--- url: 'https://kdinternational.com.au/adelaide-university-merger-saudi-students-entry-costs/' title: 'Adelaide University After the Merger: Go8, Entry and Costs' author: name: هند العمري url: 'https://kdinternational.com.au/author/hind-alamri/' date: '2026-10-03T10:00:00+00:00' modified: '2026-10-03T10:02:06+00:00' type: post summary: 'An Adelaide University profile for Saudi students: the merger, rankings, campuses, indicative fees, entry requirements, and the regional migration advantage.' categories: - Australian universities tags: - Adelaide University - Group of Eight - KD International - regional migration - Saudi students Australia - study in Adelaide image: 'https://kdinternational.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/kd-65-en-art-1.png' published: true --- # Adelaide University After the Merger: Go8, Entry and Costs *[اقرأ هذا المقال بالعربية](https://kdinternational.com.au/ar/?p=2631)* ### Key takeaways - The University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia merged into a single institution, Adelaide University, operational from January 2026. - The new institution is a Group of Eight member with CRICOS code 04249J, combining more than 180 years of experience from its two foundation universities. - It ranks 79 globally in QS 2027 and 133 in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026, 7th in Australia. - Indicative fees run from about AUD 43,400 to AUD 56,600 a year depending on the program as at September 2026, so tuition is not the advantage. - Adelaide is a Category 2 designated regional area, which can add a year on a second Temporary Graduate visa and open subclass 491 and 190 pathways. - The undergraduate English minimum is an IELTS Academic 6.0 overall, higher for some programs, with test results valid for two years. ### In this article - [What happened to the University of Adelaide after the merger?](#s-1) - [Adelaide University rankings](#s-2) - [Campuses and fields of study](#s-3) - [How much does Adelaide University cost?](#s-4) - [What is Adelaide’s regional migration advantage?](#s-5) - [Adelaide University entry requirements](#s-6) - [How to apply to Adelaide University](#s-7) - [The practical summary](#s-8) The University of Adelaide is now part of a new institution called Adelaide University, formed by merging the University of Adelaide with the University of South Australia and operational from January 2026, per [ABC News](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-02/sa-adelaide-university-merger-deal/102547600). It is a member of the Group of Eight research universities and sits at 79 globally in the QS World University Rankings 2027. ## What happened to the University of Adelaide after the merger? This is the first thing to understand, because it changes the name of the institution that will appear on your offer letter and your testamur. The University of South Australia and the University of Adelaide announced their merger agreement in July 2023, with the new institution — Adelaide University — to begin operating in January 2026, per [ABC News](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-02/sa-adelaide-university-merger-deal/102547600). The new university describes itself as bringing together "more than 180 years" of experience from its two foundation institutions and confirms its membership of the Group of Eight, Australia’s leading research-intensive universities, per [Adelaide University](https://www.adelaide.edu.au/about/). The original University of Adelaide was established in 1874 and is Australia’s third oldest university, per [Study Australia](https://search.studyaustralia.gov.au/provider/university-of-adelaide/38afa2c609e140e1877f4bce660f35a4). The new institution’s CRICOS code is 04249J, per [Study Australia](https://search.studyaustralia.gov.au/provider/adelaide-university/7957db7159eb31fb6cf091e91c805a3c). Any merger of this size passes through a transition period. [ABC News](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01-22/adelaide-university-merger-leave-students-stressed/106252460) reported on 22 January 2026 that some students had difficulty enrolling in courses after the merger. So make verifying the program name, code and duration on your offer letter a deliberate step rather than an assumption — particularly if you are a sponsored student submitting the offer to a scholarship authority. ## Adelaide University rankings | Ranking | Result | Source | | --- | --- | --- | | QS World University Rankings 2027 | 79 globally | [Adelaide University](https://www.adelaide.edu.au/about/) | | QS World University Rankings 2026 | Equal 82 | [Study Australia](https://search.studyaustralia.gov.au/provider/adelaide-university/7957db7159eb31fb6cf091e91c805a3c) | | THE World University Rankings 2026 | 133 globally, 7th in Australia | [Adelaide University](https://www.adelaide.edu.au/about/) | | THE 2026 – Computer science | 96 globally | [Adelaide University](https://www.adelaide.edu.au/about/) | | THE 2026 – Medical and health | 91 globally | [Adelaide University](https://www.adelaide.edu.au/about/) | A position inside the global top 100 places the institution well within the band that Saudi scholarship tracks build their lists on — chiefly the Imdad (إمداد) track, which targets the world’s top 200 institutions, per the [Ministry of Education](https://sites.moe.gov.sa/scholarship-program/paths/path-emdad/). ## Campuses and fields of study The university operates across seven South Australian locations: Adelaide City (North Terrace), Magill, Mawson Lakes, Mount Gambier, Roseworthy, Waite and Whyalla, plus online delivery, per [Study Australia](https://search.studyaustralia.gov.au/provider/adelaide-university/7957db7159eb31fb6cf091e91c805a3c). Two Saudi regulatory points apply here. The University Degree Equivalency Regulation requires study at the main campus of a recommended university and expressly excludes degrees earned by distance education or external enrolment, per the [summary of the regulation](https://eqs.moe.gov.sa/app/content/docs/RulesAndRegulationsSummary.pdf). The online study option is therefore unsuitable for anyone who intends to seek Saudi equivalency. The [Australian Government course search](https://search.studyaustralia.gov.au/provider/adelaide-university/7957db7159eb31fb6cf091e91c805a3c/courses?organisation_ids=7957db7159eb31fb6cf091e91c805a3c) lists 361 programs as at September 2026, mostly with February and July starts. ## How much does Adelaide University cost? Fees at Group of Eight universities are not the lowest in Australia. These examples come from the [Australian Government course search](https://search.studyaustralia.gov.au/provider/adelaide-university/7957db7159eb31fb6cf091e91c805a3c/courses?organisation_ids=7957db7159eb31fb6cf091e91c805a3c) as at September 2026: | Program | Duration | Indicative total cost | | --- | --- | --- | | Bachelor of Information Technology | 3 years | AUD 151,500 (about AUD 50,500 a year) | | Bachelor of Science majoring in Biochemistry | 3 years | AUD 159,900 (about AUD 53,300 a year) | | Bachelor of Teaching (Secondary) (Honours) | 4 years | AUD 173,600 (about AUD 43,400 a year) | | Master of Applied Finance | 1.5 years | AUD 78,300 (about AUD 52,200 a year) | | Master of Science in Environment and Conservation | 2 years | AUD 113,200 (about AUD 56,600 a year) | Adelaide’s advantage, then, is not tuition — it is living costs and migration. The [South Australian Government migration portal](https://migration.sa.gov.au/before-applying/why-sa-is-a-great-place-to-live/adelaide) points to affordable housing and cost of living and to lower costs than Australia’s larger urban centres, but publishes no comparative figures, so check current rent and student accommodation prices before you build a budget. Add the student visa charge of AUD 2,500 since 1 July 2026, per [Study Australia](https://www.studyaustralia.gov.au/en/plan-your-move/your-guide-to-visas/student-visa-subclass-500). ## What is Adelaide’s regional migration advantage? This is the real difference between Adelaide and Sydney or Melbourne. The [Department of Home Affairs](https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/working-in-australia/regional-migration/eligible-regional-areas) classifies Adelaide as a Category 2 designated regional area (Cities and Major Regional Centres), alongside Perth, Canberra, the Gold Coast, Newcastle, Wollongong, Geelong and Hobart. Graduates who studied and lived in a Category 2 area may be eligible for one additional year on a second Temporary Graduate visa. The [South Australian Government migration portal](https://migration.sa.gov.au/before-applying/why-sa-is-a-great-place-to-live/adelaide) adds that this classification opens study-to-permanent-residency pathways through visas such as the Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) and Skilled Nominated (subclass 190), and expands the list of eligible occupations. As a reminder, the standard Temporary Graduate visa runs two years for a bachelor’s or coursework master’s, three for a research master’s and four for a doctorate, per the [Department of Home Affairs](https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/temporary-graduate-485/post-higher-education-work). These pathways concern migration and are separate from a sponsored student’s obligations to their scholarship authority. ## Adelaide University entry requirements ### English language requirements The minimum for undergraduate programs is an IELTS Academic overall score of 6.0 or equivalent, with some programs requiring more, per the [international entry requirements page](https://www.adelaide.edu.au/study/international-students/how-to-apply/entry-requirements/). Tests must have been taken within two years before admission. Applicants who fall short may receive a conditional offer packaged with preparatory English at the university’s English Language Centre. A note for scholarship students: a conditional offer is not sufficient for Saudi scholarship tracks in English-speaking countries, because the [Ministry of Education](https://sites.moe.gov.sa/scholarship-program/paths/path-emdad/) requires a final unconditional offer. ### Academic requirements For undergraduate entry the university requires secondary education equivalent to the SACE, or minimum entry scores based on the country where the qualification was completed, or at least six months of full-time study at bachelor level or above. For postgraduate entry it requires a completed bachelor degree from an accredited institution, a graduate diploma or a graduate certificate, per the same page. Applicants must also satisfy the Genuine Student requirement and demonstrate financial capacity. ## How to apply to Adelaide University - **Check the institution name on your documents**: new offers are issued under Adelaide University, not under either predecessor institution. - **Choose the discipline from your track’s list first**, then find a matching program, and confirm the approved-university list for your application year on the [track page](https://sites.moe.gov.sa/scholarship-program/paths/). - **Check the program’s CRICOS code** on the [CRICOS register](https://cricos.education.gov.au/) and choose on-campus delivery, not online. - **Read the English score for your specific program** and book the test early — results are valid for two years. - **Apply well before your intended intake**, because a final unconditional offer goes through a review that takes weeks. - **Once the offer arrives, lodge your scholarship application** on the [Safeer portal](https://safeer2.moe.gov.sa/Portal) if you are applying through a track. ## The practical summary Adelaide brings together what many students are looking for: a global top-100 university and Group of Eight member, in a city classified as a designated regional area with the extra year and wider migration pathways that follow. But the merger is new, so verify your program details twice. Review [our process steps](https://kdinternational.com.au/ar/%d8%ae%d8%b7%d9%88%d8%a7%d8%aa-%d8%b9%d9%85%d9%84%d9%8a%d8%a9/) and compare tracks in the [guide to Saudi scholarship programs](https://kdinternational.com.au/ar/?p=2318). At KD International we help you choose the program and prepare your admission file, and the admissions service is free for students seeking to enrol in scholarship-program disciplines at universities approved by the Ministry of Education. Start with the [application form](https://kdinternational.com.au/applynow/) or [contact us](https://kdinternational.com.au/ar/%d8%aa%d9%88%d8%a7%d8%b5%d9%84-%d9%85%d8%b9%d9%86%d8%a7/). ## Frequently asked questions Does the University of Adelaide still exist? The University of Adelaide merged with the University of South Australia into a new institution called Adelaide University, operational from January 2026, per ABC News. New offers are issued under the new institution’s name, so check the name and code on your offer letter. What is Adelaide University’s world ranking? It ranks 79 globally in the QS World University Rankings 2027 and equal 82 in the 2026 edition, and 133 globally and 7th in Australia in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026, with computer science at 96 and medical and health at 91. Is Adelaide University a Group of Eight university? Yes. The university confirms membership of the Group of Eight, Australia’s leading research-intensive universities. The original University of Adelaide was established in 1874 and is Australia’s third oldest university. How much does Adelaide University cost for international students? It varies by program. On the Australian Government course search as at September 2026, the Bachelor of Information Technology totals AUD 151,500 over three years, about AUD 50,500 a year, and the Master of Applied Finance AUD 78,300 over 1.5 years. What is Adelaide’s migration advantage? The Department of Home Affairs classifies Adelaide as a Category 2 designated regional area, so graduates who studied and lived there may be eligible for an extra year on a second Temporary Graduate visa. The South Australian migration portal also points to permanent residency pathways via subclass 491 and 190. What IELTS score does Adelaide University require? The minimum for undergraduate programs is an IELTS Academic overall score of 6.0 or equivalent, with some programs requiring more, and the test must have been taken within two years before admission, per the international entry requirements page. Do Saudi scholarship tracks accept a conditional offer from Adelaide? No. The university issues conditional offers packaged with preparatory English for applicants who fall short, but Saudi scholarship tracks in English-speaking countries require a final unconditional offer, per the Ministry of Education. Is online study at Adelaide recognised in Saudi Arabia? No. The University Degree Equivalency Regulation expressly excludes degrees earned by distance education, external enrolment or the internet, and requires full-time study with residence in the country of study at the main campus of a recommended university. ## Official sources - [University of South Australia and University of Adelaide reach agreement to merge](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-02/sa-adelaide-university-merger-deal/102547600) — ABC News - [Some Adelaide University students unable to enrol in courses since merger](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01-22/adelaide-university-merger-leave-students-stressed/106252460) — ABC News - [About Adelaide University](https://www.adelaide.edu.au/about/) — Adelaide University - [Entry requirements for international students](https://www.adelaide.edu.au/study/international-students/how-to-apply/entry-requirements/) — Adelaide University - [Adelaide University – provider profile](https://search.studyaustralia.gov.au/provider/adelaide-university/7957db7159eb31fb6cf091e91c805a3c) — Study Australia (Australian Government) - [Courses at Adelaide University](https://search.studyaustralia.gov.au/provider/adelaide-university/7957db7159eb31fb6cf091e91c805a3c/courses?organisation_ids=7957db7159eb31fb6cf091e91c805a3c) — Study Australia (Australian Government) - [University of Adelaide – provider profile](https://search.studyaustralia.gov.au/provider/university-of-adelaide/38afa2c609e140e1877f4bce660f35a4) — Study Australia (Australian Government) - [Adelaide: Where opportunity meets lifestyle](https://migration.sa.gov.au/before-applying/why-sa-is-a-great-place-to-live/adelaide) — Move to South Australia (Government of South Australia) - [Designated regional areas](https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/working-in-australia/regional-migration/eligible-regional-areas) — Department of Home Affairs (Australian Government) - [Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) – Post-Higher Education Work stream](https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/temporary-graduate-485/post-higher-education-work) — Department of Home Affairs (Australian Government) - [مسار إمداد](https://sites.moe.gov.sa/scholarship-program/paths/path-emdad/) — وزارة التعليم – برنامج خادم الحرمين الشريفين للابتعاث - [ملخّص شروط وضوابط معادلة الشهادات الجامعية](https://eqs.moe.gov.sa/app/content/docs/RulesAndRegulationsSummary.pdf) — وزارة التعليم ### Ready to start? KD International helps you choose a university, prepare your admission and visa file, and answers your questions about Saudi scholarships and studying in Australia. [Apply now](https://kdinternational.com.au/applynow/) or [message us on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/966582357717). *Last updated: 14 September 2026. Fees and requirements change; always confirm with the official source before deciding.*