University of Adelaide

The University of Adelaide is a world-class tertiary education and research institution committed to delivering high quality and distinct learning, teaching and research experiences.

The University is centred on:

• discovering new knowledge
• pursuing innovation
• preparing the educated leaders of tomorrow who are independent, creative thinkers with an international perspective.

Learning and Teaching

Learning and teaching encompasses the broad range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees offered at the University.

Students are provided with a unique and holistic education experience and graduate attributes are aligned to career outcomes. Our degrees are relevant to the changing requirements of employers and the needs of industry and the community.

Degrees are delivered across our five faculties:

• Faculty of Engineering, Computer & Mathematical Sciences
• Faculty of Health Sciences
• Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences
• Faculty of the Professions
• Faculty of Sciences

University Profile

Established in 1874, the University of Adelaide is Australia's third oldest university. With an international reputation for conducting world-leading research across a wide spectrum of areas, we are consistently ranked in the top 1% of universities worldwide and are a member of the Group of Eight Link to external website; a coalition of Australia's foremost research intensive universities.

The University constitutes a vibrant and diverse community with over 25,000 students and over 3,500 members of staff across our three main campuses.

History

The University of Adelaide was founded with a noble goal: to prepare for South Australia young leaders shaped by education rather than birth or wealth in a settlement free of old world social and religious inequalities.

The University was established in 1874 and teaching began in 1876. The first official lecture was in Latin and the Bachelor of Arts the first degree offered.

However, the University's first Vice-Chancellor, Dr Augustus Short, had a vision for a university open to investigate new fields such as the sciences, modern literature, art and moral philosophy; subjects other than the narrow classics curriculum offered at Oxford University at the time. This vision would be realised in 1882 when the University became the first in Australia to grant degrees in science.

The spirit of enquiry was further embraced and the freedom to explore non classical subjects continued. Before reaching the 1900s the University offered degrees in arts, science, law, medicine and music. Additionally mathematics, philosophy, languages and mining engineering were taught. These flagship degrees and disciplines continue at the University today.