ecologyandmarine sciences.^[253]

The Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing specialises inphotonics, sensing and precision measurement technology.^[254]It is based in the Braggs Building, a purpose-builtA$95 millionheadquarters funded with support from the federal and state governments.^[255]The institute has 10 research groups and is home to various interdisciplinary scientific and advanced manufacturing facilities.^[256]It has developed high-precision measuring instruments used in the agriculture, defence, health, space exploration,tectonics,earth system science, manufacturing, mining and resources sectors.^[257][258]

The Institute for Sustainability, Energy and Resources conducts research in the sustainability, energy, mining and resources sectors.^[259]It has over 20 research centres in fields includingmineralology,geosciences, ecology,energy generation, space resources,food production,mineral processing, radiation science,hydrogen production, supply chains, environmental andnatural resources.^[260]

The Robinson Research Institute conducts biomedical research concerningfertility,pregnancyandchild health.^[261][262]It has over 45 research groups specialising in fields includingbiotechnology,congenital disorders,endocrinology,epigenics,genomics,gynaecology,immunology,medical machine learning,medicine,metabolic health,neurology,nutrition,obesity,obstetrics,oncology, ovarian development, placental development,pharmacology,polysomnography,reproductive biology,vaccinologyandwomen's health.^[261][263]

The South Australian immunoGENomics Cancer Institute is a planned cancer research institute.^[264][265]It was established throughA$80 millionin funding from the federal government.^[266][267]It is located in the Adelaide Health and Medical Sciences Building in-between the University of South Australia's Bradley Building and theSouth Australian Health and Medical Research Instituteadjacent to theRoyal Adelaide Hospital.^[11][267]

The Waite Research Institute specialises and conducts research inagricultural science,viticulture,oenology,plant breeding, food research andbiotechnology.^[166]It is located on the Waite campus in Adelaide's south-eastern foothills, in the suburb ofUrrbraeon 184 hectares (450 acres), a large amount of which was donated in 1924 by the pastoralistPeter Waite.^{[173][174][169]}Following donations from Rosina andJohn, the widow and son ofWilliam Tennant Mortlock, the institute was established originally as the Peter Waite Institute of Agricultural Research.^{[182][183][184][185]}A Soil Research Centre was founded in 1929 with a donation of £10,000 fromHarold DarlingofJ. Darling and Son, grain merchants.^[187]The institute produces approximately 70% of Australia's research output in viticulture and oenology and around 80% of cereal varieties used in southern Australia were created there.^[166][186]In 2004,State PremierMike Rannopened theA$9.2 millionPlant Genomics Centre at the campus.^[188]In 2010, he openedThe Plant Accelerator, aA$30 millionresearch facility – the largest and most advanced of its kind in the world.^[189]

TheBarr Smith Libraryis the third-oldest university library in Australia and was originally located in the Mitchell Building.^{[47][268][269]}The library purchased its first book in 1877 for £11, prior to its formal establishment in 1882.^[47][268]It was later named after its founderRobert Barr Smithwho throughout his life had donated £9,000 to purchase books towards the struggling library, which previously had no librarian and an annual budget of £200 of which £150 were spent on books.^{[45][270][46][47]}William Barlow, the registrar, acted as thede factofirst librarian of the then-small library and R. J. M. Clucas was the firstofficiallibrarian in 1900 who died three weeks prior to the opening of the current building in 1932.^[47][269]

Following Robert's death in 1915, an additional endowment of £11,000 in 1920 was made by his family.^[46][45]In 1928, his sonTony Elder Barr Smithdonated almost £35,000 towards a new building for the library to reduce congestion at its original site.^[45][271]Robert's granddaughter Christine Margaret Mcgregor also donated almost 5,000 books in 1974.^[25]It was designed in theGeorgian Revival architecturestyle byWalter Hervey Bagotof the Adelaide-based architecture firmWoods, Bagot & Laybourne Smithand was inspired byKensington PalaceinLondon.^[269][271]Following its completion, its collection was transferred from the Mitchell Building through azip line.^[269]The building features red-brick exteriors with an entrance withCorinthian pillarsbelow an inscription reading "The Barr Smith Library".^[272]It was later expanded twice to increase capacity, reaching a peak of 2 million books in 1999.^[269]

The Barr Smith Reading Room is a notable feature of the library on Level 2. It features oak flooring and furniture with white pillars holding the guilded and ivory arches that form the rounded ceiling.^{[271][268][270]}Between the pillars and the arches are two largeLatininscriptions that run across both sides of the room in gold and commemorate the donations from Robert and his family who played a major role in its development.^{[271][46][268]}In mid-2023, over 61 paper planes were found in ledges around the ceiling of the reading room, including one made using a university brochure dating back to 1991.^[273]

The library is also home to a collection of rare books, the archives documenting the development of the university among other collections across various subject areas.^[274]This includes books belonging to SirSamuel Way'scollection, who had donated 16,000 books.^[25]

Established in 1883, the Sir John Salmond Law Library holds a collection of legal works from Australian and overseas sources including theUnited Kingdom,Canada,New Zealandand theUnited States.^[275][276]In 1967, the law library moved to the Ligertwood Building, which was among those that replaced the demolishedJubilee Exhibition Building.^{[276][61][141]}It was renamed two years later after SirJohn William Salmondwho was the third Professor of Law at theAdelaide Law School.^[275]

The Roseworthy Campus Library, formerly the Roseworthy Agricultural College Library, is located on the Roseworthy campus.^[277]

It dates back to the former Tassie Memorial Library which was funded by John Tassie in 1920.^[277]It was built as a memorial to his son, also named John Tassie, who was a student at the thenRoseworthy Collegewho died duringWorld War IinFrance.^[277]It was later expanded in 1945 through donations by A Lowrie, the widow of former principalWilliam Lowrie.^[277]The William Lowrie Memorial Annexe, which connected to the previous library in a T-shape, was completed in 1947.^[277]The library moved to its the current site in 1974 due to increasing size constraints.^[277]

The Waite Campus Library, also known as the Woolhouse Library, is located on the Waite campus inUrrbrae.^[278]

Established in 1883, theElder Conservatorium of Musicis the oldest tertiarymusic academyin Australia.^[279]It offers study and research programs injazz, classical performance,musical theatre, classical voice,pop music, sonic arts, music production,song-writing,music composition,conducting,teaching, ensembles and performance studies.^[32][279]It is also home to theAustralian String Quartet,Sia Furler Instituteand theCentre for Aboriginal Studies in Music.^{[32][280][281]}The conservatorium also offers theatre performances andLunchtimeandAfter Hoursconcert series.^[282][283]The academy's first Professor of Music wasCambridgegraduateJoshua Ives, also the first professor of music in Australia.^[32][284]Edward Harold Davieswas the first Australian to graduate with aDoctor of Musicin 1902 andRuby Claudia Davywas the first Australian woman to earn the doctorate.^[285][286]

The Elder Hall used by the conservatorium was built following the death of its namesake and music lover SirThomas Elderwho left £20,000 towards its construction.^[32][285]The founding stone, made from nearby gumtree, was placed on 26 September 1898 by then-state governor Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton.^[285]The building was officially opened exactly two years later on 26 September 1900 in a formal ceremony despite having been already used for months.^[32][287]The South Australian Registerreported the next day that the great hall was opened by Lord Tennyson "positively for the last time" and that "the majority of those who were present had already attended at two more or less appropriate ceremonial openings of the Elder Hall".^[288][289]Its current organ is built byCasavant FreresofQuebecin 1979, having replaced the previous Dodd organ that later was purchased bySt Mark’s CathedralinPort Pirie.^[285]

Thegreat hall, which was previously used for graduation ceremonies until the construction ofBonython Hallin 1936, was constructed in theFlorentineGothicarchitectural style integrating freestone fromMount Gambier.^[133][285]

The Tate Museum is one of the largest geological museums in Australia with a collection of approximately 29,000rocksandfossilsincludingmeteorites,tektites,asteroidsandspecimens of early life.^{[290][291][292]}It was established in 1902 following the death of its namesakebotanistandgeologistRalph Tate, though the museum existed informally since 1881 when he first began the collection.^[291][292]In 1952, it moved from the former Prince of Wales Building to the Mawson Laboratories named after geologist and explorer SirDouglas Mawson.^[292][293]The museum also hosts artefacts from Mawson's various expeditions tothe Antarctic, including one of his original sleighs.^[292][290]Its first official curator is Tony Milnes who had worked to restore and document the large collection.^[292]Notable specimens includesome of earth's earliest organisms, a number of which are from up to 550 million years ago, andsegments of an asteroidthat smashed into the state'sGawler Rangesaround 580 million years ago.^[291][294]

Waite Historic Precinct

The Waite Historic Precinct includes the Urrbrae House museum, Waite Arboretum and Waite Conservation Reserve.^[175]The museum resides in the former home ofPeter Waiteand was built in 1891.^[175]Its interior is designed by Aldam Heaton, who was also responsible for designing interiors for theTitanic.^[175]The Waite Arboretum, a tree museum, is home to over 2,400 tree specimens from over 1,000 taxa, many of which are endangered in the wild.^{[176][173][178][179][180]}The Waite Conservation Reserve is home to native plants and fauna.^{[176][173][181]}

Located in theAdelaide Park Landsat the eastern end of North Terrace, the National Wine Centre offers some of the university'soenologycourses.^[295]Opened in 2001, the facility also hosts public exhibitions about winemaking and itsindustry in South Australia.^[296]It contains an interactive permanent exhibition ofwinemaking, introducing visitors to the technology, varieties and styles of wine.^[295][296]It also haswine tastingareas, giving visitors the opportunity to taste and compare wines from across Australia.^[295]The building, which is adjacent to theAdelaide Botanic Gardens, was designed byPhillip Coxand Grieve Gillett and uses building materials to reflect items used in making wine.^[297]

University rankings
Global rankings
QS[298]	=82
THE[299]	=111
ARWU[300]	151-200
U.S. News & World Report[301]	92
CWTS Leiden[302]	247
Australian rankings
QS[303]	8
THE[304]	7
ARWU[305]	8
U.S. News & World Report[306]	9
CWTS Leiden[302]	18
ERA[307]	8
AFR[308]	5

In the 2023AFR Best Universities Ranking, the university attained a position of #5 among Australian universities.^[309]

In the 2025QS World University Rankings(published 2024), the university tied 82nd place (8th nationally) with a net increase of 7 places.^[310]In the 2024Times Higher Education World University Rankings, the university tied 111th place (7th nationally). The university had a positive trajectory since 2016.^[311]In the 2023Academic Ranking of World Universities, the university attained a position of #151-200 (8th nationally).^[312]In the 2024-2025U.S. News & World Report Best Global Universitiesrankings, the university attained 92th place (9th nationally) with a net decrease of 20 places.^[313]In the 2023 Aggregate Ranking of Top Universities, which measures aggregate performance across the QS, Times and ARWU rankings, the university attained a position of 98th place (8th nationally). The university had a positive trajectory since 2012.^[314]Additionally, the university ranked within the top 100 in a number of subject rankings across all four publications.^{[310][311][312][313]}

YouX SRC Political Groups
Structure
Political groups	Left Action(5) Grassroots(2) UNITE(4) Progress (12) Activate(1) Independent(2) Vacant (0)*
Website
youx.org.au/voice/src/
Footnotes
Accurate as of 23 July 2024

Founded in 1895, the Adelaide University Union, trading asYouX, is one of the oldest students' unions in Australia.^[315][316]The union operates both as the representative voice for university students and as a provider of a wide range of services.^[317]It is democratically controlled through its Board andStudents Representatives Counciland is run by elected student officers.^[318]The union also supports a range of services, including numerous clubs and societies, social events and an advice service.^{[317][319][320][321]}Union members also receive various discounts including at the UniBar, cafes and shops.^[322]
As of 2024, there are over 175 clubs and societies under the umbrella of the union.^[323]These include the Adelaide University Sciences Association (the oldest society at the union not related to sports),On Dit(the third oldest student-run magazine in Australia) and formerly theAdelaide University Sports Associationthat predates and ultimately founded the union.^[324][325]The sports association, which was founded in 1896, became directly affiliated with the university in 2010.^[326]

Following the passing of theAdelaide University Act of 2023, the union is planned to remain as the student union following the ongoing universities' amalgamation.^[207]The legislation recommends, but does not enforce, its merger with theUniversity of South Australia Students Association(USASA).^[207]In early 2024, both student unions held virtual meetings to discuss collaborative opportunities following a request from USASA to hold merger negotiations.^[327][328]

The student union also organises the annualProshweek events inspired by themedievaltradition ofraggingor "an extensive display of noisy disorderly conduct, carried on in defiance of authority or discipline".^[329]The annualProceshprocession began in 1905 as a means for students to poke fun at established South Australian institutions, though ragging at the university dates back to the late 19th century.^[329]In one example, multiple alarm clocks set and hid by students behind books made constant interruptions during a 1896 ceremony at the former Mitchell Building library.^[329]The Prosh parade has in modern times included live band performances on flatbed trucks, student club-made floats and booze cruisers transporting inebriated students.^[329][330]Among notable pranks, students suspendeda caron Adelaide University Footbridge in 1971 above theRiver Torrensas part ofOperation Bridge-hang.^{[25][331][332]}

Since 1954, the event has also involved the sale of satirical newspapers in public settings.^{[329][333][334]}TheProsh Rag, later an annual issue of theOn Ditstudent magazine, contains humorous references to various well-known persons of the day.^{[335][336][334][337]}It has been sold on city streets by students to raise funds for charity as an attempt to legitimise the event following attempts to ban it in the early 1950s.^[329]Since at least the 1960s, the event and magazine has often been involved in controversial topics includingAustralia's involvement in the Vietnam War,apartheid,nuclear warfare,Aboriginal rightsand the general administation of the university.^[329]Following the end of free university education, the event has toned down in more recent times as a result of increased work commitments by students and therise of social media for activism.^[329]Prosh week winds up with the Prosh After Dark social event in the UniBar which has its origins from the Prosh Ball.^[330][338]

On Dit(pronouncedon-dee), the second-oldest student-run print media in Australia, was established by the student union in 1932.^[339][340]It is named after the French expression "we say" and operates independently of the university.^[339]It also occasionally uses the name "Hearsay" as a creative writing edition of the magazine that dates back to 1972 when the then-newspaper changed its name to "Heresay" in Volume 14 as part of a protest againstnuclear testing in the PacificbyFrance.^{[339][341][342]}TheProsh Rag, which contains satirical content, is another special issue that is sold by students to the public to raise funds for charities.^{[333][334][335][337]}On Dit often publishes content on national and global politics and is an example of student activism at the university.^[343][339]Former writers of the newspaper include politiciansJulia Gillard,Christopher Pyne,Penny Wong,Nick XenophonandJohn Bannon.^[344]

It is the successor to theVarsity Ragge, the original student newspaper, which was founded in 1929.^[345][346]It also published news, poetry and comedic works from various student clubs and societies, including the neighbouring Adelaide Teachers College which later became part of the university campus.^{[345][346][58]}According to On Dit, the original newspaper failed due to student apathy.^[345][346]

Adelaide University Student Radio was established in 1975 and is the oldest student-run radio program in Australia.^[347]

Established in 1896,Adelaide University Sporthas 37 sports clubs, including some that predate its establishment.^[4][348]Its historical motto isMobilitate Vigemustranslated "we thrive by mobility".^[14][349]Its sporting colours black and white are likely from thewhite-backed magpie, an Australian bird found on its crest andthe state badge.^[14][350]Its mascot is Gus, a black lion, which replaced thepiping shrikeon its historical crest.^{[15][351][14]}

TheAdelaide University Boat Clubwas founded in 1881 and operates from theRiver Torrensin theAdelaide city centreand fromWest Lakes.^[352]Its primaryboat shedwas donated byRobert Barr Smithin 1909.^[352]Each year the club competes in a number of events including theOxford and Cambridge Cup, which was donated byOld Bluesof the Universities ofOxfordandCambridgein the 1890s.^[352][353]TheAdelaide University Tennis Clubwas founded in 1885 and is a lawn tennis club.^[354]TheAdelaide University Lacrosse Clubwas founded in 1889 by futureNobel laureateWilliam Henry Braggand is one of the oldest in Australia.^[355]

Following the 1895 establishment of theAdelaide University Union, the student association, the three clubs co-founded theAdelaide University Sports Associationin 1896. Additional sports clubs such as theAdelaide University Football Clubwere establishedthroughout the 20th century.^[326][356]The sports association was administered by the student union for over 100 years before becoming directly affiliated with the university in 2010.^[326]

The university did not set any land aside on its main campus for student accommodation due to ideological opposition to the culture of live-in students at the time but also influenced by the small size of the original campus.^[357]However, demand for residential college accommodation led to the establishment of private colleges affiliated to the university.^[16]

St. Mark's Collegewas founded in 1925 by theAnglican Diocese of Adelaideand is the oldest of the colleges.^[358]It was developed by some former residents of the Universities ofOxfordandCambridgeamong others with the goal of developing a similar collegiate lifestyle.^[358]

Aquinas Collegewas founded as a men's college in 1950 by theCatholic Churchat Montefiore House, the former residence of SirSamuel Waywho was a chancellor and vice-chancellor at the university.^[359][360]It later expanded to surrounding sites and became co-residential.^[359]

St Ann's Collegewas founded as a women's college in 1947.^[361]The college's honorary founder is politician SirJosiah Symonwho in 1924 suggested that female students at the university should have somewhere to live.^[361]It became co-educational in 1973.^[361]

Lincoln Collegewas founded in 1952 by theMethodist Churchand named after theLincoln Collegeat the University of Oxford.^[362]Originally established as a men's college, it became co-residential in 1973.^[363]It features anumber of historical buildings.

Other private student accommodation providers include Scape, which has three sites near the university, and Yugo Adelaide City.^{[364][365][366][367]}The university also manages the University Village, Mattanya Student Residences and the Roseworthy Residential College.^{[368][369][370]}

Kathleen Lumley Collegewas a postgraduate college founded by the university in 1965.^[371]It closed in 2022 following a drop in overseas students during theCOVID-19 pandemic.^[372]

The University of Adelaide's alumni also includes students from past mergers including theRoseworthy Agricultural Collegeand the City campus of the former South Australian College of Advanced Education (including its predecessors the Adelaide Teachers College and the Adelaide College of Advanced Education).^[373][374]

• Notable students of the university include:
• 
  Julia Gillard ^[375]
  First female Prime Minister of Australia
• 
  Andy Thomas ^[376]
  Aerospace engineer and first Australian-born astronaut
• 
  Julie Bishop ^[377]
  First female Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia
• 
  Tony Tan ^[378]
  7th President of the Republic of Singapore
• 
  Roma Mitchell ^[379]
  First female Australian judge, chancellor and state governor
• 
  Howard Florey ^[380]
  Nobel laureate pharmacologist and pathologist
• 
  Penny Wong ^[381]
  Current Leader of the Senate and Minister for Foreign Affairs
• 
  Lawrence Bragg ^[382]
  Nobel laureate physicist and X-ray crystallographer
• 
  Robin Warren ^[383]
  Nobel laureate pathologist
• 
  Ong Teng Cheong ^[384]
  5th President of the Republic of Singapore
• 
  Laura Margaret Hope ^[385]
  First female surgeon in Australia
• 
  Tirana Hassan ^[386]
  Executive director of Human Rights Watch
• 
  Don Dustan ^[387]
  Former Premier of South Australia
• 
  Guy Sebastian ^[388]
  Singer-songwriter and musician
• 
  Simon Birmingham ^[389]
  Senate opposition leader and former minister
• 
  Mark Oliphant ^[390]
  Nuclear physicist and humanitarian
• 
  Lionel Logue ^[391]
  Speech and language therapist
• 
  Christopher Pyne ^[392]
  Former politician and minister with portfolio
• 
  Matthew Cowdrey ^[393]
  Paralympian and state politician
• 
  Helen Mayo ^[394]
  First female university council member in Australia
• 
  Peter Malinauskas ^[395]
  Current premier of South Australia
• 
  Edward Holden ^[396]
  Industrialist and founder of GM Holden
• 
  Winifred Kiek ^[397]
  First female minister of a church in Australia
• 
  Edith Emily Dornwell ^[398]
  First Australian Bachelor of Science graduate

The history of the university includes a large number ofinfluential alumni and staff, including domestic and international political leaders; Nobel laureates; businesspeople; pioneers in fields of science, mathematics and medicine; media personalities; musical, visual, performance and written artists; and sportspeople, including multiple Olympic medallists.

It has had a significant impact on the public life of South Australia, having educated many of the state's leading businesspeople, lawyers, medical professionals and politicians.^[44]It has also produced 116Rhodes scholars,^[399]164Fulbright scholars^[400]and is associated with fiveNobel laureateswhich constituteone-thirdof Australia's total Nobel laureates.^[401]The university throughout its history has been associated with the development ofpenicillin,space exploration,sunscreen, themilitary tank,Wi-Fi,polymer banknotesandX-ray crystallography, and the study ofviticultureandoenology.^[44]

Following a royal charter granted byQueen Victoriain 1881, the university became the second university in theEnglish-speaking worldto formally admit women to degree-conferring programs on equal terms as men, contributing to a number of firsts in the history ofwomen's educationin Australia.^[56]Its first female graduate wasEdith Emily Dornwellwho concurrently became the first person in Australia to receive the degree ofBachelor of Sciencein 1885.^[402]The university also graduated Australia's first female surgeonLaura Margaret Fowlerin 1891.^[403][404]Ruby Claudia Davywas the first Australian woman to receive a doctorate in music in 1918.^[405][406]Other notable firsts includeWinifred Kiek,Margaret ReidandJanine Haines.^{[407][408][409]}In 1914, the university was also the first to elect a woman,Helen Mayo, to a university council in Australia.^[410]It is also the alma mater ofDame Roma Mitchellwho was Australia's first female judge, the first woman to be aQueen's Counsel, a chancellor of an Australian university and thegovernor of an Australian state.^[411]Australia'sfirst female prime ministerJulia Gillardhad also studied at the university and the firstAboriginalRhodes ScholarRebecca Richards in 2010.^{[412][413][414]}

Nobel laureates associated with the university includeLawrence Bragg, who held the record for the youngest laureate ever until 2014, co-recipient with his fatherWilliam Henry Braggfor their work inx-ray crystallographyin 1915.^{[415][382][416]}Howard Florey, apharmacologistandpathologist, shared the 1945Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicinewith SirAlexander Flemingand SirErnst Chainfor their role in the development ofpenicillin.^[380]J. M. Coetzee, anovelistandlinguist, won theNobel Prize in Literaturein 2003.^[417]Robin Warrenwas a pathologist who, alongsideBarry Marshall, discovered thatpeptic ulcerswere largely caused by the infectionHelicobacter pylori, graduated from the university in 1961.^[418][419]Warren and Marshall won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their discovery in 2005.^[418]

In May 2020, then vice-chancellorPeter Rathjencommenced an indefinite leave of absence after chancellorKevin Scarceresigned without public explanation the previous day.^[420]Later in the week, theIndependent Commissioner Against Corruption(ICAC) confirmed he was investigating allegations of improper conduct by the vice-chancellor of the University of Adelaide.^[421]Rathjen, accused of engaging in "a personal relationship with a staff member",^[422]was succeeded by acting vice-chancellor Mike Brooks. Rathjen formally resigned in July 2020,^[423]"due to ill health".^[424]

In August 2020, the ICAC found that Rathjen had committed "serious misconduct" by sexually harassing two University of Adelaide colleagues, had lied to the then chancellor Kevin Scarce, and also lied to the Commissioner in his evidence with respect to an investigation of sexual misconduct with a postgraduate student when he was employed at the University of Melbourne.^[425]The ICAC CommissionerBruce Landeracknowledged there were "further issues" in the full 170-page report on the investigation which he chose not to release due to privacy concerns surrounding the victims, instead releasing an abridged 12-page version 'Statement about an Investigation: Misconduct by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Adelaide'.^[426]

In determining his findings, the Commissioner relied in part on the personal blog^[427]of US journalistMichael Balterwho documented Rathjens prior history of sexual harassment, and was largely responsible for bringing the matter to the public's attention, and ultimately ICAC's. The ICAC Commissioner's damning findings against Rathjen have put the University of Adelaide's culture under intense scrutiny in both the local and international media.^[428]Claiming ill-health, Rathjen formally resigned in July 2020 and, despite the ICAC Commissioner's findings, received a large payout from the university.^[429]

The University of Adelaide and theUniversity of South Australiahad previously engaged to discuss a merger in 2018 but failed due to disagreements from the latter about the post-merger leadership structure.^{[101][102][103][104]}

TheNational Tertiary Education UnionSA conducted a survey of 1,100 university staff and found that only a quarter of respondents were in support of a merger.^{[109][116][430]}In addition, the state government has been accused of coercing the universities to agree to merge, indicating that a commission of inquiry would be established to find ways to compel the two universities to merge had their two councils refused to do so, with less financial support available.^{[109][116][431]}

Andrew Miller, the state secretary of the union, raised concerns that staff were under "extreme psychosocial pressure" to meet the 2026 launch deadline.^[432]Backing his claims with communications from theIntegration Management Officestaff responsible for merging the two institutions, he added that the "Game of Thrones" perception among staff competing "for the final spots of the new Adelaide University" was causing tensions, breakdowns and disharmony.^[432]The institutions' vice-chancellorsDavid LloydandPeter Højcriticised the claims, referring to them as "whispers of Little Birds or Littlefingers".^[433]

Despite previous polls claiming low support from staff, the vice-chancellors added that the over 3,000 staff who attended the July 2024 Adelaide University launch event were enthusiastic about the new brand identity.^[109][430]They also said that criticism should instead be directed towards the proposed caps to international students caused by the national housing shortage.^{[433][124][434]}

The post-merger plan to switch to a trimester academic calendar has also been criticised by the union whose internal poll showed that more than 4 in 5 members were against the move.^[435]TheUniversity of New South Waleshad previously also switched to a trimester model, allowing students to complete a 3 year bachelor's degree program in 2 years with shorter breaks.^[436]As of 2024, UNSW is considering reversing the change following a 40% drop in paid hours for staff, decreased time for non-academic activities and student burnout from increased workload.^[436]

In February 2024, theState Governmentdrew criticism for its future plans to convert sports parks it had purchased from twoUniversity of South Australiacampuses for housing and commercial re-development.^[437]As part of the merger agreement, the sports parks adjacent to the campus were sold to theSouth Australian GovernmentforA$114.5 millionand leased back to the university. Following the release of several internalFOIdocuments retrieved byInDailyfrom thePremier's Office, it was later revealed that the land was "earmarkedfor future development" for residential and commercial purposes.^[437]The original media release replaced the phrase with "short-term transitional lease to university", referring to the leaseback period of 10 years, following concerns from UniSA vice-chancellorDavid Lloydthat the original draft would "create enormous community reaction which will be particularly unhelpful at this time".^[437]

• 
  Barr Smith Library
• 
  University buildings
• 
  Bonython Hallduring sunset
• 
  Entrance to Bonython Hall
• 
  Statue of Walter Hughes
• 
  Elder Conservatorium
• 
  SA State Library
• 
  Adelaide University Footbridge
• 
  Mitchell Building
• 
  Courtyard with students
• 
  View across the River Torrens
• 
  View across Barr Smith Library
• 
  Shaded courtyard
• 
  Barr Smith Libraryceiling
• 
  University shield near library
• 
  Bonython Hallduring autumn

The university is served by two stops on theGlenelg tram line,UniversityandCity West, which connects the main campus on the east with the Adelaide Health and Medical Sciences Building on the west end ofNorth Terrace.^{[438][11][153]}

Preceding station	Adelaide Metro			Following station
Art Gallery towards Adelaide Entertainment Centre		Glenelg tram line		Botanic Gardens Terminus

• List of universities in Australia
• University of Adelaide College- a private pre-university pathways college for international students

McDougall, Katrina; Sumerling, Patricia (August 2006). "The City of Adelaide: A Thematic History". McDougall & Vines. Adelaide, South Australia: McDougall & Vines.Archivedfrom the original on 16 December 2019.

Historical archives onTrove.

• Official website
• Adelaide University Union (YouX)
• Adelaide University Sport

34°55′09″S138°36′15″E / 34.919159°S 138.604140°E /-34.919159; 138.604140 (University of Adelaide)