Adelaide is a great place to live and study. The city is up to 14% more affordable to live in than other major Australian cities and has the lowest average rent in the country*. Find out more about the lifestyle Adelaide has to offer.
There’s so much to see and do, let’s get started.
Adelaide offers all the conveniences of a capital city, with a strong sense of community usually reserved for small towns. It’s simply the best of both worlds. This beautiful and well-ordered city is easy to get around, safe and very affordable.
*EIU Cost of Living Survey 2019
Comfortable climate
Adelaide has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild winters.
Adelaide is considered to have a Mediterranean climate, which means students will enjoy four distinct seasons. People from Adelaide go out of their way to make sure there is a warm welcome waiting for international students when they first arrive here. Quite simply, it is a very pleasant place to live, work and study.
Summer
December - February
25°C - 35°C
Hot & dry
Autumn
March - May
20°C - 25°C
Mainly dry
Winter
June - August
10°C - 15°C
Cool & wet
Spring
September - November
20°C - 25°C
Little rain
Fast facts
Adelaide. Designed for Life
Adelaide is one of the world's most liveable cities, with a vibrant atmosphere and natural beauty on its doorstep.
Getting around
Travelling around Adelaide is easy and fast. An integrated bus, train and tram public transport system connects all parts of the city and suburbs. Our students especially love the free Wi-Fi and tram and bus service through the city centre.
Arriving in a new country for the first time can be a little intimidating. There’s no need to be nervous. The University of South Australia offers students a free on-arrival reception service. Once you have confirmed your arrival and accommodation details, you can book your on-arrival reception. If you are travelling with your family, they are also eligible for these services.
A diverse community
The population of Adelaide and South Australia is truly rich in diversity. Just over one in four people living in the state were born overseas, with ancestry tracing back to over 120 countries.
Discover new cultures or stay connected to your home country and community. It’s easy as there are many different community groups, associations and clubs.
Living expenses
Adelaide is known as one of Australia’s most affordable cities. This leaves you with more savings to experience all the exciting opportunities that Adelaide and South Australia have to offer.
It’s not just accommodation that is cheaper. The cost of public transport is also lower and you are entitled to a half-price student ticket discount. How far can you stretch your student dollar in Adelaide? See what your weekly average costs could be according to Study Adelaide.
Campus security
Security plays a very important role at the University of South Australia. Each campus has its own Campus Security office which is available to students 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Security officers patrol the campus by day and offer even stronger protection at night. They can provide students with first aid or help in an emergency. There is also a UniSafe escort service available to students when moving around the campus at night.
Primary and High Schools
The school year in South Australia runs from the end of January until the middle of December and is broken into four terms. There are two weeks of holidays at the end of terms one, two and three. A long summer holiday at the end of the school year includes a break at Christmas.
Most primary schools will either be from kindergarten (4 years old) to year six or seven, while high schools are from year seven to twelve. It’s worth noting that schools are zoned and usually only take enrolments from students that live in the surrounding suburbs.
If you’re a Higher Degree by Research student with children, you could qualify for a fee waiver from the South Australian Government. Find out more about this here.
