At the new Adelaide University, the esteemed University of Adelaide and the enterprising University of South Australia are becoming one.
Prof Jessica Gallagher, the deputy vice chancellor of international and external engagement at Adelaide University, and a member of the leadership team charged with overseeing the creation of the new university, says the merger presents a once-in-a-lifetime shot at transformation.
“We have a unique opportunity to realise a new brand, reimagine our curriculum, redefine the student experience, reshape our research activities and reinforce our partnerships to create Australia’s newest major university this century at incredible scale,” she says.
Equaliser of opportunity
When it opens its doors in 2026, the university’s campuses will be spread across South Australia, but its ambitions extend well beyond the state’s borders. It hopes to become the largest online educator in the nation, and a differentiated member of the prestigious Group of Eight (Go8) universities, attracting talent and collaborations from around the world.
Prof Jessica Gallagher, deputy vice chancellor of international and external engagement, Adelaide University
It strives to be a place of both excellence and equity, to level the tertiary education playing field and create a place of learning and discovery that whole communities can feel part of.
“We want access to quality education to be a reality for more students,” Gallagher says. “This means students who are first in their family to study at university, along with regional and rural students, online learners, knowledge seekers from highly urbanised to growing economies, students who have experienced educational disadvantage, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.”
This future-embracing approach to learning is reflected in the embedding of Aboriginal ways of knowing, being and learning into curriculums and research. “We are also proud to be the first university in Australia to have provision for an Aboriginal name in its founding legislation,” she says.
Building impact through size and scale
With its legacy of two parent universities, Adelaide University will have the country’s largest domestic student population: about 70,000. “In Australia, scale matters,” Gallagher says.
Combining more than 180 years of teaching, resources and research will unlock the scale and investment to have a real-world impact. “We will be a globally competitive institution,” she says.
The university will inherit links with 150 countries through its 400,000 alumni, a legacy that will help attract a diverse community of students, researchers, innovators and entrepreneurs to the university.
The challenges of a future world will demand very different graduate attributes, Gallagher says. Beyond developing technical knowledge and skills, students will be encouraged to be curious, brave, and ethical leaders, equipped to become strategic problem solvers.
As well as setting its sights on being top in Australia for student employment outcomes, Adelaide University also aims to offer a flexible and satisfying study experience. Through a digital underpinning, the university aims to meet the needs of modern learners in an inclusive and dynamic way. In some cases, the traditional lecture format will be redefined to include a mix of self-paced learning modules that include digital content and interactive activities such as online polls, simulations and gamified elements.
Japan Bhatt, nursing student, University of South Australia
The opportunity to study digitally and build his own learning calendar was a major drawcard for 20-year-old University of South Australia nursing degree student Japan Bhatt, who plans to continue his studies with a postgraduate course at Adelaide University in 2026.
Bhatt says he and his friends are most excited about the rich and connected curriculum on offer, and Adelaide University’s approach to career-integrated learning that goes beyond the classroom.
“I know Adelaide University is aiming to become the most connected university in Australia,” he says, “and this bridge between the university and the employers will open up many opportunities for internships, and employment after graduation.”
Catalyst for change
As the new university builds on its existing 3,000 global partnerships, exciting prospects are already emerging, such as working with NASA on the Artemis III mission, which aims to put the first woman and the first person of colour on the moon.
Closer to home, the goal is to be a leader in research and technological innovation in areas where South Australia has an edge: societal health, green energy transition, agriculture and wine, and the creative industries.
Gallagher says: “Adelaide University will have the scale to become a global research powerhouse and to solve the multigenerational challenges ahead of us, like tackling climate change.
“South Australia is already a leader in renewables, and we will look to leverage this further and faster than ever before. Through the power of collaboration with industry and global partners we will achieve our ambitions with impact that will transcend borders around the world.”
Goldilocks city
Educational benefits aside, studying in Adelaide has become an attractive proposition in itself. The city’s recent recognition by Architectural Digest as the world’s most beautiful city has come at an opportune moment, though Gallagher says the natural advantage of place and reputation was already part of the university’s vision.
“Adelaide is a Goldilocks city – it’s just right,” she says. “Our home is not only one of the most beautiful cities in the world, it’s also one of the most liveable. This creates an unrivalled student lifestyle and a great place to do business. Adelaide strikes the right balance between urban renewal and community life.”
Gallagher believes the new Adelaide University represents a key moment for South Australia and for generations to come. “We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to transform how we choose to show up and contribute to creating brighter futures for more Australians and global citizens.”
