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Universities in Adelaide
Adelaide has always been a trailblazer when it comes to university education. The University of Adelaide was one of the first campuses in the world to open its doors to women (some 50 years before Cambridge and Oxford).
The city has produced three Nobel Prize winners – more than any other Australian capital – and some 100 Rhodes Scholars.
Adelaide’s three long-established universities - Flinders University, The University of Adelaide and University of South Australia - have been popular with international students for many years and continue to sit high in international listings.
More recently, the city’s status as an education hub has been further boosted by the arrival of some of the world’s best universities. In 2006, Carnegie Mellon University from the US opened it’s Adelaide campus and became Australia’s first foreign university. University College London opened in 2009, along with two institutions delivering courses from the Victorian-based University of Ballarat.
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Adelaide’s government and private schools have an outstanding reputation, and an excellent history of providing high quality educational opportunities. Students who complete their secondary education (age 17) receive the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE) which is highly regarded around the world. Adelaide’s International Baccalaureate program is one of the best in the world.
Adelaide is a small city compared to other state capitals in Australia. But in many ways this makes it school-friendly: local communities are very involved with their schools, parents often give their time and support and they care about the success rates of all children, not just their own.
Adelaide schools know exactly what it takes to get their students into local universities and colleges. Thanks to a terrific Homestay program international students also get to enjoy a supportive home-from-home – a place where they can learn and live alongside their Australian ‘family’.
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South Australia has always been renowned for its food and wine, so it’s no surprise that two of the world’s most prestigious hotel management and culinary schools are based here.
The International College of Hotel Management (ICHM) is one of the top five hotel management colleges in the world; and Le Cordon Bleu (LCB) is the world’s largest provider of hospitality management and culinary courses. In fact, Adelaide is the only place in the world offering courses that borrow from the Swiss, French and Australian culinary traditions.
Adelaide’s vocational education and training (VET) system comprises the government owned TAFE South Australia and a wide variety of private training organisations.
The system is focussed on professional and practical learning, with a heavy emphasis on uniting students with industry. As a VET student, you’ll earn qualifications in fields such as IT, primary industries, manufacturing, business and tourism/hospitality, to name just a few.
These qualifications are recognised all over the world; and thanks to Adelaide’s pathways, you can easily move across to university degree courses, with your VET qualification counting towards entry.
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Foundation Courses in Adelaide
If you are keen to study at university but don’t quite meet the academic requirements, never fear! Adelaide is home to a number of excellent foundation colleges that will help you on your way to a university education.
These colleges all have direct links to Adelaide’s universities, so you can rest easy while you improve your school qualifications and your English. Within no time you’ll be back on track, studying the university degree of your dreams (and in many cases you can jump straight into the second year of your degree).
Eynesbury College provides pathways to all Adelaide universities; Bradford College has a close affiliation with The University of Adelaide; and SAIBT offers direct pathways into the University of South Australia.
Generally, foundation courses run 20 hours a week for a full year, although you can undertake intensive courses to reduce the time it takes to get into your university course.
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Adelaide is the perfect place to learn English (or get better at it!). The teachers are excellent (and fully accredited), and the institutions are all friendly, comfortable and professional.
Living in an English-speaking environment makes the job of learning so much easier, because you have to speak English! And because Adelaide is one of Australia’s most welcoming cities, you’ll find it really easy to interact with the locals – whether you’re in the shops, at a café or at the beach.
If you’re thinking about studying English in Australia, chances are you’ll come across the term ELICOS, which stands for English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students. These intensive courses are designed to help you learn – and quickly! Anyone can take them: whether it’s to improve your English before doing further studies at school, university or college; or simply wanting to improve your language skills while you’re on holiday in South Australia.
A number of Adelaide institutions offer ELICOS courses. The universities all have their own education centres, as does TAFE SA. Another option is to enrol with a small, privately-run college. You can even do ELICOS programs at secondary school.
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The Professional Year is designed to assist international student graduates gain employment in their chosen career. This initiative was implemented in response to concerns that many recent graduates experienced difficulties in gaining employment in their qualified professions.
Navitas Workforce Solutions offers a range of career services that guide and support you through the many different stages of your career. This includes Australian internships, Professional Year Program and Navitas CV.
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