South Australia is such a beautiful part of the Australian landscape and its capital, Adelaide, is an incredible place to live as an international student. It’s even been ranked one of the most liveable cities in the world!
Here are some of the top reasons you should study in Adelaide.
1. Adelaide is very affordable
Adelaide is the perfect place to live and explore on a student budget. Adelaide is one of the most affordable capital cities in terms of living costs – it’s around 33 per cent cheaper to live here than in Sydney. Rent prices and public transport costs, as well as entertainment costs, all tend to be cheaper in Adelaide than in other Australian cities.
To find out just how affordable Adelaide is, you can use our Cost of Living Calculator to get an idea of your expected costs.
2. It’s home to some of Australia’s top educational institutions
Adelaide boasts several of Australia’s leading educational institutions, including universities, private colleges and culinary and hospitality schools. From modern architectural gems to colonial-era sandstone buildings (you might feel like you’ve stepped right into Hogwarts!), Adelaide’s university campuses are as beautiful as they are cutting-edge.
Among them, Flinders University has a brand new city campus in the heart of Adelaide, making it even more convenient for students. The Flinders University Academy serves as a pathway for international students who didn’t meet entry requirements for their desired degree, providing business, IT and English courses at this city location. As a student here, you’ll enjoy access to world-class research facilities designed to support your academic journey.
3. Transport in Adelaide is super convenient
As an international student in Adelaide, you’ll be pleased to know getting to your classes is super easy via public transport, wherever they may be. Flinders University even has its very own railway line!
Many inner-city transport services are free (including buses), so you can enjoy, experience and explore Adelaide very affordably. There are also systems of trains and buses, and as an international student, you can access a concession metroCARD which offers discounted trips on Adelaide’s public transport system.
Adelaide is also bicycle-friendly. There are safe cycling paths throughout the city and the suburbs.
4. The city is full of cultural activities
In the heart of Adelaide’s CBD lie many of South Australia’s major arts and cultural institutions, and the majority of them are free to visit! Some of these include the State Library of South Australia, the Adelaide Botanic Gardens, the South Australian Museum, the Art Gallery of South Australia, the Adelaide Festival Centre and Adelaide Zoo. What could be better than taking an afternoon study break at the zoo?
5. Adelaide has a thriving food and bar culture
Adelaide’s food and drink scene is one of the best in Australia. Be adventurous and go hunting for Adelaide’s hippest hidden laneways and rooftop bars. Head to busy Rundle Street, explore the international cuisine along Grote and Gouger Street, discover Adelaide’s West End (named one of the coolest neighbourhoods in Australia by Lonely Planet!), or enjoy a meal with a view over the ocean in Glenelg.
Your new campus might even be home to some iconic Adelaide eateries – the Flinders Taven at Bedford Park is run by the team behind Burger Theory, one of Adelaide’s first modern food trucks (and the start of the city’s food truck revolution!).
Some other absolute must-visits for foodies include the Adelaide Central Market, Plant 4 Bowden and any of the state’s famed wine regions.
As a student, you also need to visit one of the city’s many 24-hour bakeries for a late-night study session with friends over milkshakes and doughnuts. We recommend Café de Vili’s or the Bakery on O’Connell.
6. Adelaide is festival central
Ask any international student and they’ll tell you the same thing: there’s always something happening in Adelaide. Major festivals in Adelaide include WOMADelaide, Adelaide Festival, Illuminate Adelaide, FEAST Festival, Adelaide Fringe, OzAsia and IndoFest – just to name a few!
7. But it’s also pretty calming and relaxing
On one hand, Adelaide has all the benefits of a thriving city. On the other, it can be refreshingly laidback, quiet and relaxed. So, once you’re done sightseeing, partying or working, you’ll always be able to take a step back from the hustle and bustle of the city to focus more on your studies. This makes Adelaide a fantastic place for dedicating time to study and increasing your productivity.
Take your books to the State Library of South Australia, the Botanic Garden or one of the city’s many great study cafés for a change of scenery.
8. There are big opportunities in Adelaide for internships and employment
There’s ample opportunity to participate in internships and find part-time employment whilst studying in Adelaide. After graduation, you can join one of Adelaide’s many major thriving industries. These include food and wine, bioscience, health, agriculture, information and communications technology, defence, tourism and the arts.
Adelaide is also known as Australia’s ‘innovation capital’, and recently ranked in the global top 100 startup ecosystems. Plus, the state of South Australia is gaining a reputation as a leader in industries such as space, cyber security, defence, AgTech and renewable energy.
With tech giants such as Google, MIT and Amazon Web Services, the Australian Space Agency, and a number of world-renowned innovation districts, including Flinders Tonsley Campus and Lot Fourteen, calling Adelaide home, studying here is the perfect way to kick-start your career.
9. Adelaide offers plenty of great getaways
You’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to weekend getaways, with lots of great trips just a short distance from the city. You can explore wine regions like the Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale and the Clare Valley, head to the Adelaide Hills and check out the area’s quaint villages, hop over to Kangaroo Island, or see some of the most stunning natural wonders Australia has to offer.
10. It’s the best of all worlds
Adelaide offers balance. It’s a city famous for colourful and diverse communities, beautiful rural landscapes, historic sandstone cityscapes, thriving local industries, bustling businesses, low unemployment rates and a healthy economy. It’s at once an exciting and relaxed city that celebrates diversity, opportunity and education.
Ready to start your studies in Adelaide? If you do not meet the entry requirements for your desired degree, Flinders University Academy will provide you with a direct pathway into the destination degree of your choice.
